Ch. 10 (Supernatural Beliefs) - Final

Question 1

the anthropological study of religion

Answer 1

attempts to identify:

• how they function
• to what extent they are held
• the degree to which they affect human behaviour

Question 2

religion defined

Answer 2

• set of beliefs in supernatural forces and beings

- help make sense of the world and solve problems

Question 3

magic

Answer 3

• the manipulation of supernatural forces to intervene in events

Question 4

imitative magic

Answer 4

based on the idea that procedure performed resembles the desired result

Question 5

contagious magic

Answer 5

based on that once contact is made - continues to influence after seperation

Question 6

witchcraft

Answer 6

inborn, involuntary - causing harm (unconscious)

Question 7

sorcery

Answer 7

performance of magical rites to harm others

Question 8

function of religion

Answer 8

1. social control
2. conflict resolution
3. group solidarity
4. psychological comfort (cognitive function)
5. emotional comfort
6. environmental adaptation

Question 9

social control

Answer 9

(function of religion)

encourages socially acceptable behaviour

Question 10

conflict resolution

Answer 10

(function of religion)

creates powerful bonds

Question 11

group solidarity

Answer 11

(function of religion)

reduces stress that can lead to social conflict

Question 12

psychological comfort

Answer 12

(function of religion)

explaining the world - giving meaning to life and things that we don’t understand

Question 13

emotional comfort

Answer 13

(function of religion)

coping with anxiety, uncertainty - straightforward ways of coping with stress

Question 14

environmental adaptation

Answer 14

(function of religion)

worldview and religion may contribute to effective management of resources

Question 15

types of religious organization

Answer 15

Cults, Anthony Wallace:

• Individualistic
• shamanastic
• communal
• ecclesiastical

Question 16

individualistic cult

Answer 16

(types of religious organization)

• no role specialization
• food collectors
• ie. Vision quest (Plain Indians)

Question 17

shamanistic

Answer 17

(types of religious organization)

• part-time specialization
• food collectors, pastoralism, horticulturists
• ie. Tungus Shamanism

Question 18

communal

Answer 18

(types of religious organization)

• groups perform rites
• pastoralism, horticulturists
• ie. Totemistic rituals

Question 19

ecclesiastical

Answer 19

(types of religious organization)

• full-time specialization
• industrialism
• regular intervals, hierarchical organization
• ie. Christianity, Buddhism

Question 20

Rituals

Answer 20

common in communal cults:

• rites of passage
• rites of solidarity

Question 21

rites of passage

Answer 21

(Rituals)

celebrating the transition of a person from one social status to another

Question 22

rites of solidarity

Answer 22

(Rituals)

ceremony performed for the sake of enhancing social integration

Question 23

types of religious beliefs

Answer 23

• animism

- animatism

Question 24

animism

Answer 24

(types of religious beliefs)
a belief that natural objects are animated by spirits (unique spirits)
- common in many Native American cultures

Question 25

animatism

Answer 25

(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)

Question 26

difference between animism and animatism

Answer 26

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)

Question 27

montheism

Answer 27

belief in only one god

ie. Islam, Christianity

Question 28

polytheism

Answer 28

belief in more than one god

- ie. Hinduism

Question 29

religious specialists

Answer 29

• shaman - Shamanism
• priests/priestess - ecclesiastical
• diviner
• healer
• medium
• prophet - devine revelation (Isaiah, Jeremiah)

Question 30

World religions

Answer 30

1. Christianity
2. Islam
3. Hinduism
4. Buddhism
5. Sikhism
6. Judaism

Question 31

Religion and social change

Answer 31

• liberation theology
• revitalization movements
• cargo cults
• separatists Christian churches
• millenarian movements

Question 32

liberation theology

Answer 32

(Religion and social change)

• form of Catholicism - South/Central America
• ie. programs for social justice, and the poor

Question 33

revitalization movements

Answer 33

(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

Question 34

cargo cults

Answer 34

(Religion and social change)

found in Melanesia

Question 35

separatists Christian churches

Answer 35

(Religion and social change)

- small-scale churches that break away to gain greater autonomy and power

Question 36

millenarian movements

Answer 36

(Religion and social change)

- found in Christian areas of the world

Question 37

Contempory trends in Global changes and world religions

Answer 37

• many people practicing a “hodgepodge” of beliefs
• Christianity centre of power shifted to the developing world
• Supernatural beliefs incorporated into international business decisions

Question 38

Medical anthropology

Answer 38

Culture is a critical part of healing

- must use cross-cultural understandings (ie. Chinese health clinic in Brooklyn

Question 39

All societies have (in regards to religion):

Answer 39

• religious rituals that appease supernatural forces
• set of beliefs concerning what we could call the “soul”
• Notions about life after death