intro anth of rel
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
1/13
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
2/13
Anthropological Study of Waysof Knowing
do not attempt to prove or disprove beliefsinterested in what the beliefs are how they function their effect on human behavior
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
3/13
Definitions of R
eligion
Religion can be looked upon asan extension of the field of peoples social relationshipsbeyond the confines of purelyhuman society (Horton
1960:211)
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
4/13
Definition of R
eligion
I shall define religion as aninstitution consisting of culturally patterned interactionwith culturally postulatedsuperhuman beings (Spiro
1966: 96
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
5/13
Defining R
eligion
A religion is (1) a system of symbolswhich acts to (2) establish powerful,
pervasive, and long-lasting moodsand motivation in men by (3)formulating conceptions of a gender order of existence and (4) clothingthese conceptions with such an auraof factuality that (5) the moods andmotivations seem uniquely realistic(Geertz 1973:90)
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
6/13
B asic Conc e pts -- R e ligion
Sacred -- extraordinary,inspiring a sense of awe andreverence
Profane -- an ordinary elementof every day lifeReligion -- a social institution
involving beliefs and practicesbased on a conception of thesacred.
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
7/13
P robl em s in De fining R e ligion
Religion may be embedded in thetotal social structurenatural vs. supernatural =ethnocentric?Supernatural Beings Buddhism -- no supernatural beings Polynesia; mana -- diffuse,impersonal,
incorporeal
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
8/13
T raditional R e ligions Vs.World R e ligions
1. Greater focus on this world, notfocused on salvation
2. Rituals to seek support of supernaturals
3. Knowledge about world was largelyknowledge about supernaturals
4. Oral Vs. Textual Traditions5. Greater Tolerance
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
9/13
T raditional R e ligions Vs.World R e ligions
5. Morality plays a lesser role6. Concepts of sin is alien7. Worship is also out of place8. Mystical beings more a source
of danger than benefit9. Establishes a sense of order 10.Does not sort people into Isms
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
10/13
Why E m phasiz e T raditionalRe ligions
Broad Categorical labels whichdistinguish major world religion
exaggerate difference and distractus from what they have in common
Hence by looking at these featuresin unfamiliar settings, it may becomeeaseir to recognize them.
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
11/13
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
12/13
M agic and R e ligion
Magicbelief insupernaturalaccepted on faith
specific immediateproblemstries to controlsupernaturalpracticedirregularlymagic a widevariety of practitioners
Religionbelief insupernaturalaccepted on faithissues of existenceappeals to thesupernaturalpracticed at specifictimesReligion hasofficially recognizedfunctionaries
-
8/8/2019 Intro Anth of Rel
13/13
Magic in Ev
eryday Lif
e
Everyone Please Stand Up