Ch. 10: Supernatural Beliefs Flashcards
Communal cults
A type of religious organization in which groups of ordinary people conduct religious ceremonies for the well-being of the total community
Contagious magic
A form of magic based on the premise that things, once in contact with a person, continue to influence that person after separation
Cult
Forms of religion that have their own set of beliefs, rituals, and goals
Ecclesiastical cults
Highly complex religious organizations in which full-time clergy are employed
Imitative magic
A form of magic based on the idea that the procedure performed resembles the desired result
Individualistic cults
The least complex type of religious organization in which each person is his or her own religious specialist
Liberation Theology
A form of Catholicism found throughout South and Central America in which priests and nuns are actively involved in programs that promote social justice for the poor
Magic
A system of supernatural beliefs that involves the manipulation of supernatural forces for the purpose of intervening in a wide range of human activities and natural events
Mahdist Movements
Revitalization movements in the Muslim world
Millenarian Movements
Social movements by repressed groups of people who are looking forward to better times in the future
Nativistic Movements
A religious force for social change found among Native Americans
Religion
A set of beliefs in supernatural beings and forces directed at helping people make sense of the world and solve important problems
Revitalization Movements
Religious movements designed to bring about a new way of life within a society
Rites of Passage
Ceremonies that celebrate the transition of a person from one social status to another
Rites of Solidarity
Ceremonies performed for the sake of enhancing social integration among groups of people
Separatist Christian churches
Small-scale churches that break away from the dominant church to gain greater political, economic, social, and religious autonomy
Shamanistic cults
A type of religious organization in which part-time specialists called shamans intervene with the deities on behalf of their clients
Shaman
Part-time religious specialists who are thought to have supernatural powers by virtue of birth, training, or inspiration
Sorcery
The deliberate use of supernatural powers to bring about harm (often through materials, potions, and medicines)
Vision quest
A ritual found in some Plains Indian cultures wherein, through visions, people establish special relationships with spirits who provide them with knowledge, power, and protection
Witchcraft
An inborn, involuntary, and often unconscious capacity to cause harm to other people
Cargo cults
Revitalization movements in Melanesia intended to bring new life and purpose to a society
