exam 1 Flashcards
(98 cards)
1
Q
chapter one; slides
A
2
Q
why study religion from a sociological perspective?
A
1) importance to many
a) spectrum of significcane of beliefs/ practices in their lives
b) religious values influence behaviours(if you adhere to your faith, then it influences your behaviour /can shape value system )
c)religious meanings influence interpretation of experiences
2) society <-> religion influence
a) foundational to classical sociology
society has a great deal of influence on religion
3
Q
what are the limittations of functional approach?
A
1) breadth: potentially includes those things that we do not
2) assumes religion is necessary
e.g. - for mortality, for being ‘good’
3) typically assumes religion is always beneficial
- we know that religion can be beneficial cos it can contribute to person’s identity / bring meaning in person’s lives
- but in an institutional level, religion is always not beneficial because it
can impose its own moral order on others
ex: european witch hunts
4
Q
what is religion?
substantive definition
A
A substantive definition defines what religion is. It attempts to establish categories of religious content that qualify as religion and other categories speci fied as nonreligion.
5
Q
what is religion?
functional definition
A
A functional definition of religion emphasizes what religion does for the indi vidual and social group. Accordingly, religion is defined by the social functions it fulfills. The content of religious belief and practice is less important for this definitional strategy than the consequences of religion.
6
Q
what is religion?
functional definition
A
comprehensive worldview based on sets of assumptions and arguments
belief and behaviour system whose adherents collectively refuse to question its fundamental assumptions
in groups, if people have doubts, they tend not to express them
why? they may feel like an outsider
limitations: may overlook positive aspects of religion like the community / friendship / guidance
7
Q
classical sociologists; emile durkheim (1858 - 1917)
what are his goals?
A
- not divinely/ supernaturally inspired (he believed that God was subjectively real )
- a product of society (people create a belief in order to explain the world around them)
- having origins in communal emotion
- to identify common things that religions place emphasis upon (trying to generalize some statements about religion)
- to examine the effects of religious beliefs on society
8
Q
Emile Durkheim wanted to define religion as?
A
He wrote:
“A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them” (Durkheim
, 1912)
9
Q
what are Durkheim’s sacred and profane realms?
A
sacred: objects and behaviours set apart as superior, powerful, deserving of respect that are collectively important (e.g. rituals, objects of reverence)
– religious rather than secular.
profane: ordinary, uneventful, practical aspects of life that tend to be of individual importance
(e.g. people, places, behaviours and those disrespectful utterances (profanities)
outside of the sacred)
– relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious.
he said that both the good and bad can be found in both realms
10
Q
Durkheim also proposed that every religious groups has three features. What are they?
A
1) a system of beliefs that expresses the sacred and defines the sacred and profane.
2) a moral community that develops along with these beliefs and enforces the norms & rules of the group/society.
3) a set of collective behaviours & rituals.
11
Q
For Durkheim:
religion is?
A
religion is
- socially created (it is human constructive)
- collective at its core
- there’s cognitive + behavioural components
- functional
- social control — can contribute to social cohesion and smooth running of society
- works at homogenous setting
12
Q
what is ritual?
A
ritual is a symbolic action that represent religious meanings
- a behavioural component
- those things we set apart, ritualize and form emotional connections to
ex: communion (bread & wine sacralized through Catholic ritual)
- Within the community, the bread and wine is a highly symbolic feature -> God’s body and wine
- can connect people historically / overtime
13
Q
Durkheim focused on the relationship between __ behaviour and the adherence to _____
A
Durkheim focused on the relationship between ritual behaviour and the adherence of social order.
collective veneration of the sacred fosters social solidarity and social control
→call to obey communally defined morality (a bringing of order in the community)
14
Q
what can ritual do? what did Durkheim call this feeling?
A
Rituals provide a focal point for emotional processes and generate symbols of a group membership.
- rituals help people to experience a shared sense of exaltation and group transcendence
- Durkheim explains that this feeling, which is only experienced through ritual veneration, is collective effervescence.
15
Q
what is collective effervescence that Durkheim described?
