Chapter 12 Flashcards
What is animism?
Earliest form of religion, meaning “belief in spiritual beings.” A spirit or soul animates all living and inanimate objects. Mostly found in foraging, horticultures, and non-pagan religions.
What is mana?
An impersonal and powerful supernatural force that can reside in people, animals, plants and objects. Distinct from physical power.
What is imitative and contagious magic?
Imitative- Performing a magical ritual on the likeness of someone or event to influence the real person or event. Ex: Voodoo doll.
Contagious-Performing a magical ritual on something that has been in contact with someone to influence that person.
What is totemism?
Durkheim believed this to be the most primitive form of religion; A mystical or spiritual relationship between an animal or plant (the totem) and a group of people or kinship group.
What is the sacred and the profane? (Durkheim)
Profane- Everyday world of mundane existence, nothing is special
Sacred- Beyond the everyday, beyond empirical nature and knowledge aqcuired by the senses ex) going to church.
What was Durkheims definition of religion?
A unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things- Religion as a social thing, magic was more personal.
What was Clifford Geertz’s definition of religion
1) A system of symbols which acts to 2) establish powerful and pervasive and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by 3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and 4) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that 5) the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.
How is religion used as a way of conflict resolution?
Reduces stress and frustrations that arise from conflict. Diffuses anger and hostility directed towards other societies, or social systems.
What is the difference between religion and magic?
Religion deals with the major issues of human existence (meaning of life, death, spiritual relationships), uses prayer and sacrifice, a group activity, whereas magic is directed towards specific, immediate problems, control and manipulate nature by their own efforts, individually oriented.
What is sorcery?
Involves use of materials, potions, and medicines, deliberate use of supernatural powers to bring about harm.
What is witchcraft?
Inherent power of people to cause misfortune or death by supernatural means. The epitome or embodiment of a societies conception of evil.
What is a myth?
Sacred stories that relate to a cultures worldview.
What is Wallace’s use of the word Cults and what are the four types he recognizes?
Cult: General sense, refers to forms of religion that have their own beliefs, rituals and goals. Theree are individualistic cults shamanistic cults communal cults , and ecclesiastical cults Roughly correspond to different levels of socio-economic organization.
What are some descriptions of the 4 type of cults?
Individualistic- Most basic, no full time religious specialists. Each person has a relationship with one or moe supernatural beings whenever he or she has a need for control or protection.
Shamanistic- Simplest form of religious division of labour. Part time religious specialists (shamans), intervene with deities on behalf of clients.
Communal Cults-Groups of ordinary people conduct religious rites and ceremonies on behalf of the larger community. Rites of passage and rites of solidarity.
Ecclesiastical Cults- Characterized by full-time professional clergy who are formally elected or appointed and devote all or most of their time to performing priestly functions. Usually part of hierarchical or bureaucratic organizations.
What are the 3 phases of a rite of passage? (Gennep)
1) Separation-stripping away of old status
2) Transition- (or liminal), Cut off from old status, but hasn’t yet received new status-stripped of identity, has no status, treated as embryo, new infant, or dead.
3) Incorporation- Incorporation of individual into the new status. Reborn.
What are rites of solidarity?
A ceremony performed for the sake of enhancing social integration among a group of people.
What are revitalizing movements?
A religious movement designed to bring about a new way of life within a society. Often brought about by colonialism. Examples: Handsome Lake and the Ghost Dance Religion.
What are cargo cults?
A melanesian revitalization movement characterised by rituals intended to bring material goods. Arose in attempt to return to the time of plenty brought about by americans during the war.
What is wicca?
Modern day witch-craft. Form of duotheism, worship a male horned god associated with nature and animals, as well as a mother goddess associated with fertility and springtime. Duotheistic, neo-pagan, nature-centred religion. One of the fastest growing religions percentage wise in the US and Canadda.
What is dogma?
Authoritative rules or teachings established by religious authorities that must be followed or taken as true.
What is syncretism?
The blending of religions.
What is proselytizing and evangelism?
Proselytizing- An attempt to convert people to one’s religion.
Evangelical- Christian denominations that believe in receiving salvation, being “born again,” and the literal interpretation of the bible.
What is religious fundamentalism?
Religious movement characterized by a return and strict adherence to the fundamental principles of the religion, and often involve a literal interpretation of religious texts as well as intolerance of other faiths.
What is religious nationalism?
A trend towards merging traditional religious principles with the workings of government. ex) islamic nationalism
How does religion fulfill multiple aspects of culture? (example)
Kikuyu elder sacrificing a goat, he calls upon ancestors to bring down rain, and the meat is later shared with the kin. Fulfills religious, economic, and kinship functions.
What is magic?
Way of controlling the natural elements.
Who was Louis Van Zelst?
Philadelphia athletics humpback mascot and bat boy. He helped the Athletics win the world series for 3 years. After he died, they finished dead last.
What are some examples of rituals?
Ritual bathing in the Ganges on the ghats of Varanasi (cleansing of souls), Purna Kumbh Mela (most sacred in Hinduism- belief that water will purify their souls and free them from the cycle of life and death. Occurs every 12 years, but a special one happens every 144 years.
What is the Hajj?
Annual pilgrimage to Mecca, largest annual (nearly 2 million people), demonstrates Muslim solidarity and their submission to Allah.
What are the 10 characteristics of rituals?
1) Religious, magic, supernatural
2) Highly formalized patterns of behaviour
3) Reliving an important event or reenacting myth or story
4) Rituals are belief in action
5) Out of the ordinary actions (sacred)
6) Performed in sequestered/sacred place
7) Goal/aim or function for people involved
8) Provide sense of solidarity
9) Symbolic
10) Multivocal
Who initiated the Ghost Dance?
Wovoka (Jack Wilson). Righteous behaviour and imminent salvation.
