Chapter 11

What is religion? Magic: the attempt to compel supernatural forces and beings to act in certain ways. a. Law of similarity which is the basis of imitative magic. Item X = Person X, example is a voodoo doll b. Law of contagion which is the basis of contagious magic, contact with an item (hair, nails. fecal, etc) can have effects on them. Notable people: Edward Tylor, James Frazer Pentacle, the religion of Wicca Religion: beliefs and actions related to supernatural beings forces Animism: the belief in souls or doubles Polytheism: the belief in many deities Monotheism: the belief in one supreme deity Functionalist views of religion: need for something to maintain cohesion, help project wishes, worries and etc on to, model of life and model for life. Varieties of Religion Beliefs Myth: a narrative with a plot that involves with the supernatural Doctrine: direct and formalized statements about religious beliefs Claude Levi Strauss functional, helps people deal with two contradicting things and set an example or solution. Beliefs about Supernatural Force and Beings Animatism: a belief system in which the supernatural is conceived as an impersonal power Zoomorphic: deities that appear in the shape, partial shape of animals Beliefs about Sacred Space Saami people of northern Europe, strong associate with sacred places Khantam quran sealing or reading of the holy book, Quran by muslim women, meeting place become sacred. Dunne-Za/Cree in BC, sacred summer meeting ground Kateri Tekakwitha Mohawk women died at Jesuit mission, a symbol of unity in catholic Ritual Practices Ritual: a patterned form of behavior that has to do with the supernatural Secular ritual separate from religion ritual like weddings, sororities Periodic ritual - rituals performed regularly

i.e. Visakha Puja - Buddhas Day, happens annually Nonperiodic Rituals rituals that happen irregularly such as rituals performed in times of disaster like droughts Life Cycle Rituals Life cycle ritual: a ritual performed to mark a change in status from one life stage to another of an individual or group, also called rite of passage. Ndemubu Horticulturalists in Zambia, 3 phases: separation, transition and reintegration Puberty, common for boys but not as common for girls, societies who value the adult women productive and reproductive role will have ceremonies for girls Pilgrimage a round trip to a sacred place Rituals of Inversion Rituals of Inversion: a ritual in which normal social roles and order are temporarily reversed Functionalist release social pressure, reminder of the propriety of everyday life Carnival celebration before the Christian fast of lent Huehue main figure in Pueblas carnival, working class man who masquerades as a rich landowner. Sacrifice: a ritual in which something is offered to the supernaturals Religious Specialists Priest/Priestess: a male or female full time religious specialist whose position is based on mainly on abilities gained through formal training Shaman/Shamanka: a part-time religious specialist who gains status through direct relationships with the supernatural Prophets those who convey divine revelations, usually gained from dreams and visions Diviners who are able to discover the wishes of supernatural beings Aztects Cannibalism and sacrifice a. Etic view lack of protein and meat b. Emic View association with the gods World Religions and Local Variation World Religions: a term coined in the ninetieth century to refer to religions that had many followers, that crossed state borders and that exhibited other features such as a concern with salvation. Religious Pluralism: when one or more religion co-exist as either complementary to each other or as a competitive systems Syncretism: the blending of gestures of two or more cultures, especially used in discussion of religious

Hinduism 1. 2. 3. 4. 900 million people are Hindus, majority live in India (80%) They do not actively look for worshippers, a Hindu is born a Hindu Four Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana Diverse way to be a hindu

Hindu women and Karma, Karma is fate or destiny, that everything in ones life is planned out. A study in Britian show some women are fatalistic (believe in fate decides all) and others are not. Some women have left their husband as a opposition to the concept of karma. Buddhism 1. 2. 3. 4. Originated is a founding figure, Siddhartha Gautama revered as the Buddha. Protest against the caste system but maintained some aspects like Karma Enlightenment Bring pilgrims to Sarnath, first teaching of Buddha and Gaya, where he gained enlightenment

Buddhism and Indigenous Sprits in Burma Burmese Buddhism has been incorporated into the indigenous traditions, karma cannot be dealt with but nats (capricious spirits) can be Women have limited roles in Buddhism but many women have found ways to incorporate religion into their lives. One option in Thailand is the white robes and other is to simply intensify religious activity. Judaism 1. 2. 3. 4. Monotheistic, god is one and all powerful High regards for life Truth telling and prayers are encoded in the Siddur, a prayer book No mixing milk with meat

Kotel, a wall in Jerusalem and portioned for women and men to worship, no beggers allowed but still are there that offer to selling blessings, young jewish men . Passover in kerla, jews of Kochi, who are influenced by Hinduism in Kerla, South India Christianity 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Spang from Judaism Messiah Largest world religion, 2 billion people Bible as the basic teachings, 3 main branches: roman catholic, protestant and eastern orthodox

Protestantism among white Appalachians Last Supper in Fiji

Islam 1. Youngest of the world religions 2. Islam submission to allah 3. Stereotype as being the same everywhere Hui people in China who suffer discrimination. Africa Religions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Myths about a rupture that once occurred between the creator deity and humans A pantheon that includes high god and many secondary supernatural Elaborate initiation rituals Rituals involving animal sacrifices Altars within shrines as focal places where humans and deities Close links between healing and divination

Popular ones include umbanda, Santeria and condomble Direction of Religious Change Revitalization movement: a religious movement usually organized by a prophetic leader, that seeks to construct a more satisfying situation by reviving all or parts of a religion that been threatened by a outside forces or by adopting new practices and belief. Cargo Cult: a form of revitalization movement that emerged in Melanesia and new Zealand, in response to western and Japanese influences Religion as a contested human freedom.