archaeology of doings, An

archaeology of doings, An

By Severin M. Fowles

Book Description

In this thought-provoking exploration, archaeologist Severin M. Fowles invites readers to reconsider fundamental assumptions about spirituality and sacred practice. Drawing from his study of Ancestral Pueblo societies in the American Southwest, Fowles presents a compelling challenge to conventional Western concepts of religion.

The author reveals a fascinating paradox within anthropological studies: while scholars increasingly question applying Western religious frameworks to non-Western cultures, archaeologists continue using these very concepts when examining ancient societies. Fowles argues that pre-missionization Pueblo peoples engaged in something entirely different from what we typically call religion—something they understood as "doings" in their own language.

This distinction opens profound questions about how we understand and interpret spiritual practices across cultures and time periods. Rather than imposing familiar religious categories onto ancient ways of life, Fowles suggests we need entirely new approaches to comprehend these sacred activities.

Through careful examination of Pueblo societies, the book offers readers a fresh lens for understanding spirituality beyond Western religious constructs. Fowles develops what he calls an "archaeology of doings," providing tools for recognizing and appreciating spiritual practices that operate according to different principles than conventional religion.

For those interested in expanding their understanding of human spiritual expression, this work offers valuable insights into alternative ways of engaging with the sacred that challenge our most basic assumptions about religious life.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)

📄 Length: 324 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Religious life and customs
  • ✓ Explore Pueblo Indians
  • ✓ Explore New mexico, social life and customs
  • ✓ Learn the way of the Tao
  • ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions
  • ✓ Explore Indians of north america, rites and ceremonies
  • ✓ Explore Indian Catholics
  • ✓ Explore New mexico, antiquities

Topics Covered

Religious life and customs Pueblo Indians New mexico, social life and customs Taos Indians Christianity and other religions Indians of north america, rites and ceremonies Indian Catholics New mexico, antiquities Indians of north america, southwest, new Religion Indians of north america, antiquities Rites and ceremonies Antiquities

Related Books You Might Like

Cover of Nuaulu Religious Practices; The frequency and reproduction of rituals in a Moluccan society

Nuaulu Religious Practices; The frequency and reproduction of rituals in a Moluccan society

Roy Ellen

2012 • 356p

This scholarly exploration offers a unique window into the spiritual practices of the Nuaulu people, an animist society living on the Indonesian island of Seram. Through three decades of careful observation and documentation, anthropologist Roy Ellen...
Cover of Civic ceremony and religion in medieval Bruges c.1300-1520

Civic ceremony and religion in medieval Bruges c.1300-1520

Andrew Brown

2011 • 368p

This scholarly exploration reveals how spiritual practices shaped the very fabric of medieval urban life through an intimate examination of Bruges, one of Europe's most prosperous medieval cities. Andrew Brown uncovers the profound ways religious cer...
Cover of Pagans and Christians in Late Roman Emp

Pagans and Christians in Late Roman Emp

Edward M. Schoolman, Marianne Saghy

2017 • 382p

This scholarly exploration challenges conventional narratives about the relationship between ancient pagan traditions and emerging Christianity in the Roman Empire. Rather than viewing this transformation as a simple story of conflict and conquest, a...
Cover of Sacred Stories Spiritual Tribes Finding Religion In Everyday Life

Sacred Stories Spiritual Tribes Finding Religion In Everyday Life

Nancy Tatom Ammerman

2013 • 376p

In a world where spirituality often feels confined to houses of worship, Nancy Tatom Ammerman reveals the sacred threads woven throughout our most ordinary moments. Through intimate conversations with ninety-five diverse Americans, this illuminating...
Cover of Religions of the ancient near East

Religions of the ancient near East

Daniel C. Snell

2010

Journey through the spiritual foundations that shaped our modern world in this comprehensive exploration of ancient religious traditions. Daniel C. Snell guides readers across millennia of sacred practices, from humanity's earliest agricultural commu...
Cover of Greek Patristic and Eastern Orthodox Interpretations of Romans Romans Through History Culture

Greek Patristic and Eastern Orthodox Interpretations of Romans Romans Through History Culture

Daniel Patte

2013 • 224p

This scholarly collection opens a window into how the early Greek Church Fathers understood Paul's letter to the Romans, offering modern readers a profound alternative to familiar Western interpretations. Rather than approaching Romans through the le...