Religion Flashcards
Definition of religion by Clifford Geertz
Religion is a cultural system
System of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive and long lasting moods and motivation.
By formulating the conception of general order of existence.
Clothing these concepts with such an aura the motivates the moods and motivational be seem uniquely realistic.
- Victor Turner definition for religion, can be used for functional significance
- Other significance (normal)
- Victor Turner Ndembu tribe
Promote community spirit that is
Feeling of greater solidarity, equality and togetherness
hence search for order. - Religion helps in continuing the society
- Reduce/control anxiety and give solace to people.
Give Malinowski trobriander fishing deep shallow sea practice example. Hence less control more rituals
4, modify realm and reinforce social order.
2 Quote on religion
Man made god in his own image. Religion as uniting force.
Religion is opium for masses. Karl Marx. For inequality and oppression by religion and non-theological concept (not related to god)
All society have cultural rituals that appease supernatural forces and have set of beliefs on what we call spirit, soul and notion of life and death. Murdock
Function of religion
Seraching for order
ex-social norms that promotes solidarity)
Reduces anxiety and control it and give solace to people
Trobiander shallow and deep water
Xhosa people destroying cattle and crop
Modifies the realm and reinforcement of social order
Taboo
Problem in defining religion
Coz of variation
Embeddness in sphere of life
Supernaturals are different in different society.
Distinguish between 4 types of religion?
Given by?
Anthony wallace
Shamanic= general term like medium for religion-magical person,
H and G society
Involve communal rituals like harvesting ceremony
Lack full time religion practice
Blv in several dieties
communal= Form of polytheism
Australian Aborigines
olympian= across state organisations (rank society)
Full time religious specialist
Polytheist organisation
Anthropomorphic (god is in man shape)
Specialised god and pantheon god (collection of god in one)
Mexico Greece Roman
monotheistic religion= one god
Priesthood service
All supernatural phenomena are manifested under control of omnipotent supreme being
Animatism was given by?
And what is it?
R. R. Marrit
Primitive were more emotional and intuitive in origin than intellectual
Mana
Type of magic by Frazer
Similarities (light produces light)
Hopi rain dance
Contagion principle
Keep hair or teeth etc.
To explain religion Sigmund Freud used 2 concept
Oedipus: competition b/w father and Son
Electra complex: competition b/w mother and daughter
Oedipus can lead to hatred and drive to kill other and later feel guilty, hence created something called Totem i.e. worship and respect= these 2 are reflection of sub-conscious conflict b/w father and son and can help to avoid conflict and reducing anxiety within society.
Name 10 forms of religion in tribal and peasant society.
Animism Animatism Fetish Naturism Totem Monotheism Polytheism Sacred Profane Magic Rituals
Animism animatism explain
Naturism
Done already
Nature is animated and god controlling phenomena
Totem was derived from and meaning and example?
Operates at which level?
Who. Said it was earliest forms of religion?
Objibwa , means otter-man I.e. brother-sister
Blf in objec, animal plants, anything with kinship relationship
Individual level = imitation of friendship, relationship, to protect imp animal like cow
Group level = associated with particular unilineal group
Sacred
Profane
Émile Durkheim said
Have belief practices and with certain sanctity and holiness
Mundane day to day activities, mostly secular
Religion is broader than Idea of God and spirit and so it can not be defined exclusively in those terms.
Myth?
Refer Levi’s Strauss
