Temples of Modernity: Nationalism, Hinduism, and Transhumanism in South Indian Science

by Robert M. Geraci

Temples of Modernity uses ethnographic data to investigate the presence of religious ideas and practices in Indian science and engineering. Geraci shows 1) how the integration of religion, science and technology undergirds pre- and post-independence Indian nationalism, 2) that traditional icons and rituals remain relevant in elite scientific communities, and 3) that transhumanist ideas now percolate within Indian visions of science and technology. This work identifies the intersection of religion, science, and technology as a worldwide phenomenon and suggests that the study of such interactions should be enriched through attention to the real experiences of people across the globe.

243 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2018

About the author

After 19 years in NY, I'm now the Knight Distinguished Chair in the Study of Religion and Culture at Knox College.

I'm pretty sure that everyone loves robots, which is why I've written a book about them. People love games too, so I wrote another book. I'm also interested in the toadstool circles, the ancient temples, the soaring cathedrals of our religious imagination. Likewise, the dark tunnels of mining and rapid transit. I visit mountains, deserts, temples, laboratories, factories, virtual realities...the places where magic enters the world.

I grew up playing Dungeons & Dragons, and my generation conquered American culture. I take considerable pride in the fact that the games we played as kids were the seminal influence upon so much of modern entertainment and so many of today's most influential thinkers, writers, and innovators. I'm grateful to be a part of that tradition.