5th SSEASR Conference on Healing, Belief Systems, Cultures and Religions of South and Southeast Asia

The 5th SSEASR Conference on Healing, Belief Systems, Cultures and Religions of South and Southeast Asia is being co-organized by the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila and the University of Santo Tomas, and will take place in Manila from May 16 to 19, 2013.

Bodies, made up by different elements and substances, are sites of and vehicles for the expression of our existence. It is not surprising, therefore, that the peoples of South and Southeast Asia have long expressed the belief that religious practice can facilitate (and at times, hinder) healing. The diverse beliefs systems and cultural practices of South and Southeast Asia offer many ways to reach this goal, but all reflect the premise that healing is related to spirituality. This is the philosophy of our life and belief in South and Southeast Asia. Coming under various names such as guru, albularyo, achariya, sages and sufi, the healers and their methods reflect the distinctive cultures of this region. Today, several healers come out to combat diseases and restore our health. However, does this process include the treatment to our body only?  For us, health and healing go beyond our mortal body. Healing, in this context, however, encompasses more than just the body; it also includes healing the mind, the conscience, the soul and the essential self. South and Southeast Asians encompass the traditional, alternative ways and the conventional methods of healing. This Conference covers various aspects of healing beliefs and practices in the cultures and religions of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The 5th SSEASR Conference is dedicated to providing an academic platform for discussing the relationship between culture and religious healing through various scholars from all over the world. The National Museum of the Philippines in collaboration with the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila invites you to participate in this multinational conference. This 5th SSEASR Conference has been also declared as an IAHR Regional Conference for the year 2013, thus attracting a large number of international experts on the subject. Sessions and paper proposals dealing with the study of this phenomenon through various academic disciplines are invited.

For more details and online registration, please visit the website http://www.sseasr.org or send an email to SSEASRphilippines@yahoo.com.

Important Deadlines: Show of Interest: November 24, 2012

Early Registration Deadline: January 15, 2013

Last Submission of Abstract: February 24, 2013