“It Makes Me Complete”
Ideas of Possession October 29, 2024 Bettina E Schmidt
Spirit possession is best understood not as a universal phenomenon but as a culturally specific practice shaped by social context. Based on fieldwork in Brazilian religious communities, particularly candomblé, the chapter presents an interview with a member about his difficult path into the religion and his experience with the divine. Comments from candomblé members reflecting on their personal experiences of possession are used to argue for a deictic approach that emphasizes the importance of local social and cultural contexts over universalist interpretations.