Power, Habitus, and Material Practice (1970–Present)

Abstract

Postmodern social scientists rejected attempts to explain human behavior by postulating rules. Geertz, Foucault, and Bourdieu thought symbols of meaning were pre-eminently embedded in individual cultures and learned through a lifetime of relationships with them; this habitus created personal attitudes and feelings. Asad and others taught that the dualistic separation of spirit and matter was a Western concept that did not reflect the rest of the world’s religious experience; in fact, it did not truly reflect Western religion and blinded adherents to the importance of material objects in religion. Bryan Turner brought the discussion back from total relativism by emphasizing that human embodiment creates common physical experiences that form the basis for social understanding. Gordon Lynch wrote that religion and power are inextricably linked, and material objects (especially hair and other body relics) possess mana in abundance for those whose habitus creates the association.