Lecture 11: Anthropology - Religion and the Supernatural

This set of flashcards includes key vocabulary and concepts related to the study of religion and the supernatural, providing definitions and explanations for important terms discussed in the lecture.

Definition of Religion

Religion is derived from the Latin word religio and refers to an obligation in the sense of piety.

The beliefs and patterns of behaviour by which humans try to deal with what they view as important problems that cannot be solved with known technology or organisational techniques

Universality of Religion

All cultures have a belief system that explains phenomena in the world around them and to give life meaning.

Magic and Witchcraft

Practices that manipulate supernatural forces for various purposes.

Animism

The belief system that includes the existence of spirits in animals, plants, and places.

Monotheism

The belief in one god.

Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods, often with specific roles.

Pantheon

A collection of gods and goddesses worshipped in a particular religion.

Deities

Gods and goddesses who control various aspects of the universe.

Ritual

A formalized, socially prescribed symbolic behavior performed in sacred places or designated times.

Altered States of Consciousness

States of mind achieved through various techniques, including meditation or the use of substances.

Kahuna

A priest or skilled practitioner in Hawaiian tradition responsible for rituals and communication with the gods.

Mana

A spiritual quality or power believed to exist in people, animals, and objects.

Census Data on Religion (Canada)

Statistical data showing changes in religious affiliation over time.

Edward Tylor

Anthropologist influential in the study of religion and proposed stages of unilineal social evolution.

Believed all society moved through stages in a unilinear sequence

Believed each generation built on what the previous ones had done

Religions moved from simple to more complex forms over time, evolving from animism to polytheism and finally to monotheism.

James Frazer

• Armchair anthropologist known for his work on magic and mythology.

• Wrote the Golden Bough

Golden Bough

• Frazer's encyclopedia on mythology and religion promoting unilinear religious evolution.

• It explores the similarities in mythic themes across cultures, arguing that understanding these patterns reveals the evolution from magic to religion.

Animatism

• Belief in an impersonal power that animates things in the world

• It is itself not physical, but it can reveal itself in the physical world

• Eg. The Force of Star Wars

Supernatural Beings

Entities beyond the ordinary physical realm, including gods and ancestral spirits.

Cosmic Gods

High deities associated with overarching forces like creation, war, and agriculture.

Trickster

A mythological figure who changes identity from prankster to creator

He appears in many cultures and guises

in Norse he is Loki

In indigenous people of BC he is coyote or raven

Myth

• A sacred story explaining cultural beliefs, values, or natural phenomena.

• Consistent with how people experience the world they live in

• through symbolic narratives that often involve supernatural beings.

• Similar myths are found in widely separated areas that have similar environments and share common human experiences, illustrating universal themes.

• Eg creation myths which describe land emerging from water with various cultures that live in environments that flood,

Witchcraft

The practice of using supernatural powers to inflict harm or benefit others.

Divination

The practice of seeking knowledge through supernatural means.

Revitalization Movements

Cultural movements aimed at reforming society based on idealized past traditions.

New Age

A loose conglomeration of beliefs emphasizing self-development and alternative spirituality.

Neo-Paganism

A contemporary religious movement drawing on pre-Christian beliefs and practices.

Wicca

A modern form of witchcraft based on ancient pagan traditions.

Ritual Cannibalism

The practice of consuming the deceased as part of funerary rites.

Human Sacrifice

The ritualistic offering of a person to deities, seen as a method of appeasing gods.

Cultural Stereotypes

Oversimplified and standardized concepts of cultures often leading to misrepresentation.

Symbolism in Rituals

Use of symbols to convey deeper meanings within cultural practices.

Judaism

Monotheistic religion encompassing the beliefs and practices of the Jewish people.

Christianity

Religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Islam

Monotheistic faith founded on the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed.

Buddhism

Religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).

Cultural Adaptation

The process by which individuals or groups adjust to changes in their environment.

Crisis Rituals

Rituals performed in response to social crises to restore balance within the community.

Functions of Religion

Providing meaning, community, control, and comfort during crises.

Religious Specialists

Individuals skilled in interacting with the supernatural, such as priests and shamans.

Social Control

Mechanisms that regulate individual behavior within a society, often through moral frameworks.

Sacred Spaces

Physical locations considered holy or significant within a religious context.

Ancestral Worship

Practices that honor deceased ancestors, emphasizing their continued influence on the living.

Spirits of Nature

Entities believed to inhabit natural features and elements, often revered in animistic practices.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture.

Rituals of Intensification

Community rituals performed during crises to strengthen group cohesion.

Crises in the life of a group rather than individual

Lack of rain, famine, appearance of an enemy

Symbolic Behavior

Actions that convey specific meanings within cultural contexts.

Rituals in Daily Life

Everyday practices that incorporate ceremonial elements, reflecting cultural values.

Globalization's Impact on Religion

The influence of global connections on local religious practices and beliefs.

Religious Syncretism

The blending of multiple religious beliefs and practices.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment against one's own culture.

Historical Context of Religion

The background and events that shape the development of religious beliefs over time.

Religious Revitalization

Efforts to bring new life to a stagnant or declining religious tradition.

Magic vs. Religion

Magic involves manipulation of supernatural forces, while religion encompasses worship and devotion.

