New Religious Manifestations

by Josip Matesic
"New Religious Manifestations" turns an eye to seemingly innocuous cultural trends, customs, and beliefs, and looks at the often-unseen religious backgrounds that gave rise to them, even if these religious roots have disappeared. It also looks at ways in which religions are “reinventing” themselves for the modern day.
The Elvis Syndrome

Elvis impersonators are a common sight at fancy dress parties and other gatherings, but how should we think about this kind of secular adoration? Are there any religious dimensions to celebrity idolization?

New Age Identity and the “Bosnian Pyramids”

In the small Bosnian town of Visoko, the nexus between religion, politics, and ethnic and national identity is in a state of contention. The claimed discovery of ancient “pyramids” in the area, coupled with New Age sentiments, elicits some important questions regarding scientific perspectives and the allure of what might best be considered “pseudoscientific.”

Hapkido: Coordinating Power from East to West

Using the Korean martial art of hapkido as an example, this post examines some of the underlying aspects and themes that can often go unnoticed in martial arts – especially when they are transmitted between differing cultures and contexts.

Ecce Diego: The Maradonian Church

With the FIFA World Cup kicking off shortly in Brazil, the latest New Religious Manifestations post looks at the Maradonian Church, which regards the Argentine footballer Diego Maradona as divine.

Nowruz: The Old and the New for the Persian New Year

The changes Nowruz has undergone signal more than just a particular festival’s evolution: they reflect changes that continuously take place among traditional communities and within customary practices worldwide.

In the “City of Churches”

While all places can and do experience religious and cultural change, Adelaide’s distinctive history as a city makes its changes more unique and vibrant in comparison to elsewhere in Australia.