Cultural Anthropology Test 5

Religion, magic, beliefs, and rituals

Superstructure

How people make and find meaning in their lives

Religion

The cultural knowledge of the supernatural that people use to cope with the ultimate problems of human existence

Supernatural

that which is beyond the natural

The ultimate problems of human existence include:

Meaning, death, evil, and transcendent values

Types of supernatural power

impersonal and personified

Mana

a free-floating force found in things and place, impersonal

Personified Supernatural Power

the force that resides in supernatural beings such as deities, ghosts and ancestors

Worldview

the overarching framework of beliefs, values, and assumptions and concepts through which individuals or cultures interpret and make sense of the world

Cosmology

explains the way things are

Mythology

Explains how things came to be

Magic

controlling supernatural power

Sorcery

magic to cause harm

witchcraft

similar to sorcery through individuals may inherit or acquire power

Imitative Magic

Has something that resembles your target to manipulate the target through the object

Contagious Magic

Uses something that encounters your target to impact your target

Syncretism

blending of different beliefs and practices into new practice

Communication with the supernatural can include

prayers, sacrifices, spirit possession and divination

Shamans

cure and adivse

Priests

mediate between people and the supernatural

Prophets

convey divine messages

Witches

uses power to affect people

Diviners

read messages from the supernatural

Healing practices and rituals can include

healing dances, rituals of inversion, specific rituals

Specific rituals include

Life-cycle rituals, separation, transition, reintegration, rites of intensification, pilgrimage

revitalization rituals

solving serious problems through supernatural intervention

Expressive/Aesthetic Culture

Creativity, art, (up to ones own opinion), leisure and play