A
this is the sense of energy, and harmony people feel when they come together in a group around a shared purpose (performing a religious ritual)
according to Durkheim, eople systematically misunderstand the emotional energy they experienve in the ritual process as having a supernatural origin
ex: playing music / he says that this is a misattribution / that it is a human construction
according to Durkehim, this misunderstanding confirms their religious beliefs
- it contributes to a sense of awe, reverence, etc
- ritual connects believers over time and space; it is highly symbolic
- Durkheim proposes that greeted understanding of the natural and social world reveals social origins of religion
16
Q
examples of rituals
A
- meditation (e.g. Buddhism)
- religious ecstasy (e.g. Shaminism)
- bar and bat mitzvah (Judaism)
- prayer (many religions e.g. Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity)
- baptism (e.g. Christianity)
- confession (e.g. Catholicism, Mormonism)
- communion (Catholicism)
- self-flagellation (e.g. some Shia Muslims, some Catholics [historically and today]) casting a circle (Wicca)
- evangelism (JWs, Mormons, evangelical Christians)
- auditing (Scientology)
- fasting & forms of denial (many religions)
- pow-wow (many indigenous communities)
- food offerings (e.g. many Hindu traditions)
- reading of central texts (the Vedas, bible, Q’uran, Talmud etc. Many religions require–or at least advise–some kind of reading of central texts)
17
Q
what does Durkheim’s theory of ritual implies?
A
1) any object could become socially defined as sacred
- parody religions like pastafarianism
2) repeated veneration of sacred objects creates stable social relations
18
Q
chapter two: the provision of meaning and belonging
A
19
Q
religion can be understood as:
A
→a basis of association
→an expression of shared meanings
→the creation of community (things that are more important to us are more meaningful if we can share it because we get that creation of community)
20
Q
processes of meaning/ belonging
1) acceptance of worldviews
what is a worldview?
A
worldview is a comprehensive meaning systems used by believers to interpret life experiences/events (Berger)
all religions have a worldview / there are political or educational and philosophical worldviews as well as religious worldviews
21
Q
available meaning systems
according to Berger, meaning is not ___??
A
- religious
- other multiple, competing ones
- meaning is bestowed (Berger) (It’s not inherent)
22
Q
meaning systems are __ and ___
A
meaning systems are
1) explanatory: the why’s of the world / they explain things like life experiences and the origins of the world and the end of the world
2) normative: how things should be and how they should remain
they maintain a normative rules and certain ways in a society
23
Q
why do religions have meaning systems?
A
- religious meanings offer a legitimation of the social order or a challenge to it (ex: power, authority, hierarchy, gender roles, etc)
- suggestion of human design / masked de-emphasized
- references to tradition become absolute truths
ex: Christian marriage
24
Q
what are the components of meaning systems?
what is cosmologies and theodicies?
A
1) cosmologies: teachings that explain the origins of the world as well as its ultimate fate
-> eschatology (final events)
2) theodicies: theodicies
explanations that provide meaning for meaning-threatening experiences
(ex: suffering, death, and pain for sin etc. the existence of evil)
- this is to answer the question of why suffering // death exists and to answer the question of why evil exists in the world
- ONE explanation is that it is part of God’s plan
as part of God’s plan, we shouldn’t question it - God has assigned humans to tests of free will (what people will do in that free will)
25
what are some of the challenges of saying hell does not exist?
- it creates conflict
- if you dispense with hell, where does it lead with heaven?
- it removes some of those consequences
- human change and less divine
26
what is attribution theory?
ways in which people explain events and the behaviour of others
== attribution theory deals with how the social perceiver uses information to arrive at causal explanations for events.
religious arrbituions:
ex: she is sick because she has sinned
hurricanes as punishment for immorality
27
what are some examples of immortality?
same sex marriage
abortion
secularism
debauchery (partying)
de-emphasizing protestant values
28
what is millenarianism?
what kind of worldview does it have?
belief in a coming major transformation of society
- often includes images of an apocalypse and utopian eternity of paradise
ex: jehova’s witness / paradise on earth
new purified world emerges following violence
- only dedicataed followers survive
maintenance of view maintained via…
-a dualsitic worldview: regard reality as consisting of two insurmountable modes of existence -- good versus evil
29
origins of ancient Judaism
- Maccabean revolt (167-160 BCE) against Greek presecution of Jews
they were not allowed to worship in their temple / in this timeline the old testament was being written too
30
the old testament: book of Daniel
what is the central theme?
its in the book of daniel the influence of Messiah from the supernatural realm to save humanity (the idea of the savior that is important)
- vision of messiah from supernatural realm to save humanity
- central theme: world dominated by demonic evil
31
christian tradition; Book of Revelation (New Testament)
the idea of cosmic battles /returning messiah are evident in the book of revelation which propels the christian tradition
(millenialism)
- Christ to reign for 1,000yrs prior to the final battle (apocalypse/Armageddon) with Satan and final judgment.
