Chapter 15 Religion
Chapter Questions What is religion? What does religion do in a society? How are religious beliefs and rituals different in various cultures? What roles do sacred stories and symbols play in relation?
Chapter Questions What are some common key elements in religious rituals? What are the differences between prayer, sacrifice and magic? How do priests differ from shamans? Under what conditions do religions change, and when do new religions form?
A Human Universal Religion dates back to the beginnings of the human species. No religion is more evolved than another.
Functions of Religion in Society 1. Explains aspects of the physical and social environment. 2. Helps people understand the world. 3. Preserves the social order. 4. Includes practices aimed at ensuring success.
Religion Preserves Social Order Sacred stories and rituals provide a rationale for the present social order. Ritual creates an atmosphere in which people experience their common identity in emotionally moving ways. Religion is an important educational institution.
Sacred Narratives Stories of historical events, heroes, gods, spirits, and the origin of all things. Have a sacred power that is evoked by telling them or acting them out ritually. Validate or legitimize beliefs, values, and customs.
Ritual Act involving the manipulation of religious symbols. Certain patterns of religious behavior are extremely widespread, if not universal.
Rite of Passage Three phases: Separation - individuals are removed from their community or status. Liminal - stage when one has passed out of an old status but not yet entered a new one. Reincorporation - participants are returned to their community with a new status.
Addressing the Supernatural Prayer Sacrifice Magic Divination
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.
Magic Among the Asaro Examples: When a child is born, its umbilical cord is buried (so it can’t be used by a sorcerer to cause the child harm). When a young boy kills his first animal, his hand is magically “locked” into the position of the successful kill.
Vision Quest Individual, emotionally intense search for a spirit that will provide protection, knowledge, and power. Although the vision quest was an intensely individual experience, it was shaped by culture.
Witch Craze of Europe Plague swept through Europe, and the medieval social and religious order collapsed in war and chaos. People believed witches were the cause of their misery. Thousands of suspected witches were put to death.
Religions and Change Revitalization movements are efforts to construct a new culture and personal identity. They arise when people have been oppressed and suffered cultural loss and loss of identity. Examples: Native American Ghost Dance and Native American Church