Chapter 11 Religion

Cargo Cults What conclusions about religion can be drawn from the development of cargo cults?

Religion A social process that helps to order society and provide its members with meaning, unity, peace of mind, and the degree of control over events they believe is possible

Characteristics of Religion Composed of sacred stories that members believe are important Make extensive use of symbols and symbolism Propose the existence of beings, powers, states, places, and qualities that can not be measured scientifically Include rituals and specific means of addressing the supernatural

Functions of Religion Provides meaning and order in people’s lives Sense of identity Belonging Standards of behavior Reduces anxiety and increases control Prayer, sacrifice and magic… Reinforces or challenges the social order by transmitting cultural values and knowledge “However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way.” (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

The Search for Order and Meaning Religions provide a cosmology for interpreting events and experiences. This may include the creation of the universe, the origin of society, the relationship of individuals and groups to one another, and the relationship of humankind to nature.

Reducing Anxiety and Increasing Control Religious practices, such as prayer, sacrifice, magic, and other rituals, call on the help of supernatural beings, particularly where forces appear unpredictable and risky. These practices can alter the emotional state of those who practice them and reduce or increase their anxiety.

The Social Order Through religion, dominant cultural beliefs about good and evil are reinforced. Sacred stories and rituals provide a rationale for social order and give social values religious authority. Religious ritual intensifies social solidarity by creating an atmosphere in which people experience their common identity in emotionally moving ways.

Religious Symbols Some religious symbols may have supernatural power in and of themselves, such as the masks used in African ceremonies. What symbols do you know that contain supernatural power?

God Term used for a named spirit believed to have created or to control some aspect of the world High gods, gods understood as the creator of the world, are present in only about half of all societies. In about one-third of these societies, such gods are distant and withdrawn, having little interest in people.

Polytheism The belief in many gods In India, there are millions of gods; yet all Indians understand that in some way they are all aspects of one divine essence.

Monotheism Belief in a single god In monotheistic religions, one god may have several aspects. In Roman Catholicism: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all part of a single, unitary god.

Ritual Act involving the manipulation of religious symbols Certain patterns of religious behavior are extremely widespread, if not universal.

Totem An object, an animal species, or a feature of the natural world that is associated with a particular descent group Totemism is a prominent feature of the religions of the Australian aborigines.

Prayer Communication between people and spirits or gods People believe results depend on the spirit world rather than on actions humans perform. Prayer may involve a request, a pleading, or merely praise for the deity.

Sacrifice People try to increase their spiritual purity or the efficacy of their prayers by making offerings to gods or spirits. People may sacrifice the first fruits of a harvest, animal lives or, on occasion, human lives. Many Americans are familiar with giving up something for Lent, a form of sacrifice intended to help the worshipper identify with Jesus, show devotion, and increase purity.

Magic An attempt to mechanistically control supernatural forces When people do magic, they believe that their words and actions compel the spirit world to behave in certain ways.

Shaman Recognized as having the ability to mediate between the world of humanity and the world of gods or spirits Not a recognized official of any religious organization

Shaman in Indonesia Reading Entrails Why is shamanism such a powerful tool for curing illness? What characteristics make it convincing to the patient?

Priest One who is formally elected or appointed to a full-time religious office

Witchcraft The ability to harm others by harboring malevolent thoughts about them; the practice of sorcery. May be done unconsciously Wiccan – A member of a new religion that claims descent from pre-Christian nature worship; a modern day witch.

Sorcery The conscious and intentional use of magic with the intent of causing harm or good

Syncretism Merging two or more religious traditions and hiding the beliefs, symbols, and practices of one behind similar attributes of the other. Example: Santeria Slaves in Cuba combined African religion, Catholicism, and French spiritualism to create a new religion. They identified African deities, called orichas, with Catholic saints.