- there’s debate in terms of exactly what millerniam beliefs would look like (there’s different beliefs or variations on the theme across diff religious groups)
32
Christian tradition; Joachim de Fiore (1135-1202)
what are the 3 periods of history that he identified? how does this contribute to milleniarism?
1) Age of the Father (Old Testament)
2) Age of the Son (Gospels)
3) Age of the Holy Spirit (upcoming)
- means that they are focusing on the future / looking forward to the end time
- future apocalypticism reinforced the idea of returning saviour
- Crusades (1096-1291) ---- they wnat to take control of the holy land
- they knew about Judaism and Jews but the goal was to kill as many Muslims as possible
- any jews that they encounter were forced to convert to Christianity
33
islamic tradition; apolcalyptic themes in the Qurʾān :
--the return of Jesus (Isa) and his fight against the antichrist
--the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Dīn),
--the Day of Resurrection (Yawm al-Qiyāma),
--wars
within the hadith there are apocalyptic tracks
the return of Jesus is important in islamic tradition as well / he is an important prophet
- Shi’te teachinh more openly embraces millenarian theology
- Sunni theology tends to downplay milleniranism, but has seen a resurgence in recent years within some Sunni sects
- depending in the branch/sect (72 approx) of Islam there exist various approaches to the end times and the Day of Judgement discussed in Qu’ran
34
other expressions of millenarianism
intense millenarian beliefs may foster what?
--Jehovah’s Witnesses, Nation of Islam, Branch Davidians, Heaven’s Gate
and many, many more.
Generally, intense millenarian beliefs may foster isolation from mainstream society, -
millenarian groups may disregard conventional norms, and violence may occur—sometimes outwardly.
these act of violence are often focused outward
35
what are the early warning signs of active millenarianism?
1) intensification of illegal activities
- in preparatiin for cosmic battle (weapon accumultuation)
2) humiliating circumstances
- public discrediting of leader, group, or prophesies
- may try to counter defamation by violently forcing its vision
3) relocation to a rural area
- physical / psychological withdrawal
- strengthen group solidarity / increased control over members
4) increasingly violent rhetoric
- indication of level or critical fervour
- more towards actualizing apocalyptic scenario
36
what is messianism?
- belief in a messiah, savior, redeemer
- 'Messiah' / from ancient Hebrew word meaning 'annointed one'
-'Christ' ancient Greek for 'messiah' / applied to Jesus in the New testament
37
what are the four patterns of messianic expectation?
1) belief messiah will come
- ex: Judaism
- expectations have varied in intensity
- eg Islam: the Madhi (the guided one, rather than messiah) {In Islam, Jesus is not the son of Godl rather, he is a key prophet}
2) belief messiah has already come in the past
- e.g mainstream Christianity (doesn’t focus on end times)
3) belief messiah is here now
- E.g. Mixchael Jacksonites- dissident J.W. / ALberta mid 1980s. Branch Davidians
- believed that he was the messia
4) belief messiah will return (it alr came and is going back again)
- Evalengical Christian / other Protestants
- Catholocs / Kmormons / Branch Davidians / Jehovah’s Witnesses
- E.g. Shi’te ‘Twelvers’
- ‘ocultation’ period -> hiding
38
responses to failed prophecy / what are some of the specific responses?
e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted Jesus’ return in 1874, 1914, and 1918/ Also, they predicated Armageddon in 1920, 1925, 1940, and 1975.
specific responses:
1) miscalculation
-refocus on “correct” date
-re-interpretation (they will rationalize or justify and then provide another date
-or sometimes the leader would think of the end time
- leader will provide that correct date in the future
2) acknowledge disconfirmation
- blame others
- internal blame: members not faithful enough / purging or punishments may occur
- external blame: may become hostile or violent actions against outsiders or increased attempts o recruit and convert other (as the means to bring about the prophecy)
3) claim that the prophecy was more or less fulfilled (ex: Heaven's Gate)
4) acknowledge failed prophecy and disband
- ex: Shrine of the Fundamental truth (Japan)
leader of the group committed suicide / members said --- he commited suicide to sacrifice himself so that the earthquake wouldn't happen/save from the end time
- he decided to disband the group
39
chapter three: the individual's religion
40
the individual's religion
acquisition, maintenance, and change of religious beliefs within the social context
- subjective experiences and social processes
- when you live in a pluralistic system, there are more choices
- we’re looking at subjective experiences / sometimes people have individual deep connections, but then again, there are these social process
41
meaning, belonging, identity
in relatively homogenous / traditional socities
- taken for granted religious worldview
- fully integrated into life
- shapes all facets of life
- non-conformity identified as heresy (they might be punished and identified as heresy)
-ittle / no choice
42
meaning, belonging, identity
(post modern democratic)
- what does it mean to be in a pluralistic society?
