Difference between revisions of "Fieldwork project"

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***FYI:  If you're not very familiar with Edmonton's religious communities, you might want to go for a walk in the area bordered to the West by 101 Street and to the East by 93 Street, to the North by 118 Avenue and to the South by 106 Avenue (maybe down to 104 Ave on the eastern border).  This is the area that local newspapers/print/word-of-mouth refer to as the "highest number of churches/religious institutions per capita" in a small geographic area.  There is a Vietnamese Institute for Buddhist Research (aka a functioning monastery) on 97 Street and 113 Ave (meet Friday evenings, last I heard), a Tibetan Lama by the name of Kusho on 114 Ave and 101 Street (Tuesdays at 7pm for beginners), a Church of LIfe on 118 Ave and 101 Street (in Boston Pizza plaza), a Native-Christian Church led by Father Jim, a gospel church on the east central border, a Ukrainian Orthodox church, the Mustard Seed (Anglican?), a Unitarian Church, and many more, I am sure. There is also the Centre For Spiritual Awareness on 101 Ave. just 2 or 3 blocks west of 75 Street (major street), the B'hai Faith is still on Whyte Ave (107 Street block), I believe, and a Sikh (?) temple (?) further east on Whyte Ave on the south-side of the ave heading towards Bonnie Doon located in an ex-cinema building marked by captions such as "Baba says: 'Help Ever; Hurt Never'".  There is also a local caucasian guru by the name of John DeReuter who reportedly uses the 'divine gaze', for any of you who might be interested in pursuing the 'sound of silence' theme.  I will also take this opportunity to invite any of you to try a Sweat Lodge--as long as you don't ask me to be one of your informants (email my alternate address <bodytemplehealing@yahoo.ca>).  Failing these suggestions, you might want to visit the Earth's General Store on Whyte Ave and 107 street, above Gordon Price Music.  They have a great bulletin board downstairs as well as upstairs in the actual store.  
 
***FYI:  If you're not very familiar with Edmonton's religious communities, you might want to go for a walk in the area bordered to the West by 101 Street and to the East by 93 Street, to the North by 118 Avenue and to the South by 106 Avenue (maybe down to 104 Ave on the eastern border).  This is the area that local newspapers/print/word-of-mouth refer to as the "highest number of churches/religious institutions per capita" in a small geographic area.  There is a Vietnamese Institute for Buddhist Research (aka a functioning monastery) on 97 Street and 113 Ave (meet Friday evenings, last I heard), a Tibetan Lama by the name of Kusho on 114 Ave and 101 Street (Tuesdays at 7pm for beginners), a Church of LIfe on 118 Ave and 101 Street (in Boston Pizza plaza), a Native-Christian Church led by Father Jim, a gospel church on the east central border, a Ukrainian Orthodox church, the Mustard Seed (Anglican?), a Unitarian Church, and many more, I am sure. There is also the Centre For Spiritual Awareness on 101 Ave. just 2 or 3 blocks west of 75 Street (major street), the B'hai Faith is still on Whyte Ave (107 Street block), I believe, and a Sikh (?) temple (?) further east on Whyte Ave on the south-side of the ave heading towards Bonnie Doon located in an ex-cinema building marked by captions such as "Baba says: 'Help Ever; Hurt Never'".  There is also a local caucasian guru by the name of John DeReuter who reportedly uses the 'divine gaze', for any of you who might be interested in pursuing the 'sound of silence' theme.  I will also take this opportunity to invite any of you to try a Sweat Lodge--as long as you don't ask me to be one of your informants (email my alternate address <bodytemplehealing@yahoo.ca>).  Failing these suggestions, you might want to visit the Earth's General Store on Whyte Ave and 107 street, above Gordon Price Music.  They have a great bulletin board downstairs as well as upstairs in the actual store.  
 
Good Luck and Happy Seeking~~[[User: Kreisha ]]/Christine Oro.***
 
Good Luck and Happy Seeking~~[[User: Kreisha ]]/Christine Oro.***
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After playing telephone tag a while, I've finally spoken to someone and received basic permission to  visit the Ethiopian Orthodox Church which is not far from downtown.  I plan to attend several of their Sunday morning services, which last most of the morning.  In terms of ethical issues I will seek permission before photograph or tape part of the service, and make sure the people that I interview understand my project.  I will offer them annonymity unless I have their written permission for me to use their name.  Other issues that relate include acting with sensitivity towards their customs and beliefs.  My contact person has asked me to call him a few days before I attend a service so that he can help me with things like remember to remove my shoes and knowing where to sit.  I plan to wait until after I have visited at least once before asking about taping or photographs, that way I will have a better understanding and will have met the people involved.
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~--[[User:Cari|Cari]] 11:54, 28 January 2006 (MST)

Revision as of 12:54, 28 January 2006

Assignment

Ethics

Note: the telephone book provides a ready list of religious organizations in town. You can also check for web sites. Don't be afraid to cold call - this is part of the fieldwork experience. If one group is not receptive, you can always move on to another.

