Topic 4 - World View & Religion Flashcards
What is the evolutionary point of view concerning religion?
Magic to Religion to Science. Each being more rational than the last.
What are the evolutionary standpoints concerning the typology of religions?
Animism, Polytheism and Monotheism.
Define “Animism.”
Belief that every living thing has a spirit.
Define “Polytheism.”
Belief in multiple gods.
Define “Monotheism.”
Belief in one god.
The typology view is good and the evolutionary view is not. True or false?
True.
What is the anthropological definition of “religion.”
Set of beliefs and actions related to supernatural forces.
Who are the four people that came up with anthropological theories concerning the origin of religious thought?
Levi-Strauss, Malinowski, Durkheim, Marx.
What theory did Levi-Strauss come up with?
Religion provides ways of explaining the world around us and coping with problems. In their need to explain the differences between the living and the dead, early societies developed the concept of the soul which is immortal and departs from the body after death.
What theory did Malinowski come up with?
Religion helps reduce anxiety and uncertainty. Promotes social solidarity by dealing with situations of emotional stress.
What theory did Durkheim come up with?
Early societies understood the benefits of social cohesion. They developed symbols to represent the group. They developed rituals to maintain cohesion and continuity. Collective worship is important.
What theory did Marx come up with?
Religion provides a superficial form of comfort to the poor. Mask class inequality. Religion presents uprising against the rich. Manipulation of ideology.
What is the Ritual Healing Theory?
The use of therapeutic rituals by early humans selected for genes providing the psychological basis for religious beliefs and suggestability to these treatments.
What is magic?
People’s attempt to compel supernatural forces in order to achieve certain goals.
What are the three differences between magic and religion?
Magic is more individual. Based on action, more ritualistic. Not based on existence of a deity. Religion is collective with a “moral community.” More ideological. Gods usually involved.
What are the three types of magic?
Imitative, contagious, and sequential.
What is Imitative Magic?
To use something that looks like a person to influence his/her life (voodoo doll, poppets, etc.)
What is Contagious Magic?
To use something that was once in contact with a person to influence his/her life. Belief that there is a permanent link between the individual and a part of their body.
What is Sequential Magic?
Assuming that when one event occurs after another, the first may have caused the second and will continue to do so. Superstition can be considered here.
What are the world’s five major religions?
Christianity, Judaism (Jewish - Israel, Dispora countries), Islam (Muslim - Middle East and some of Africa), Buddhism - throughout Asia, and Hinduism - India.
What are the 7 specific behaviours and practices of religions?
Prayer, physiological exercise, exhortation, mana, taboo, feasting and sacrifice.
What is prayer?
Addressing supernatural forces like Gods, Saints, Spirits, etc.
What is physiological exercise?
Doing something to your body to manipulate your psychological state such as fasting.
What is Exhortation?
Some people are closer to the divine and use it to help others.
What is Mana?
Some objects are invested with powers and you can benefit from it if you touch it.
What is Syncretism?
Synthesis of traditional (older) religious practices and new ones.
What is Secularism?
The separation of religion and state, including a notion of secular citizenship that owes much to the notion of individual agency. Not having religion in public sphere of life.
