Chapter 15 Religion and Magic The Universality of Religion Variation in Religious Beliefs Variation in Religious Practices Religion and Adaptations Religious Change Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What is a religion?

Religion Religion is defined as any set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices pertaining to supernatural power, whether that power be forces, gods, spirits, ghosts, or demons.

What do people’s religious experiences around the world tell us about religion for the human experience?

Religion as a Worldview Religion is Universal and can be described as an interpretive effort to express a set of shared assumptions about how the world works…. Let’s take a look….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fBT72-hhTs Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

How would you explain the Universality of religion? Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Universality of Religion The Need to Understand Reversion to Childhood Feelings Anxiety and Uncertainty The Need for Community Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in Religious Beliefs There is no general agreement among scholars as to why people need a religion. Yet there is general recognition of the enormous variation in the details of religious beliefs and practices around the world. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Types of Supernatural Forces and Beings Supernatural Beings Gods are named personalities, they can be conceived in the image of a person, animals, or celestial bodies Spirits are beings which are beneath the gods in prestige, and live closer to people Ghosts are supernatural beings who were once human Ancestor Spirits are ghosts of dead relatives

Celebrating our ancestors… Aquí no existe la tristeza Solo existe la alegría El baile de los queridos De los queridos del pasado Mira como baila mi mama Bailando con mi hermano del pasado Sus espíritus se juntan bailando Llenos de alegría y gozando Cierta gente puede ver Espíritus bailando entre la gente Si pueden verlos bailando mis hermanos Serán bendecidos entre los cielos Mira como baila mi mama Bailando con mi hermano del pasado Sus espíritus se juntan bailando Llenos de alegría y gozando http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUUAgEWeYeI

Variation in Religious Beliefs Polytheistic Religions Monotheistic Religions Can Catholicism be considered a polytheistic religion? Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in Religious Practices Ways to Interact with the Supernatural Various methods have been used to attempt communication with the supernatural. Prayer, ethnogens, simulation, feasts, and sacrifices are some examples. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in Religious Practices Magic compelling the supernatural to act in some particular and intended way Sorcery may include the use of materials, objects, and medicines to invoke supernatural malevolence. Witchcraft may be said to accomplish the same ills by means of thought and emotion alone. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in Religious Practices Types of Practitioners The Shaman Sorcerers and Witches Mediums Priests Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Variation in Religious Practices Practitioners and Social Complexity The number of types of practitioners seems to vary with degree of cultural complexity The more complex the society, the more types of practitioners. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religion and Adaptation Following Malinowski, many anthropologists take the view that religions are adaptive because they reduce the anxieties and uncertainties that afflict all peoples. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Religious Change Conversion to one of the world religions has often been associated with colonization and the expansion of state societies. Can you think of some negative issues associated with religious conversion? Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cargo Cults Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.