The Function of Religion in Providing Ideologies for Social and Political Change...

FAIN: FA-11480-76

Ainslie T. Embree
Teachers College, Columbia University (New York, NY 10027-6605)

The study attempts, by ranging widely through the modern period, but is concentrating on a relatively restricted aspect of the society, to provide a framework for analyzing and understanding historical developments in South Asia. The analysis will treat 1) visions of "the good society", intellectual statements in India in the period, drawn from the great religious traditions of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity; 2)that these religions provided for "ideologies of transition"; and, 3) a new kind of Indian leaders in society associated with "reformist" and "revivalist" movements who transformed large segments of Indian society to provide new constituencies for themselves.