anthro ch. 11

Animatism

Belief in an impersonal supernatural force.

Animism

Belief that plants, animals, or natural phenomena have a spiritual element.

Anthropomorphic

Object or being with human characteristics.

Cargo cult

Rituals seeking material prosperity, not preferred by anthropologists.

Collective effervescence

Passion arising when groups share thoughts and emotions.

Cosmology

Explanation for the origin or history of the world.

Cultural appropriation

Copying an idea from another culture, distorting its meaning.

Filial piety

Tradition of caring for the elderly and ancestral spirits.

Magic

Practices to control supernatural forces.

Millenarians

Believe major world transformations are imminent.

Monotheistic

Recognizing a single supreme God.

Polytheistic

Recognizing several gods.

Priests

Full-time religious practitioners.

Profane

Ordinary objects or ideas treated with disregard.

Prophet

Claims direct communication with the supernatural, communicates divine messages.

Reincarnation

Living being starting a new life in a new body after death.

Religion

Extension of society and culture to include the supernatural.

Revitalization rituals

Attempts to resolve serious problems through spiritual intervention.

Rite of intensification

Actions to bring a community together after a crisis.

Rite of passage

Ceremony transitioning individuals between life stages.

Sacred

Objects or ideas set apart and treated with respect.

Shaman

Part-time religious practitioner carrying out rituals when needed.

Sorcerer

Individual using magic for personal purposes.

Supernatural

Entities or forces not governed by natural laws.

Zoomorphic

Object or being with animal characteristics.