Week 10 (Religion)

Question 1

Functionalism & Religion

Answer 1

Functionalism
* Society is like the body.
* Every part of society has a function.
* Maintain the coherence of society

Religion.
* Plays a major role
* Durkheim.

Question 2

Studying Religion

Answer 2

Studying Religion opens many interesting questions.

Questions revolving understanding the supernatural and our relationships with it.
* Why do some religions have many gods?
* Why does some religions involve sacrifice?
* How does religions respond to changing economic conditions?

One of the cornerstone of Anthropology

Question 3

Religion II

Answer 3

What is religion?
* “Consist of beliefs and behavior related to
supernatural beings and forces” (Miller, 195)

Not being confused with worldview.
* Religion can affect how people see the world.

Question 4

Magic vs. Religion

Answer 4

Magic – “People’s attempt to compel supernatural forces and beings to act in certain ways”.

Evolutionist argument (Sir Edward Tylor).

Magic being less spiritual and ethical.

Seen as “primitive”

Physical and psychological Needs
* Branislaw Malinowski
* Baseball magic.

Question 5

Supernatural Forces & Beings

Answer 5

Animatism – Supernatural conceived of as an
impersonal power.
* Mana

Zoomorphic
* Shape of animals

Anthropomorphic
* In forms of humans.

Question 6

Sacred Sites

Answer 6

Plays a big role ​
- The size depends on the religion.​
- Make sacrifices in those sites​
-Saami​

Khatam quaran​
- The sealing of the holy book.​
- Share a meal.​
- Seek divine blessing.

Question 7

Ritual Practices

Answer 7

Patterned, repetitive behavior focused on the supernatural realm.​

Sacred rituals vs. secular rituals.​
- Secular have no connection to the supernatural.​

Periodic rituals​
- Performed annually.​
- Buddha’s day​

Life cycle ritual ​
- Rites of passage.​
- Three phases.​

Question 8

Ritual Practices II

Answer 8

Pilgrimage​
- Round trip to a sacred place.​
- Hardship.​
- Similar phases as in ritual.​

Ritual of inversion​
- Normal social roles are temporarily inverted.​
- Reminder of the propriety of normal.​
- Carnival​
- Bosa (Italy)​

Question 9

Ritual Practices III

Answer 9

Sacrifice​
- Offering of something for transfer to the supernatural. ​
- Aztec​
- Cultural materialist (provide protein to the masses and show power)​
- Symbolic (Please the gods)

Question 10

Religious Specialists

Answer 10

Shaman & priests.​

Shaman has direct connection with the supernatural.​
- Anyone with shamanic abilities can become one.​
- Open available role.​

Priest/priestess​
- Full-time specialist.​
- Abilities gained through training​

Other specialists​
- Diviners.​
- Witchcraft.

Question 11

World Religions and Local Variations

Answer 11

World religion​
- 19th century​

Religious pluralism​
- When local and incoming religion coexist ​
- complements or competitors..​

Religious syncretism​
- Two religions form a close match with each other.

Question 12

World religions and local variations II​

Answer 12

World religions​

Hinduism​
- Polytheism​
- Differences in different caste.​

Buddhism.​

Judaism​

Christianity​

Islam

Question 13

World religions and local variations III​

Answer 13

African religions​

Common features​
- Myths about a rupture that once occurred between the creator deity and humans.​
- A pantheon that includes a high god and many secondary supernatural ranging from powerful gods to lesser spirits.​
- Elaborate initiation rituals.​
- Animal sacrifices​
- Close links with healing

Question 14

Directions of Religious Change​

Answer 14

Every religion change.​

Revitalization movements​

Ghost dance movement​

Cargo cults​
- Malenesia​
- Response to western influences.​
- Personal issues with ancestors (Levitt, 1994)

Question 15

Directions of Religious Change II​

Answer 15

Contested sacred sites​

Jerusalem​

India​

Indigenous People ​
- North-America

Question 16

Directions of Religious Change III​

Answer 16

Religious freedom as a Human Right​
- Seek asylum.​
-Tibet