Temples of Modernity

Geraci offers an investigation into the intersection of religion, science, and technology in scientific and engineering communities in India. Using historical and ethnographic methods, Geraci explores religion, science, and technology in politics, scientific uses of Hindu images and rituals, and Indian reflections on the future of humanity.

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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.