World ReligionsWorld ReligionsExplaining the Unexplainable

What is Religion?What is Religion?

Relationship with a Deity◦Deity – god figure

Expression of GoodnessSacred Frame of MindMoral Exchange of PowerEthical PracticeSet of Beliefs and Practices

Types of ReligionsTypes of Religions

Atheistic - no deityMonotheistic - one deityPolytheistic - multiple deitiesPantheistic - everything is deityAnimism – ancestors become spiritual

forcesHenotheism – believing in many gods, but

one of them is supreme

Attributes of ReligionsAttributes of Religions

Belief in SupernaturalSacred/Secular DivideCommunal/Individual RitualsMoral/Ethical CodeCommunication with DivineMythical (sacred) stories

◦Myth – story that attempts to explain the reality of the world in which a person lives

Social OrganizationsPromise of Inner Peace/HarmonyOffer future hopePropagate themselves

Function of ReligionFunction of Religion

Give AnswersAddress MoralityOffer ControlProvide Society, Structures, and ValuesGive Meaning to ExistenceShow guidance of how to live

Perspectives of ReligionPerspectives of Religion

Adherent - looking from the insideOpponent - from outside to prove againstScholar - from inside to understandSeeker - from the middle with intent to

follow or not follow

History of Religious StudiesHistory of Religious Studies

Began to view religion from outside in 1500’s

Why Religious Studies?◦Understand new cultures in travel◦Modernity (worldview of reason and rational

explaining)Responses to Religions:

◦Exclusivism – only ours is right◦Inclusivism – ours is true, but others could be

right too◦Pluralism – every religion has truth◦Universalism – all willed be “saved”

Jean Bodin (1530-1596)Jean Bodin (1530-1596)

French Wars of Religion (Cath./Protest.)◦French diplomat - peacemaker◦Didn’t believe Christians could solve war

Wrote “Colloquium”◦Best religion is closest to Adam and Eve◦Earliest religion is the best religion◦Concerned with the best version of Christianity

Edward Herbert (1582-1648)Edward Herbert (1582-1648)

Lived during 30 Years War (Cath./Prot.)Diplomat

◦Seek religion accepted by majorityFound common religious themes:

◦One God◦God is Worshipped◦Virtue is Key◦Repent of Sins◦Afterlife Consequences

Brenard Fontenelle (1657-1757)Brenard Fontenelle (1657-1757)

Studied myths and rituals of other groups◦“Primitive Mind” seeks to explain nature

Gods are in control A basic mind cannot handle complexity, so a

simple concept must be presented (gods)◦Concludes that religion will be trumped by

Science◦Because religion was an attempt to explain

reality, science is the ultimate way in which one explains reality

David Hume (1711-1776)David Hume (1711-1776)

Scottish Empiricist (no instinctual knowledge)◦No spiritual realm

“Natural History of Religion”◦Sources of Religion:◦1) Nature’s Power ◦2) Anthropomorphism – assigning human

characteristics to a deity“No progression in religion”

Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

“Religion is the opiate of the masses”Focused on the Economic Aspect

◦Have’s and Have Not’sDivides Social Functions:

◦Sub-Structure - physical needs◦Super Structure - arts, philosophy, religion

History Is between Workers and OwnersReligion is the Owners’ attempt to calm

the Workers

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Founder of Sociology◦Sociology – the study of personal interactions

and the systems of those interactionsReligions based on Social BehaviorLooks at Totemism

◦Sacred things are related to society◦Totem is unifying mark◦Religions worship themselves

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Founder of Psychoanalytical Technique“Totem and Taboo”

◦Monotheistic religion arises from mythical and primal murder of father figure

“Future of an Illusion”◦Religion is a coping mechanism◦Religion is illusion of wish-fulfillment◦Religion forces neurosis (deal with issues)

4 Theories of Origins4 Theories of Origins

1) Naturalism2) Animism3) Ghost Theory4) Totemism

NaturalismNaturalism

Naturalism – the idea that worship originated with the fact that nature is unexplainable, and therefore worthy of worship

Max Muller◦Humans are in awe of nature◦Lightening, Rain, Fire, etc.◦Religion is personification of nature

AnimismAnimism

Animism – the idea that religion originated because all things had a spirit that must be controlled

Edward Burnett Taylor◦“everything is inhabited by a spirit”

Religion is interaction between human and spirit Many spirits but few gods Worship is control of unique spirits

Ghost TheoryGhost Theory

Ghost Theory – the idea that religion originated by seeing spirits/ghosts in a dream state, thus the people’s spirit still exists

Herbert Spencer◦People are confused by Real and Dreams

You see dead people in dreams◦Ghosts must be alleviated

Leads to ancestor worship◦Therefore, we are surrounded

TotemismTotemism

Totemism – religion originated by means of communities needing to control their worlds and sacrificing to the group’s icon/mascot

W. Robertson Smith◦Religion begins with sacred animal◦In times of need, sacrifice the animal

Origin of sacrifice system◦Tribes have different animals as unifying

Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions

Indigenous - originating locally◦Traditional, aboriginal, tribal, primal, native,

oral, non-literateCommon Features

◦Oral/Spoken Religion◦Connection to the Land◦Life and Sacred Connected◦Time is a Circle◦Seasonal and Generational Cycles◦Taboo – a rule that forbids a specific behavior

Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions

Relationship to Spirits◦Presence of Supreme Being◦Unseen Powers (human-like, nature, ancestors)

Kinship to Creation◦Everything has spirit◦Earth as Mother (land is sacred)◦All creatures are kin (brother bear…)

Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions

Relationship with Power◦Sacred Sites

Places have higher concentration of power◦Sacred Objects

Power built through sacred practices Ritual objects retain power

◦Women= mysterious and dangerous

Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions

Spiritual Specialists◦Storyteller - maintain oral tradition◦Instrumentalist - communication with spirits◦Sacred Dancers - make unseen visible (hula)◦Shaman - heals phys/psych/spirit problems

Techniques: herbs, sweat bath, massage Divination – the act of determining the past,

present, and future will of the god(s) Prayer, and chanting Altered Consciousness (drum, sing, drink, drugs,

etc.)

Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions

Group Rituals◦Rites of Passage (birth, manhood, womanhood,

etc.)◦Rituals of Survival (hunting, feasting, etc.)◦Rituals of Purification (marriage, errors, etc.)

Individual Rituals◦Seek Visions◦Vision Quest