©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Introducing Cultural Anthropology Roberta Edwards Lenkeit

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Belief Systems: How Do We Explain the Unexplainable?

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Belief Systems: How Do We Explain the Unexplainable?  Definitions of Supernatural  Why People Develop Belief Systems  Types of Beliefs  Ritual  Revitalization Movements  Summary

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Definitions of Supernatural  Supernaturalism vs. Religion  The term supernatural is more neutral.  It suggests there are natural things in the universe and supernatural things, beyond or outside of the natural.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Definitions of Supernatural

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Why People Develop Belief Systems  Belief systems and practices explain the unexplainable.  They provide specific functions which include: –Cohesion and Support –Education and Discipline –Revitalization and Euphoria –Ecology –Explanation

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Types of Beliefs  Supernatural Beings –gods –demons –souls –ghosts –tricksters –witches

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Types of Beliefs  Supernatural forces –Mana –Magic imitative magic contagious magic

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Types of Beliefs  Supernatural practices and practitioners –Shamans –Priests

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Ritual  Ritual is behavior that is formalized, is regularly repeated, and has symbolic content.  Rituals occur in two major categories of ceremonies across cultures: –Rites of Passage –Rites of Intensification

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Revitalization Movements  Revitalization Movements often arise during times of a perceived crisis, such as a loss of traditional cultural values, or a time of economic distress.  A charismatic leader will articulate the specific concerns for the group.  Ghost Dance Religion is one example of a revitalization movement.

©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Summary  Humans throughout the world distinguish between the natural and the supernatural.  Belief in the supernatural world provides answers to many of the questions of life.  Supernatural practitioners such as shamans and priests serve both individuals and communities in their dealings with the supernatural.  When economic turmoil and rapid natural changes occur, human groups often create revitalization movements.  Such movements tend to dissipate when the change is not forthcoming.