Ritual, Liminality and Transformation: secular spirituality in Sydney's gay bathhouses

摘要: Abstract In the twentieth century religion was radically transformed, as sacred uncoupled from institutional Churches. This enabled to be experienced through what were previously ‘secular’ activities, including sport, rock music, psychoanalysis and sexuality. Individualism prosperity combined encourage a focus on personal transformation primary religious process. The 1960s also saw calls for self-determination equality oppressed groups—women, blacks gays. paper uses model of secular ritual Victor Turner's concept liminality investigate role that gay bathhouses had in enabling men experience transform themselves. is grounded empirical research Sydney's sheds light rites passage, pleasure its relationship ecstasy, development specifically askesis (way becoming). It argued bathhouse cru...