What Is a Mudang in Korean History

A mudang is a shaman, usually female, in Korean traditional indigenous religion. Pronunciation: moo-(T)ANGAlso Known As: sessumu, kangshinmu, myongdu, shimbang, tangolExamples: Modern-day mudang in South Korea often maintain blogs and advertise their services on web-sites. A mudang would perform ceremonies called gut in local villages, to cure illness, bring good luck or a bountiful harvest, banish evil spirits or demons, and ask favors of the gods. After a death, the mudang could also help the soul of the departed find the path to heaven. Mudang communicate with ancestral spirits, nature spirits, and other supernatural forces. Becoming a Mudang There are two varieties of mudang: kangshinmu, who become shamans through training and then spiritual possession by a god, and seseummu, who receive their power through heredity. In both cases, the mudang is initiated after a process called shinbyeong, or spirit sickness. Shinbyeong often includes a sudden loss of appetite, physical weakness, hallucinations, and communication with the spirits or gods. The only cure for shinbyeong is the initiation rite, or gangshinje, in which the mudang accepts into her body the spirit that will bring her shamanist powers. Muism The belief system associated with mudang is called Muism, and it shares striking similarities with the shamanist practices of Mongolian and Siberian peoples. Although mudang were powerful and generally practiced helpful medicine or magic, the shamans were confined to the chonmin or slave caste, along with beggars and gisaeng (Korean geisha). Historically, Muism was at its peak during the Silla and Goryeo eras; the highly Confucian Joseon Dynasty was less enthusiastic about mudang (unsurprisingly, given Confuciuss negative view of women holding any kind of power). Beginning in the 19th century, foreign Christian missionaries in Korea strongly discouraged the practice of Muism. By the mid-20th century, the mass conversion of Koreans to Christianity, and the disapproval of the missionaries  drove mudang and their practices underground. Recently, however, mudang are re-emerging as a cultural force in both North and South Korea.

Teaching Techniques in Religion by Robert Baird - 744 Words

In the essay â€Å"Religion,† Robert Baird argues against teaching techniques of secular university religion courses. Baird’s repeated use of phrases like â€Å"humanistic,† â€Å"human culture† and â€Å"understanding of man† in the paragraphs following thesection titled â€Å"The Secular Study of Religion† all accurately describes the state of secular university religion courses. The first point Baird uses to argue against the methods of teaching, is the humanistic basis of the courses. Braid also argues that secular religious courses have no specific line of attack. The study of religion does not possess a distinct methodology. It utilizes the methodologies of history, literary criticism, philosophy, sociology, or phenomenology when they seem appropriate, avoiding reductionism only to various degrees. This leads to the last argument Baird makes against teaching techniques of secular university religion courses. Baird argues strongly against the secular university’s strong reliance on history as a method of teaching religion. All of the arguments Baird used to support his dislike of teaching techniques used by secular universities in religion courses; are very accurate and are very well supported in his essay. For the reminder of the essay, Baird addresses the position Christians need to take when confronted with the academic study of religion. First he addresses the historical aspect of teaching the Christian will encounter. When Baird tackles this aspect ofShow MoreRelatedThe Entrepreneurial Mind-18021 Words   |  73 Pagesorganizing or reorganizing of social economic mechanisms to turn resources and situations to practical account, and (3) the acceptance of risk of failure.9 After reviewing the evolution of entrepreneurship and examining its varying definitions, Robert C. Ronstadt put together a summary description: Entrepreneurship is the dynamic process of creating incremental wealth. This wealth is created by individuals who assume the major risks in terms of equity, time, and/or career commitment of providingRead MoreNanotech 1AC Essay13565 Words   |  55 Pageschange is the report issued by the Committee for Science and Technology of the Senate of the Republic in 2005. In this document, the Committee pronounced itself in favor of preparation for a National Emergency Program for investment in research and teaching of nanotechnology (Comisià ³n de Ciencia y Tecnologà ­a, Senado de la Repà ºblica, 2005). Several researchers and specialists in the nanoscience field worked in a partnership to create the Programa Especial de Ciencia y Tecnologà ­a 2001-2006, reviewingRead MoreImpooving Employee Performance72019 Words   |  289 PagesAppraisal Interview Conducting the Appraisal Interview vii xiii xv 1 5 25 49 v vi C ON TE NT S 4. The Performance Improvement Plan Preparing an Effective Plan 5. On-the-Job Coaching The Effective Coach Coaching Approaches and Techniques 6. Five Program Requirements An Effective Performance Review Program Posttest Test Answers and Reasons for Them 7. Leaders Who Coach Create Coaching Cultures The Beneï ¬ ts of Integrating Coaching for Leaders Evoking the Coach Within The Elements ofRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Whetten, David A. (David Allred) Developing management skills /David A. Whetten, Kim S. Cameron.—8th ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-13-612100-8 1. Management—-Study and teaching. 2. Management—Problems, exercises, etc. Kim S. II. Title. HD30.4.W46 2011 658.40071 173—dc22 I. Cameron, 2009040522 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ISBN 10: 0-13-612100-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-612100-8 B R I E F TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Preface

The Effects of Globalization free essay sample

The paper discusses the potential effects globalization will have on the world. Globalization in general refers to the ways in which capital, people, information and images and culture now flow back and forth across national borders with a greater ease and greater rapidity than they had before. This paper examines what the implications of such exchanges are and what are some of the most serious consequences of a world with such permeable borders, especially in terms of human rights and the environment. NAFTA has helped to produce a world in which workers are now linked across national borders through the globalization of production. In other words, NAFTA has allowed jobs that once belonged Americans to be sent to other countries which has detrimental short-term effects on Americans as well as detrimental long-term effects on the workers of all the countries involved. And to short-term and long-term harm to the environment that we all share. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effects of Globalization or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page All people find themselves increasing connected in this world. The clothes someone wears might well have been sewn in a country thousands of miles away of fiber grown in a third country.