(Post) modern democratic societies are religiously pluralistic
- reflexive choice of (post) modern societies
- religious “marketplace” exists (you have options if you feel like changing religion / people might want to explore)
- religion as a commodity
- religious self identity implicit to sense of “who am I?”
- constant self-reflecton of postmodern societies
* “self” is a project (who are we? what do we want?)
- multiple institutional influences
- secularism integrates
* (secularism can protect religious freedom)
*how? we protect from persecution / in Canada we can believe whatever you want but you can’t justify any actions because of harm
* we dont have a religion that is wedded in the state / if we had one religion that is wedded in one government / it can suppress other religion favouring that state’s freligion over others
*we have a Charter that protects beliefs
- integration of religious identity varies in intensity / extent
43
in Canada, religion is:
-> secular
-> seperation of church and state
-> stil lnot a perfect system
44
conversion
it is reflective of p___ and larger process of g_____
conversion is a modern process reflective of pluralism and larger process of globalization
* religion as alternative lifestyle (e.g. communal)
*religion as therapy
BUT, although Canada (for example) is a multicultural democratic nation, not every religious adherent feels a sense of choice
bound by family, community, sense of duty and commitment; leaving not perceived as an option
may be ostracized(rejected), Shunned, etx (consequence of leaving / can cause deep divisions within family or community)
they may feel trapped
45
religion can be understood as
a basis of association
46
how can religious identity be acquired?
1) family
- family religious identity developed or ignored via socialization
family as primary religious group (as a child)
education, rituals and symbols
47
religious identiry reinforved via rites of passage
what is rites of passage?
A rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another. It involves a significant change of status in society.
rituals that accompany a change of place, state, social position and age
-- rights, obligations may be clearly identified
48
what are the 3 stages of rites of passage?
1) seperation
- ritual action symbolizes seperation from previous state
2) marginality
- ambigious nature of transition
- prior taken-for-granted roles / relationships may change
- individual may not be certain about the expectations entailed because of this marginal period
3) aggregation
- unites individual with others in new status group
- Transmission of knowledge (e.g. key texts)
- new symbol (clothing)
49
what is conversion
transformation of one’s self-identity concurrent with a transformation in one’s meaning system.
conversion is a process. (full conversion means you need to understand it intellectually / commitiong to it spirituality / full conversion can take time to modify self identity and adapt a new meaning system/ to rlly understand what that meaning system is all about)
degrees/levels of transformation
subjective experience.
reinterpretation of past experiences in context of a new meaning system.
50
what are the 3 broad conversion narratives
1) rhetorics of choice
- emphasize that change from personal, painful decision / ex: divorce, problems with prior religion, struggle with meaning
2) rhetorics of change
- emphasize dramatic nature of personal change in conversion (may focus on how terrible / evil tgeir prior lives were)
- may happen in prison
3) rhetoric of continuity
- new meaning system and self are a logical extension of prior beliefs
- past as foundation
- ex: mainstream to evangelical christianity
51
what is proselytization? why is conversion not as effecient?
individual / group actively tries ti persuade non believers to become believers
not all religion proselytize
conversion is not as efficient (door to door)
- safety
- a lot more available options and very accessible info
- becomes more secluded and many religions reach out using social media
52
what is lofland-stark model
looks at why conversion takes place
53
conversion ; predisposing factors
1) predisposing factors
a) person experiences enduring, acutely felt tensions in life
- unsettled / unhappy
- experiencing the end of relationship
- many personal reasons
person interprets these feelings within a religious problem-solving perspective
the person defines themselves as a "religious seeker"
54
conversion; situational contingencies
person is at a turning point in their life / open to different possibilities (new job / going to uni / new
person establishes affective binds with new group members (love bombing)
person has few extra-group bonds
ro become a deployable agent (one who convert others) extensive re-socialization os requirwd
55
from conversion to commitment: the 'brainwashing' movement
what do they try and do?
