The Turkmens’ Magic World View While years of Soviet domination added new elements to the intellectual life and culture of the Central Asian peoples, it at the same time reinforced the region’s geographic isolation and served to lessen the impact of external secularizing influences. As a result, many ancient traditions and values were preserved little changed. Based on her research on Turkmen women and their folksongs, Carole Blackwell describes the ‘magic world view’ that still prevails in Turkmenistan. In an afterword, Michael points out some similarities to the magic world view described by Michael Quinn in his study of Joseph Smith’s New England.

Michael P. Blackwell