Chapter 14, Supernatural Beliefs Key Terms

cargo cults Revitalization movements in Melanesia intended to bring new life and purpose into a society. communal cults Societies where groups of ordinary people conduct religious ceremonies for the well-being of the total community.

contagious magic A form of magic based on the premise that things, once in contact with a person (such as a lock of hair), continue to influence that person after separation. covens Local groups of witches found in major cities in the United States, which are presided over by high priestesses.

cult Used in the early anthropological literature, in a nonjudgmental way, to refer to a religious group with its own set of beliefs, practices, and rituals. In popular discourse, however, it is a pejorative term referring to an antisocial group of religious extremists whose goal is mass suicide. ecclesiastical cults Highly complex religious systems consisting of full-time priests.

imitative magic A form of magic based on the idea that the procedure performed resembles the desired result, such as that sticking a dolllike image with pins will harm the person the doll represents. individualistic cults The least complex form of religious organization in which each person is his or her own religious specialist.

liberation theology A form of Catholicism found widely through South and Central America in which priests and nuns became actively involved in programs for social justice for the poor. magic A system of supernatural beliefs that involves the manipulation of supernatural forces for the purpose of intervening in a wide range of human activities and natural events.

Mahdist movements A term used to describe revitalization movements in the Muslim world. millenarian movements Social movements by a repressed group of people, which foresees better times at a specific time in the future.

myths Stories that transmit culturally meaningful messages about the universe, the natural and supernatural worlds, and a person’s place within them. nativistic movements A religious force for social change found among Native Americans.

religion A set of beliefs in supernatural forces that functions to provide meaning, peace of mind, and a sense of control over unexplainable phenomena. religious nationalism A phenomenon that is occurring in many parts of the world today in which traditional religious principles are merged with the workings of government.

revitalization movements Religious movements designed to bring about a new way of life within a society. rites of passage Any ceremony celebrating the transition of a person from one social status to another.

rites of solidarity Any ceremony performed for the sake of enhancing the level of social integration among a group of people. Satanists Individuals belonging to a group of people who worship Satan.

separatist Christian churches Small-scale churches that break away from the dominant church to gain greater political, economic, social, and religious autonomy. shamanistic cults Forms of religion in which part-time religious specialists called shamans intervene with the deities on behalf of the clients.

shaman A part-time religious specialist who is thought to have supernatural powers by virtue of birth, training, or inspiration. sorcery The performance of certain magical rites for the purpose of harming other people.

vision quest A ritual found among a number of Plains Indian cultures where through visions people establish special relationships with spirits who provide them with knowledge, power, and protection. wicca A modern-day movement of witches and pagans.

witchcraft An inborn, involuntary, and often unconscious capacity to cause harm to other people.