Since 1960’s: people worldwide have become more “religious” than predicted On the rise: televangelism, fundamentalisms, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Pentecostalism, Neo- paganism Still going strong: belief in afterlife, heaven, angels, miracles, power of prayer to heal

Holistic: studying humans societies as systematic sums of their parts, as integrated wholes Comparative: we are able to gain insight into a culture by comparing it to another Multiple Perspectives: we look for the dominant or “hegemonic” way of thinking as well as the various counter-perspectives

5 interconnected subfields: Physical, Archaeology, Linguistics, Cultural, Applied Started out investigating small-scale, nonwestern societies (1880’s) v. large-scale, industrialized societies Methodology: Ethnographic = participant- observation, interviews, life histories, “deep hanging out,” field notes, photography, video, key informants, long-term collaborations

Ethnocentrism: using your own culture as the basis for interpreting and judging other cultures * Is it possible not to be ethnocentric? Cultural Relativism: Attempting to understand and evaluate another culture on its own terms * When do we have the responsibility to judge?

Anthropology CAN NOT: Verify, disprove, or judge anyone’s religious or spiritual beliefs Anthropology CAN: Investigate relationships among: religious traditions, doctrines, & aspects of society (economy, culture, politics, media, etc.) Offer new insights into your own religious traditions & cultures

Blurring boundaries between social sciences & humanities Cultures: texts to be read and interpreted Interpretation: way people make sense of differences Creative Process: take something that makes sense in one context and figure out its meaning in another “Native’s Point of View”: Perspective of people you are working with

Meanings are not private or in people’s heads but public & talked about everyday People are sophisticated interpreters of their own culture Anthropologists seek access to stories people tell themselves about themselves “thick description”: layers of meaning stacked on top of each other

Cultural mixing at national & community borders Borders are everywhere: groups once defined by religion, race, class, gender, sexuality (etc.) are in contact Relationship between Power & Culture: analyze social inequality to move toward equality Shift from looking at cultures as consistent wholes to looking at differences within cultures— difference is more typical than sameness Culture is emergent (always being created) & contested (always being debated)

VALUES = widely shared assumptions in a society (eg. “freedom,” “equality”) BELIEFS = cultural conventions concerning true or false assumptions, individual variation, not subject to scientific method (eg. ghosts, omens) WORLDVIEW = Beliefs & assumptions about the nature of reality (eg. the nature of human nature)

COSMOLOGIES = beliefs & assumptions about how we are interconnected with the universe (who are we?, where did we come from?, why are we here?) NORMS = right or wrong behavior according to society (eg. the appropriate family) MORES = core rules for maintaining a decent & orderly way of life; upheld by law (eg. ten commandments) SPIRITUALITY = supernatural experience, intensely personal or private experience (how do we research this?)

A religion is a : 1. System of symbols which acts to 2. Establish powerful, pervasive, & long-lasting moods and motivations in men by 3. Formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and 4. Clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that 5. The moods & motivations seem uniquely realistic

Symbol = external source of information publically shared within a society Ex. The meaning of Jesus Christ Son of God who died for our sins Human suffering Human sacrifice Hope Human goodness

Moods = religions teach us how to feel about humanity Ex. Reflecting on the crucifixion or human suffering Motivations = religions teach us what to work towards or hope for Ex. Eternal salvation, inner peace, enlightenment

Religions teach a particular worldview that helps to provide meaning or purpose in life Religions provide us with ways to endure pain, suffering, injustice Ex. Belief in Satan, karma, the law of 3-fold, etc.

We come to believe in metaphysical ideas about spirits, souls, revelations through participating in RITUALS Deeper religious realities are reached through rituals Ex. Catholic mass, Jewish Passover, Native American sweat lodges, pilgrimages to holy places, etc.

Religions teach us to experience, inhabit, or believe in an underlying spiritual reality that fulfills a purpose in our lives Religions are based on faith & commitment, not the scientific method Ex. Religious practice can make us feel hopeful, grounded, happy, etc.

All humans share in the “human condition” No room for “extreme cultural relativism”: anthropologists bear the responsibility to publicize violent practices so as to protect human rights Understanding & respecting differences in religion & culture will lead towards respect for all human beings, a perspective that will create a more peaceful & sustainable world