- manipulation
- delusion - see things differently
- tricking / lying
- gullible / naive
-trusted authority figure
- maladaptive behaviours and worldviews (adhere to new demans and expectations)
- false sense of safety
- victimized
- blame the individual
- foundation for indoctrination
56
indoctrination
- changing the way that people think
- starts early/ young age
- belief system that you are expected, even enforced
- could be welcoming, taolored, personal
- exclusionary
- highly structured
57
socialization
- acclimated to a new social group
- starts early / family
- role / identity
- normatice
- learn rules
- world views, belief and systems (adaptive or maladaptive / less thretaning and emotionally charged)
58
resocialization
leave behind previous norms, values, beliefs worldviews
- learn new ones
- new form of socialization
- replacement
59
robert j lifton
wrote Through Reform and the Psycholofy of Totalism (1961)
60
milleu control
what are its characteristics?
limited contrtol with outside world
strict internal conditions
high level of surveillane
controlled the person's enviornment
domains under control
61
what are the domains under milleu control?
1) information (limited / no access to tv, newspapers, internet)
2) external to social; supports (cut contacts with family / friends etc)
3) restrictions on physical and/or psychological freedom
- sleep dperivaytion / exclusion of foods / special diets
4) privacy (communal bedrooms, bathrooms etc. no alone time)
5) restriction of communication in outside world
62
what are the domains under milleu control?
2) mystical manipulation
ideology/ actions are part of “higher purpose”
-- internalize higher purpose
63
what are the domains under milleu control?
3) need for purity
he group defines purity (purity of membership)
renunciation of prior beliefs / behaviours
-> shame / guilt (they may feel like their past life were dirty / they feel like they have been sinful in the past)
64
what are the domains under milleu control?
4) public confessions
Admit to ‘sins’, crmes etc. in front of others
this compounds those feelings of shame and guilt / means that ppl know exactly know who you were / previpsu sins can be brought uo in the future
65
what are the domains under milleu control?
5) aura of sacred science
may say their faith is scientifically ground
ex: raelians / scientology
In that time, many younger people, science is important
66
what are the domains under milleu control?
6) loaded languange
may view new meanings to old words / invent words
outsiders wont understand
67
what are the domains under milleu control?
7) placement of doctrines over persons
personal experiences contrary to doctrine are denied (not validated)
Must re-interpret (forces the person to reinterpret the new words and norms)
68
8) dispensing of existence
group has the right to decide who has the right to exist and who does not
ex: outsiders will not be “saved” individuals may have to be sacrificed
--
69
chapter four: official and non- official religion
---
70
different official religion
depending on the nation state you look at, you’re going to see diff official religions
in Canada, Islam is a minority religion but it is still a world religion / official religion
whereas, mormonism which is a christian sect, is rejected mostly by official christianity / even tho it is a christian tradition
who has the poewr to determine if a religion is official or not?
71
official religion
how do religions become dominant?
beliefs/ practices prescirbed, regulated, and socialized by dominant religions
how do religions become dominant? → the State and politics
72
characteritiscs of official religion
Standardixation of doctrines roles etc.
organizational conformity
73
doctrine
a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.
meaning system articulated by doctrinal experts
-> “this is what we stand for” (can change)
- (these are our beliefs / this is how they guide our lives / shapes our world)
ex: Vatican II (1962-1965)
can change -> in response to modernity
74
ethics
norms & obligations for adherents (can ve used to control and punish members)
control/punosh members
- but as well as to reward them
75
cultic expression
Standaridizes expressions of religiosity: observances and devotions
Ritual specialist (ex: priests, ministers, imams etc)
- they direct / mediate expression
- they have the authority to oversee their religious
76
polity
arrangement for the exercise of legitimate authority (western religions)
77
what are the 3 types of polity?
1) Episcopal
- centralized hierarchy
- ex: Roman Catholic / Anglican / some Methodist
2) Presbyterian: representative laity. Clergy
- ex: Church of Scotland / Protestand denominations
* elected representatives
* general assembly
3) Congregational: very autonomus; power lies in congregation
ex: most reform Jewish
Some Baptists
United Church
78
structural shifts in official religion
Non-denominationalism (there has been an increase in non-denominationalism)
- they identify as Christian and they attend a church a
- an example of making a religious choice
- Isnt too structured nor straight
--> greater independence
--> voluntary association (they are there by voluntary association) / based on people’s specific needs rather than strict religious affiliation.
