Varieties of Javanese Religion

Java is famous for its combination of diverse cultural forms and religious beliefs. In this most comprehensive study of Javanese religion since Clifford Geertz's classic study, Andrew Beatty considers Javanese solutions to problems of cultural difference, and how villagers make sense of their complex, multi-layered culture. Pantheist mystics, supernaturalists, orthodox Muslims and Hindu converts at once construct contrasting faiths and create a common ground through syncretist ritual. Vividly evoking the local religious life, this book probes beyond the surface of ritual and cosmology, revealing the compromise inherent in practical religion.

• A new look at a subject famous in anthropology: Javanese syncretism
• A vivid evocation of the religious life of Javanese villagers
• An exploration of ritual and symbolism in a complex society, attempting to go beyond the finished surfaces to show the debate and compromise inherent in practical religion