Religion 11 Midterm Flashcards
Religio (etymology)
Latin root word of “Religion”
“re-tracing ancestral customs” (Cicero). The ancestral customs of ancient people
Religion (definition – Geertz)
Geertz defines Religion as a system of symbols that acts to establish powerful, persuasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men. It is meant to be a concept of a general order of existence, having “power” associated with them, making people believe it is true
Religion vs. Theology (McCutcheon)
The study of Theology assumes the existence of a divine being while the study of religion is an “anthropological enterprise” where it is studied as an expression of culture from human beings
The structure of religion(s) (6 elements)
Practices (rituals)
Beliefs (faith)
Texts (scriptures)
Sacred places (pilgrimage)
Ethics (behavior)
Social groups (communities)
Classification(s) of religion (x4 w/examples)
Indigenous religions - the ancestral religions of people who are native to particular landscapes
Abrahamic Religions - Subset of World Religions: Abraham is the ancestral originator of the religion (Judaism = blood ancestor, Christianity = spiritual ancestor, Islam = blood ancestor)
World Religions - a classification that is widespread and globalized in history/culture, that they are named “World Religions.” They are found everywhere, and their practice/culture doesn’t change much no matter where you go (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Confuscianism, Shintoism)
New religious movements - Doesn’t fit in the other three categories; typically niche and smaller, however, this category is important as it shows how human beings create religion (over time and space); stronger evidence. How they develop, are born, and grow (Scientology)
The comparative method
Compares two things to a point of comparison. For example, Christianity and Islam can both be compared to Monotheism, but there are other differences in their religions as Christianity believes in the Holy Trinity while Islam believes in JUST God, no trinity
Indigenous Religion(s) (definition)
Religion relates to a place/land in which there are practices, requires kinship or relationships with family, community, ancestors, animals, and spirits, and uses language in the religion through oral culture, tradition, and literature
“Native Spirituality” vs. “Indigenous Religion”
Instead of using the word “Religion,” the emic term “Spirituality” is used as a way to say a total way of life. They believe the universe is alive (animism), that there is a circle of life interconnecting all of life, there is interspecies communication (Shamanism), there is an emphasis on Tribal/Social Identity, and religion is healing/restoring balance.
The Ban on Indian religion
Nation-Wide Ban on Indian Religion, 1883-1934
Despite the US priding itself on religious freedom, it prohibited Indian religions by limiting their access to sacred sites, freedom to worship through traditional ceremonial rites, and the possession of sacred objects.
Primitivism
Compares religions as primitive to others. Implies that there is an evolutionary development of religion; thus a hierarchy is created. Typically considers Judeo-Christian Traditions to be “more evolved” than other practices.
Animism
Is the belief in spirits, an “unseen world” that influences/parallels that of this word. Origin comes from observations of nature, biological processes, and belief in the soul/spirit, spirit world, and spirit God. Belief in animism leads to a belief of a spirit world and polytheism.
Mysticism (definition & William James’ 4 characteristics)
Refers to a variety of expressions but mostly refers to the direct experience or encounter with the divine. There are 4 characteristics
Ineffability - indescribable
Noetic quality- Beyond description
Transiency - Doesn’t last very long
Passivity - Can’t force the experience as it comes unannounced and when you haven’t been seeking it
Perennialism
A way of comparison that posts a universal metaphysic of divine reality. A common expression meaning that all religions teach the same thing; however, the problem with this is that it over-simplifies similarities and underestimates differences.
Shamanism
The original definition refers to ritual specialists among Siberian hunting tribes.
Definition has now been used to refer to those who can communicate with spirits, prophesize, heal, manifest non-ordinary powers, and travel to spirit worlds
Sacrifice
Means “to make sacred.”
Sacrifice as Religio
Temples as “houses” for god(s)
The Temple “cult” (cultus) as priestly “care” for god(s)
Reciprocity (gift-giving)
Sacred Meals (shared)
“Burn Offerings:” Unblemished male first-born animals.
