ARA
is a private enterprise focusing on Asia and Asia related studies,*
with a special view to Central Asia, West Asia (Near-Middle East) and East Asia.
ARA engages in research, publishing and teaching
in the fields of history, religion, culture, language, society and state
for the public and private benefit
of those taking interest in its work.
ARA does not concern itself with or involve itself in
the promotion of Western ideals of democracy
or religion in Asia.
The primary vision and goal for ARA is
to aid Asian Peoples and Nations
as well as non-Asians living and working among them in...
...understanding, appreciating and working to preserve
their own Asian way of life,
including the rich history and culture of that lifeway,
while at the same time adapting to the challenges of
the modern global world,
...perceiving and impacting the Asian world of today and tomorrow
from an Asian worldview, contributing to the enrichment of the Asian people
and their heritage as well as to those who visit, reside among
and/or take interest in them and their heritage,
...giving special attention to the issues of inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace,
mutual respect and dialogue in Asia,
balancing this with genuine concern for (ethno)national unity, peace and stability
in a way which genuinely honors both God and human dignity.
Special interests of ARA
in relation to the Asian world
would include...
...Eurasia / Central Asia / Middle Asia / Inner Asia / the Silk Road / the Turkic World / Turkic-Persian-Mongolian peoples / Altaic peoples / Siberian peoples
...Western Asia / the Near East / the Middle East / Israel-Palestine
...East Asia / Japan / Korea
...Western-Asian relations / Eastern versus Western forms of economy, society and state /
Issues of modernization and globalization
...Ethnicity / culture / cultural identity / national identity / cultural nation / ethnic nation / political nation / nationalism / cultural nationalism / ethnic nationalism / ethnonationalism / religious nationalism / / national religion / civil religion / kingdom of God / colonialism / imperialism / irredentism
...History / historiography / world history / global history / comparative history / comparative politics / comparative cultural studies / political history / cultural history / religious history
...Religion / folk religion / traditional religion / history of religion / comparative religions / Judaism / Christianity / Islam / Shinto / Buddhism / Zoroastrianism / Tengrism / Shamanism / (Central Asian) Native Steppe Religion (NSR) / religious dialogue / cultural dialogue / Christian-Muslim relations
...Ancestors / saints / national hereos / ancestor worship / ancestor veneration / saint worship / saint veneration / sacrifice / blood covenant / communion meal(s) / funerary meals / funerary practices / burial practices /
birth rites / marriage rites / customs / traditions / rites of life / festivals / holidays, etc.
...Literature / narrative discourse / oral tradition(s) / poetry / song / dance / art
*We also take interest in (comparative / related) African, Russian and Mongolian studies.
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