Ch. 10 (Supernatural Beliefs) - Final Flashcards
the anthropological study of religion
attempts to identify:
- how they function
- to what extent they are held
- the degree to which they affect human behaviour
religion defined
- set of beliefs in supernatural forces and beings
- help make sense of the world and solve problems
magic
- the manipulation of supernatural forces to intervene in events
imitative magic
based on the idea that procedure performed resembles the desired result
contagious magic
based on that once contact is made - continues to influence after seperation
witchcraft
inborn, involuntary - causing harm (unconscious)
sorcery
performance of magical rites to harm others
function of religion
- social control
- conflict resolution
- group solidarity
- psychological comfort (cognitive function)
- emotional comfort
- environmental adaptation
social control
(function of religion)
encourages socially acceptable behaviour
conflict resolution
(function of religion)
creates powerful bonds
group solidarity
(function of religion)
reduces stress that can lead to social conflict
psychological comfort
(function of religion)
explaining the world - giving meaning to life and things that we don’t understand
emotional comfort
(function of religion)
coping with anxiety, uncertainty - straightforward ways of coping with stress
environmental adaptation
(function of religion)
worldview and religion may contribute to effective management of resources
types of religious organization
Cults, Anthony Wallace:
- Individualistic
- shamanastic
- communal
- ecclesiastical
individualistic cult
(types of religious organization)
- no role specialization
- food collectors
- ie. Vision quest (Plain Indians)
shamanistic
(types of religious organization)
- part-time specialization
- food collectors, pastoralism, horticulturists
- ie. Tungus Shamanism
communal
(types of religious organization)
- groups perform rites
- pastoralism, horticulturists
- ie. Totemistic rituals
ecclesiastical
(types of religious organization)
- full-time specialization
- industrialism
- regular intervals, hierarchical organization
- ie. Christianity, Buddhism
Rituals
common in communal cults:
- rites of passage
- rites of solidarity
rites of passage
(Rituals)
celebrating the transition of a person from one social status to another
rites of solidarity
(Rituals)
ceremony performed for the sake of enhancing social integration
types of religious beliefs
- animism
- animatism
animism
(types of religious beliefs)
a belief that natural objects are animated by spirits (unique spirits)
- common in many Native American cultures
animatism
(types of religious beliefs)
A belief in a supernatural power not part of supernatural beings (like the “force”)
- the power is known is “mana” - Polynesian (power can be in objects or humans)
difference between animism and animatism
the “power” of animatism does not have a personality–it is an impersonal “it” rather than a “he” or “she” with human-like characteristics (animatism)
- Spirits are individual supernatural beings with their own recognizable traits (animism)
montheism
belief in only one god
ie. Islam, Christianity
polytheism
belief in more than one god
- ie. Hinduism
religious specialists
- shaman - Shamanism
- priests/priestess - ecclesiastical
- diviner
- healer
- medium
- prophet - devine revelation (Isaiah, Jeremiah)
World religions
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Judaism
Religion and social change
- liberation theology
- revitalization movements
- cargo cults
- separatists Christian churches
- millenarian movements
liberation theology
(Religion and social change)
- form of Catholicism - South/Central America
- ie. programs for social justice, and the poor
revitalization movements
(Religion and social change)
- designed to bring about a new way of life in society (rapid change, foreign domination, perceived deprivation)
- ie. Nativistic movements (many American Indians
- Ghost Dance movement - the Paiute Indians 1870
cargo cults
(Religion and social change)
found in Melanesia
separatists Christian churches
(Religion and social change)
- small-scale churches that break away to gain greater autonomy and power
millenarian movements
(Religion and social change)
- found in Christian areas of the world
Contempory trends in Global changes and world religions
- many people practicing a “hodgepodge” of beliefs
- Christianity centre of power shifted to the developing world
- Supernatural beliefs incorporated into international business decisions
Medical anthropology
Culture is a critical part of healing
- must use cross-cultural understandings (ie. Chinese health clinic in Brooklyn
All societies have (in regards to religion):
- religious rituals that appease supernatural forces
- set of beliefs concerning what we could call the “soul”
- Notions about life after death