Other sacrifices: incense, grain, wine, oil
Sacrifices were typically thanksgiving/atonement
Temple is for God (God lives there). The Temple is a “cult” for God (cult means care/sincere relationship). Priests “care” for Gods. To show devotion to a God, you came bearing Gifts. (If you give gifts to God, then God will give back to you. Thus, the gift is now made “sacred”). Religion becomes a relationship between human and the divine. Fire was used so the smoke would go up to the heavens, and so the substance would be completely consumed. A whole burnt offering is known as a “holocaust.”
Emic/etic terms
Emic = insider/descriptive terms
ex) Christians calling Jesus Christ the son of God
Etic = Outsider/analytical terms
ex) Outsiders calling Jesus a prophet, teacher, and healer
Comparative “Scripture” (Finding God film)
The Pacific Jewish Center at Venice Beach believed that Scripture was basic instructions to life
The Center of Inquiry believed Scripture was a contradiction/invalid
Love At Work: The Exchange believed Scripture was manipulation and control
St John Cathedral believed the Scripture was up for interpretation
BIOLA represented scripture via plays etc.
Hindu Malibu Temple believed the scripture was divine
The First AME Church believed scripture was culture/life; not just something we read on Sunday
Sikhism believed that scripture wasn’t just words to be read but also songs to be sung
Jainism believed scripture was the blueprint for your life/you are bound to it. Rely on the sayings of their writings
Scripture was a woman’s body (Goddess temple)
“Tongva”/ “Gabrielino”
Pre-contact Tongva lived in SoCal in villages built along water sources
“Gabrielinos” refers to the people’s proximity to the San Gabriel Mission.
Had a hunter/gatherer lifestyle with an extensive trade network between villages
Christianity later influenced them
Tongva Rites of Passage
Boy’s Puberty Ceremony - Ritual death and rebirth as a man with sacred knowledge and acquiring a “guardian spirit”
Girl’s Puberty Ceremony - Ritual preparation for mothers through seclusion and purification. Reognition and awareness of first menstrual period. Women are isolated with other women that enter a 7 day period of purification.
Seasonal Rituals - Summer and Winter Solstice, Harvest Celebration, Annual Mourning (of the dead)
The Eagle Rite - A ritual sacrifice of an eagle
Since the eagle flies higher than any other bird, it allows it to fly closer to the heavens of the Gods, allowing some sort of communication with the heavens. They killed the eagle, meaning they absorbed the eagle’s energy into their life, so it isn’t seen as a murder but more so as an honor killing.
Land acknowledgements
Recognizing land before colonization formally belonging to indigenous people as they were the traditional care-takers
Kuruvungna
They are Sacred Springs that are found in West LA through the Mapping Indigenous LA project. It identified the site of a Tongva village and sacred spring on the University HS campus. Helped show how closely the indigenous community is entwined with LA, yet it can be difficult to recognize.
Comparing Tongva Religion & Catholicism
Tongva Religion
Ethno-religious
Animism
Restorative/healing
Ritualistic
Land as “mother”
Hunting/gathering
No “original sin”
No devil/hell
Abrahamic/World Religion
Universalistic
Monotheism
Soteriological
Sacramental
Land as “Resources”
Agriculturalist/Farming
Original sin (doctrine)
Devil/Hell
Jesus, Christ, & the Historical Jesus
The Jesus of history - The man who lived 2,000 years ago
The Christ of faith - The object of religious devotion represented as the Jewish Messiah
The Historical Jesus -The historical figure as he can be reconstructed using scientific historical methods
Historical Jesus: “Facts”
“Jesus of Nazareth” (confident of his existence and his association to a village)
Baptized (little/no information prior to his baptization at age 30)
Healer and Exorcist (acclaimed how his hearing powers and dispelling demons, this got him a following)
Teacher (Knowing the law and debating the law; controversial teachings that get him killed)
Prophet (Someone who speaks for God, someone who predicts the future)
Conflict over Torah (A controversial figure with the combination of all his reputations; a teacher is expected to know the Torah and interpret it. )
Temple incident (A Jewsih renegade trouble maker that makes enemies gets crucified after getting caught in the wrong place and wrong time)
Crucifixion (the ending of Jesus; his death)
