Myth and ecological relations module 2 Flashcards
What practical rules do myths provide regarding natural resource management?
Myths guide when to hunt, slaughter animals, plant, and irrigate fields.
How are rituals typically scheduled?
Rituals are often scheduled according to lunar and solar cycles, particularly lunar phases, solstices, and equinoxes.
What influences agricultural cycles in some societies?
Agricultural cycles may be planned based on religious rituals, which are often tied to astronomical events.
What role do religious practitioners, including shamans, play in ecological relations?
Shamans maintain society’s relationship with the natural world, often communicating with spirit entities that influence plant and animal availability.
What happens when hunters face difficulties finding food animals?
The shaman may undertake a spiritual journey to determine the reason, often discovering that a taboo has been broken or a ritual neglected.
What ecological regulatory mechanisms exist in Tukano cosmology?
Hunters must ritually ask the spirit protector for permission to kill animals, avoid sexual activity, and observe dietary restrictions.
What specific taboos exist for Tukano hunters regarding their households?
No female in a hunter’s household may be menstruating when he hunts, and certain animals must be avoided during pregnancy.
What happens if Tukano hunters fail to capture prey?
The shaman may journey to the master of animals and learn of possible taboos being violated, angering the spirits.
How does the Tukano mythological system connect sexual energy and the environment?
Repressing sexual behavior is believed to save energy, which is invested into nature, thus reducing reproduction when resources are scarce.
What is required before subsistence activities in Tukano culture?
Sexual abstinence is required before rituals that precede subsistence activities, directly linking reproduction and environmental sustainability.
How do the Tukano explain uneven natural resource availability?
Resource scarcity is attributed to human mistakes rather than external causes.
Q: How does religion influence food consumption in society?
Religion dictates which foods can be consumed and which must be avoided.
What are some reasons religions might restrict certain foods?
Some food taboos may be related to zoonotic diseases, allergies, toxicity, or environmental impacts.
What is an example of a religious food taboo related to the environment?
The Jewish prohibition on pork is thought to be influenced by environmental concerns, as pigs can cause deforestation and desertification by uprooting plants.