Role of Myths

Myths serve as frameworks for understanding human existence and the universe.

Psychological Functions of Religion

Providing comfort in times of anxiety and uncertainty.

Political Aspects of Religion

The ways in which religion interacts with power structures in society.

Cultural Symbols

Items or practices that represent larger concepts within a culture.

Economic Influences on Religion

The relationship between a society's economic conditions and its religious practices.

Spiritual Hierarchy

The organization of spiritual beings within a belief system, often with a supreme deity.

Sacred Rituals of Transition

Rituals that mark significant life changes, ensuring community acceptance.

Commodification of Spiritual Practices

The process of turning spiritual practices into marketable products or experiences.

Eclectic Spirituality

The practice of incorporating elements from various religious traditions into one’s own beliefs.

Challenges of Religious Modernization

The conflict between traditional beliefs and contemporary values.

Crisis of Faith

A period of uncertainty regarding one’s religious beliefs.

Cultural Continuity

The ongoing practice and adaptation of cultural traditions across generations.

Sorcery vs. Witchcraft

Sorcery typically involves malevolent acts, while witchcraft may not inherently be harmful.

Healing Rituals

Rituals performed to alleviate physical or spiritual ailments.

Secularization

The process by which religion loses social and cultural significance.

The Role of Lay People

Non-professional members participating in religious practices and community life.

Religious Authority

The legitimacy and power held by certain individuals within religious contexts.

Civic Religion

The integration of religious beliefs with civic duties and national identity.

Mysticism

Spiritual practices aimed at achieving direct communion with the divine.

Transcendental Experiences

Moments of heightened awareness or connection to a higher reality.

Cultural Identity

The identity and sense of belonging shaped by a group’s culture.

Folklore

Traditional beliefs, stories, and practices passed through generations.

Prophecy

A forecast of future events, often conveyed through spiritual channels.

Stereotypes of Religion

Broad and often inaccurate generalizations about religious groups.

Religious Diversity

The variety of beliefs and practices that exist within a society.

Impact of Technology on Religion

The ways in which technological advancements alter religious practices.

Rituals of Remembrance

Ceremonies honoring deceased individuals, reinforcing their memory within the community.

Moral Codes in Religion

The ethical guidelines derived from religious teachings.

Rituals in Political Life

The incorporation of religious practices in governmental and social structures.

Historical Evolution of Practices

The changes in religious practices over time, influenced by social transformations.

Cultural Appropriation

The adoption of elements from one culture by another, often without permission.

Gods and Goddesses

Greatest and most remote beings who control the universe

Akua

• in Hawaiian mythology, are the spirits of deified ancestors

• Represented nature’s elements and were personifications of natural forces

Aumakua

In Hawaiian belief, are ancestral guardian spirits that provide guidance and protection.

Kane

One of the most important gods in Hawaiian mythology, who created nature and men and was concerned with life and procreation.

Kanaloa

The Hawaiian god of the ocean and the underworld (death), often associated with healing and the realm of the sea.

Ku

• The Hawaiian god of war, often associated with strength, male fertility, and the plant life.

• Name means to “to stand” or “to strike”

• Patron of wood workers

• In the form with maggot dropping mouth he received human sacrifices

Lono

The Hawaiian god of agriculture, fertility, rainfall, and peace, often associated with the abundance of food and the cultivation of crops.

Pele

• The Hawaiian goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes, known for her passionate and volatile nature.

• She is often associated with creation and destruction.

• She has five brothers and eight sisters who do her bidding

Ancestral Spirits

• The idea that people have a body and a vital spirit that can be separate from the body and which lives on after death

• Deceased ancestors are believed to continue influencing and guiding the living.

• Ancestors may be reborn as new members of their lineage

Shinto

• A traditional Japanese religion focused on the worship of kami, which are spirits associated with natural elements, ancestors, and sacred places.

• a fusion of animism with polytheistic beliefs

Priest and Priestesses

• Full time religious specialists

• Tend to be socially initiated, ceremonially inducted members of a recognised religious organization with a rank and function that are defined.

Kahuna-nui

A high-ranking kahuna in Hawaiian culture, often responsible for overseeing rituals and ceremonies, symbolizing greater authority and expertise.

Heiau (temples)

Sacred spaces in Hawaiian culture, used for worship, rituals, and offerings to the gods.

Agricultural or economy related spaces were dedicated to Lono, while those for war and conflict were dedicated to Ku.

Shaman

• Part time religious specialist who acqure religious power individually, usually in solitude or isolation when a mystery or great power is reveled to them

• based in the experience of altered states of consciousness

• who often serves as a mediator between the spiritual and physical worlds, performing rituals, healing, and divination.

• Trance is an important component of the ritual

• found in hunter-gatherers but sometimes pastoralists or horticulturists

Ritual

Public events performed in sacred places or designated times

Religious or non religious in nature

A formalized socially prescribed symbolic behaviour

Rights of Passage

Arnold Van Geneep coined the phrase

Affects an individual

Rituals marking important stages in the life of a person such as birth, puberty, marriage, parenthood, advancement to higher class/status, death

Three Stages:

Separation: removes the person from society

Transition: isolates the person

Incorporation: brings the person back into society