of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion The Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion

anthropology ánthrōpos (Greek) = human lógos (Greek) = word = the “word about humans”, the study of humans, the organized and systemized body of knowledge about humans

four field approach cultural anthropology anthropological linguistics archaeology physical anthropology plus: applied anthropology

cultural anthropology studies “culture” learned by individual as part of a group passed on from generation to generation three components material (artifacts) behavioral (actions) ideational (cognitive, affective elements)

cultural anthropology and the study of religious systems investigates the functions of religion, both for the individual and for the group looks at how religions change through time, and why

cultural anthropology and the study of religious systems studies manifestations of “religion” objects activities beliefs and emotions

anthropological linguistics studies the role of language in culture historical linguistics evolution of language relationships between languages

anthropological linguistics studies the role of language in culture Sapir-Whorf hypothesis does language mirror reality? OR does language shape reality?

anthropological linguistics and the study of religious systems how has “religious” language changed over time and why are their linguistic similarities in different cultures?

anthropological linguistics and the study of religious systems relationship between conceptual constructs and reality religious concepts as universal components of cultural systems

archaeology extends the study of humans into the past based on evidence preserved in the ground (and elsewhere) emphasizes material aspect of culture, but also looks to behavior and ideation attempts to reconstruct the past, both as an end it self and as a way to understand the present

archaeology and the study of religious systems Chauvet Cave (31,000 – 24,000 yrs. B.P.)

biological anthropology considers humans as animals how do modern humans differ? = variation how did humans arise? = evolution what is the relationship between biology and culture? how does our biology shape us? how does our culture affect our biology?

biological anthropology and the study of religion views religious systems as adaptive mechanisms studies ritual in non-human species looks for genetic bases of belief (“gullibility gene”) of “trance” and other altered states of human need to be in a group “neurotheology”

 anthropology is a biocultural discipline four field approach cultural studies cultural anthropology anthropological linguistics archaeology biological studies biological anthropology  anthropology is a biocultural discipline

anthropology is “holistic” in its approach views its phenomena as interrelated and integrated views societies both in their own rights and from a comparative perspective

anthropology eschews ethnocentrism (the practice of using one culture as the standard to evaluate another) based upon cultural relativism (cultures can only be evaluated and understood on their own terms)

“Religion is a fact in nature and, to be understood, must be seen as a product of the same laws of nature that determine other natural phenomena” Anthony F.C. Wallace 1966