Your project descriptions

Please include a one-paragraph writeup of what you plan to do. Sign your entry.

I'm planning to do my fieldwork at the Vedanta Centre of Greater Washington DC during the reading week period. My plans are to attend a retreat at the Centre, as well as attend two additional meetings. (There are usually two classes and several music sessions during each week, so I will go to at least one of each, in addition to the retreat which is regarded as a special event.) I need to request permission to take notes during the events, as well as possibly tape them (particularly the music). I've found that I can schedule interviews with members and ministers by appointment, so I'm going to to start working on that as soon as I've discussed the nature of the project with the ministers. Ethical issues involved are informed consent to tape portions of the event, as well as making sure that the people whom I interview understand the project. I will offer anonymity to everyone involved, and I will not reveal anyone's identity unless I have express written permission. Finally, I am willing to share a copy of the final report with the Centre. --Niyati 12:26, 25 January 2006 (MST)


Fieldwork Project Description: 3-5 visits for participant-observation at the Korean Pureland Buddhist Temple in Riverdale. They meet Tuesdays and Thursdays to practice Qi Gong, and were originally organized by Dr. Stephen Aung--a highly respected leader in western medicine, traditional chinese medicine and wholistic practices, much admired by Complimentary Alternative Medicine therapists/practitioners as well as by the conventional western scientific medical community. While Qi Gong is generally perceived by westerners as a sort of 'energy martial art for healing', the fact that it is practised in a modest temple supports the indigenous/wholistic worldview of the inseperability of spirit and physical practise. The first and only time I visited this 'temple-house' was approximately 2 years ago. They were very friendly and willing to set aside some time for further discussion. Their use of chakra centres for the chanting of sacred sounds is of particular interest to the study of sound, chant, spirit and healing. I hope to produce a research paper/presentation that will serve to demystify debilitating misconceptions about 'Eastern Mysticism' (viz., that ritual practise serves no function--RE: Staal reading) while maintaining the sense of awe, respect and reverence these practises deserve (RE: Flanagan's use of Otto's "numinous" experience, and the irreducibility of practise/experience to function). I will seek permission from the members before any audio or video recordings are taken of them. I also hope to interview a good cross-section of the members and transcribe as permitted.Kreisha/Christine Oro

      • FYI: If you're not very familiar with Edmonton's religious communities, you might want to go for a walk in the area bordered to the West by 101 Street and to the East by 93 Street, to the North by 118 Avenue and to the South by 106 Avenue (maybe down to 104 Ave on the eastern border). This is the area that local newspapers/print/word-of-mouth refer to as the "highest number of churches/religious institutions per capita" in a small geographic area. There is a Vietnamese Institute for Buddhist Research (aka a functioning monastery) on 97 Street and 113 Ave (meet Friday evenings, last I heard), a Tibetan Lama by the name of Kusho on 114 Ave and 101 Street (Tuesdays at 7pm for beginners), a Church of LIfe on 118 Ave and 101 Street (in Boston Pizza plaza), a Native-Christian Church led by Father Jim, a gospel church on the east central border, a Ukrainian Orthodox church, the Mustard Seed (Anglican?), a Unitarian Church, and many more, I am sure. There is also the Centre For Spiritual Awareness on 101 Ave. just 2 or 3 blocks west of 75 Street (major street), the B'hai Faith is still on Whyte Ave (107 Street block), I believe, and a Sikh (?) temple (?) further east on Whyte Ave on the south-side of the ave heading towards Bonnie Doon located in an ex-cinema building marked by captions such as "Baba says: 'Help Ever; Hurt Never'". There is also a local caucasian guru by the name of John DeReuter who reportedly uses the 'divine gaze', for any of you who might be interested in pursuing the 'sound of silence' theme. I will also take this opportunity to invite any of you to try a Sweat Lodge--as long as you don't ask me to be one of your informants (email my alternate address <bodytemplehealing@yahoo.ca>). Failing these suggestions, you might want to visit the Earth's General Store on Whyte Ave and 107 street, above Gordon Price Music. They have a great bulletin board downstairs as well as upstairs in the actual store.

Good Luck and Happy Seeking~~User: Kreisha /Christine Oro.***

After playing telephone tag a while, I've finally spoken to someone and received basic permission to visit the Ethiopian Orthodox Church which is not far from downtown. I plan to attend several of their Sunday morning services, which last most of the morning. In terms of ethical issues I will seek permission before photograph or tape part of the service, and make sure the people that I interview understand my project. I will offer them annonymity unless I have their written permission for me to use their name. Other issues that relate include acting with sensitivity towards their customs and beliefs. My contact person has asked me to call him a few days before I attend a service so that he can help me with things like remember to remove my shoes and knowing where to sit. I plan to wait until after I have visited at least once before asking about taping or photographs, that way I will have a better understanding and will have met the people involved. ~--Cari 11:54, 28 January 2006 (MST)