Lecture Notes: Anthropology of the Supernatural - Animism and Neo-Shamanism

Anthropological Concepts in Supernatural Beliefs

• Anthropology of the Supernatural:

  • Focuses on beliefs and practices related to supernatural entities like witches, zombies, and vampires.

  • Lecture context: Animism and Neo-Shamanism.

Essay Requirements for Course

• Length and Formatting:

  • 2,000 to 3,000 words (approx. 9 to 11 pages, double-spaced).

• Referencing Style:

  • Use Chicago Turabian style for citations.

  • In-text citations: e.g. Clark (2025, 200) or The influence… (Clark 2025, 200).

  • Ensure proper format for different sources: books, chapters, articles, online sources.

  • Include URLs for online sources with access date.

• Peer-Review Guidelines:

  • Valid sources include academic books, journal articles, and chapters from edited volumes.

Nicolas Campion's Views on Astrology

• Astrological Hypotheses:

  • Examines fundamental hypotheses of how astrology operates and its influence on human life.

• Determinism vs. free will:

  • Discusses astrology’s relationship with determinism and personal interpretations of astrology.

• Cultural Astronomy:

  • Campion uses this term to describe astrology, emphasizing its cultural significance rather than just its astrological aspects.

Divine Intervention and Causality

• Divine Intervention:

  • Act as a communication bridge between divine beings and humans.

• Interconnectedness:

  • Concept that the sky reflects earthly matters: "as above, so below".

• Causality Types:

  • 1. Efficient Cause: What produces an effect.

  • 2. Material Cause: The substance an object is made from.

  • 3. Formal Cause: The design or structure of an object.

  • 4. Final Cause: The purpose or end state of an object.

Animism Evolution

• Old Animism:

  • Defined by Georg Stahl as the idea of a vitalizing element (anima).

  • E.B. Tylor interpreted it regarding primitive religion’s view on souls.

• New Animism:

  • Shift in definition by scholars like Eduardo Viveiros de Castro since the 1990s.

  • Focus on how indigenous beliefs shape their relationships with beings.

  • Graham Harvey explains that animists see the world as a community of persons deserving respect.

Ojibwa Perspective on Animism

• Irving Hallowell's Findings:

  • Distinction in Ojibwa language between animate and inanimate.

  • Importance of relational interactions, e.g. stones used in sweat lodges are considered animate.

Neo-Pagan Animism

• Diverse Beliefs on Deities:

  • Paganism encompasses varied theological perspectives on what deities represent: archetypes, natural phenomena, or separate beings.

• Elemental Spirits:

  • Recognizes spirits of natural elements (Air, Fire, Water, Earth) as persons.

• Intensity of belief:

  • Some Pagans assert a belief that everything possesses a soul or spirit.

Comparative Pagan Theology

• Michael York's Classification:

  • Comparison of Paganism with Abrahamic and Dharmic religions regarding nature’s treatment.

  • Abrahamic religions perceive God as separate from nature; Dharmic religions view nature as part of an illusion.

  • Paganism sees nature as divine, creating a direct connection to the world rather than transcending it.

Syncretism in Religion

• Neo-Shamanism Exploration:

  • Jane groups on Hendrickson's perceptions on Neo-Shamanism origins and metaphysical components.

  • Relationship between shamanism and therapeutic practices highlighted.

  • Discussion on cultural appropriation and whether Neo-Shamans are misrepresenting Indigenous practices.

These notes are designed to provide a detailed overview of the themes presented in the lecture on Animism and Neo-Shamanism, offering insights into key concepts and perspectives for students preparing for assessments.