RELG 1010 Exam 1

Exclusivism

my religion is True; all others are false

Inclusivism

I prefer my religion; I see value in others

Pluralism

All religions are equally valid and valuable, or equally worthless

Tylor

Animism

Animism

“Belief in supernatural beings”, the essence of religion, started by death followed by people dreaming of the dead gave rise to the notions of the existence of spirits and an afterlife

Frazer

“Belief in supernatural beings AND the attempt to please them”, Golden Bough, the origin of religion was in early magical practices

Four stages of human societies (Frazer)

Age of stone, age of magic, age of religion, age of science

Imitative Magic

You imitate something to cause a similar outcome

Contagious Magic

Using something that was physically connected to a person/object to affect them

Religion replaces _____

Magic

What is replacing religion?

Science

Sigmund Freud

psychology and psychoanalysis, religious belief and practice a communal, obsession neurosis

Sigmind Freud published ____

Totem and Taboo - in an ancient clan, exiled boys desire their mothers so they murder the father. Then guilt, which resulted in prohibition against incest, prohibition against murder

Totemism

the practice of holding an animal sacred; it’s thought to
be a source of power and protection for the clan - not touched or killed (According to Freud, the totem is the primal murdered father)

Freud believes that God is ____

a reflection of one’s own father

Emile Durkheim

father of sociology, criticized Tylor and Frazer, says all aspects of society precede birth, then shape and guide life, then succeed in death

What does Durkheim say is the key marker of religion?

Sacred vs. Profane, says totemism is the most elementary form of religion

Durkheim’s three kinds of ritual in the totem cult

Negative (prohibitions), positive (celebratory), atoning (appeasing the dead)

Mircea Eliade

religion is not just a sociological or psychological phenomenon, religion must be studied on its own terms (phenomenologist)

What does Eliade say about the sacred?

It is an EXPERIENCE. Hierophanies (appearance of the sacred) explained through symbols and myths, reenacted through ritual. Ultimate function of religion is to help humans cope with the “terror of history.”

Atoning

Appeasing the dead

Ethnology

the study of different cultures and societies, especially by comparing them

Tylor

animism is the essence of religion, “belief in supernatural beings,” started by people dreaming of the dead

Frazer

Age of stone, age of magic, age of religion, age of science. Imitative and contagious magic. Ethnology, social evolution, origin of religion was in early magical practices

Freud

Young boys attraction to their mother leads to murder of father, totemism reenacts the father’s death and God is seen as a father figure. Psychological, comes from human needs.

Durkheim

Founder of sociology, focused on society as a whole. Totemism - earliest form of religion. 3 kinds of rituals (prohibitions, celebrations, and atoning)

Eliade

Phenomenologist, does not believe religion can be studied as psychological or sociological. Hierophanies = appearance of the sacred, “terror of history” - religion helps with uncertainty and fear of death. EXPERIENCE

Pritchard

“Primitive” people aren’t unintelligent, studies culture deeply - no assumptions, religion isn’t just about gods it affects all parts of life (political, legal, social, emotional) Witchcraft.

Geertz

“thick” description, the why behind an action. too subjective. System of symbols that establish powerful widespread moods, seems realistic

King

feminist critic of religion, says both genders should be studied equally. Must address religion & gender

Death Avoidance Theory

Humans know they will die, strategize to avoid death, belief in an afterlife

Hypersensitive Agency Detection Device

Agent - anything that has the capacity to act, false positive, influence gods’ decisions, something did something

Costly cooperative signaling

Religion is very expensive but aids survival, facilitiates group cooperation, says nothing about where the ideas of gods come from