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Definition
A social process that helps orient society
-cultural universal
-provides meaning, unity, peace of mind
-provide a mirror of society (stratified vs egalitarian |
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-Gives meaning to the world (cosmology)
-Gain a sense of control over the unknown
-Reinforces social order |
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Belief in spirits + souls
-Animate and inanimate objects have natural and unnatural self |
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Belief in one or many supernatural forces
-less local
-more powerful
-monotheism vs polytheism |
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Oral or written narratives about the actions + deeds of supernatural power + cultural heroes
-Can form a persons worldview
-Affects how people behave |
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| 4 ways to interact with the supernatural world |
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Definition
1)Prayer-directly conversing w/a spirit or god
2)Sacrifice-offerings made to spirits or gods in order to achieve particular results
3)Magic-use of certain mechanical techniques to produce supernatural outcomes
-Very common
4)Witchcraft-Ability to harm others by supernatural means
-leveling mechanism? |
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| Imitative magic vs Contagious magic |
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Imitative=voodoo
Contagious=amulet, pendent |
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| Belief in magical spells that harness evil forces or spirits to produce unnatural effects of the world |
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The use of rituals to obtain info from a supernatural force
-EX:tarot cards |
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Definition
Shaman:Part time
-works like everyone else
-called upon to cure
Priests: full time
-requires specialization
-part of established religious bureaucracy |
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Definition
1)Shamanic-only religious figures are shamans
2)Communal-Shaman + rituals
3)Olympial-formal established religion
-established priests + bureaucracy
4)Monotheistic-Priests all praying to one god |
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| Why is religion so complicated? |
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Definition
-Vary in how they present their knowledge
-Religion vary in terms of fundamentalism (orthodox)
-Religious beliefs often lack a strict boundary
-Religion also impacts other areas of cultural life (econ, social, etc) |
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| Mix b/w new religion + old beliefs |
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Patterned acts shared by members of a particular community
Secular (baseball superstitions) vs religious (Baptism)
-Rituals possess symbolic aspect |
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Definition
1) Affirm social + religious beliefs
2) Build a sense of community |
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Definition
1)Separation
2)Liminality
3)Incorporation |
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| Theories of Religions: Intellectual/cognitive |
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Definition
| Notion that religious beliefs provide explanation for puzzling things and events |
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| Theories of Religions: Psychological approaches |
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Definition
| Helps people cope with emotional or stressful situations |
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| Theories of Religion: Sociological approach |
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Definition
| Religion helps maintain harmonious relationships |
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Term
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Definition
A religious group that fits a particular theological system:
1)Individualized-Individuals have personal relationship w/supernatural powers
2)Shamanistic-Individuals have a relationship w/supernatural that ordinary people lack
3)Communal
-Members of a group gather periodically for a ritual
4)Ecclesiastical-Highly organized in which full time priests perform rituals believed to benefit believers or the whole society |
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Definition
-originate w/a prophet
2 kinds of information given by spirits:
1)what is currently wrong
2)vision of a new +how to bring it about |
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