--> modern approach --> choice
79
non-official religion
Religious / quasi - religios beliefs / practices
Not accepted / recognixed / controlled by official religion
social construction of boundaries
80
'popular religion'
blend of beliefs / practices
deemed 'impure' by official church
81
syncretism
blending of diverse cultural elements into one religion
esp. Christian offical relogion woth other beliefs and practies: how/why?
- negative connotation
- implied inauthencity / contamination
82
syncretism in the US
non official religion often relflective of dissent / resistance
ex: era of slavery in U.S
-> alternative readings of bible
-> bush meetings, speaking in tongues (from their native spirituality) incorporated (THIS WAS FORBIDDEN IN CHRISTIAN / they found ways to resist which is sometimes through non official practices)
83
popular christianity in North America; in publishing
e.g. in publishing
e.g. guardian angels (in traditional official christian religion, they are several kinds of angels but very few of them are winged)
- concept of guardian angel is present in the bible but its not that frequent
- Modern era: we see an interest in guardian angels
- Many people believed that a lot of guardian angel was guiding them (popular christianity)
Christian theology: cherubs/seraphim/arch-angels (few are winged)
- hoerever at the official level, the idea of having a guardian is not part of ideology (theres blurring of boundaries)
- they believe in it but not necessarily sanctioned within their faith
84
televangelism
T.v / radio (electrinic church) and “mega churches” / big box appeal -> mostly
conservative / evangelical / charismatic Catholic
during 70s we see this radical exponential development of televangelism and mega churches
most of them focus in conservatuce evangelical / charismatic Catholic communities
business model -> it practices business midel
much criticism -> mostly financial
- equate money with level of faith. Can be highly manipulative
- ‘Prosperiry gospel’ / ‘seed faith’
new immagrants who looks to bring their new faith but they also look for sumn readily available in their new culture (they might start watching those shows)
immigrants are also low income
its a very predatorive model / manipulative (it requires more money)
85
Bob Larson
leader of spiritual freedome ministirie or do what hesus did
he eventually became an exorcist along with her dauhter and her friends
86
characteristics of the community in Ukraine
behaving in a generalist way -> specific group of problems
- (unresolved trauma like abuse,
- poverty (forming mining towns)
- orthodox church -> cant offer what he does
- exocerised -> women
- desperate / last resorts
- They dont have free healthcare
- a lot of conflicts and social problems that ends up becoming manifest in individuals
- Population is already extremely vulnerable
bob gives them a voice + a stage
- a therapeutic experience for them
- he gives them
- permission to express themselves
87
how does possesion occur according to Bob Larson
drug use and sexual abuse (both of which are ubiquitous within that community)
88
official religion (orthodox church) criticims abt Bob
- negative response
- he said historically and now, woman or girls cannot be exorcist
- for business
89
catholic church and exorcism
* exorcisms to cast out demons and devil
* rite of deliverance (deliverance from the power of Satan)
* practice all but gone by mid-20thc (in most developed nations)
- something replaced it which is the rise of psychiatry and psychology (there were other ways of explaining behaviours)
* usually connected with Catholicism
90
the exorcist (1971/73)
-> claims of demonic possesion increased in U.S and elsewhere
* today: Vatican recruiting priests for exorcist training
91
paranormal and occult
occultism
- hidden or secret knowledge
- counter to official religious and scientific belife systems
ex: clairvoyance / astrology / mediums
- both offivcial and science rejects occultism
92
paranormal and occult
occultism
- hidden or secret knowledge
- counter to official religious and scientific belife systems (both official religion and science rejects occultism)
ex: clairvoyance / astrology / mediums
93
paranormal and occult
occultism
- hidden or secret knowledge
- counter to official religious and scientific belife systems (both official religion and science rejects occultism)
ex: clairvoyance / astrology / mediumspa
94
paranormal
outside of 'normal' range of experience
incredibly difficult concept to define
what is "normal"?
- what other person's normal is can be other person's paranormal
some religious experiences are unusual to other religions (ie not "normal")
-- ex: exorcisms, speaking in toungues
are they paranormal then?
ex: extra-terrestrial contact as spiritual experience
ETs as either creators or guides
95
new age spirituality
multiple influences / beliefs / practices
non-cohesive / unregulated
new age spiritualitty emerged out of the 1960s and have been commodified greatly sinve then
ex: occult tarot cards
appeals mostly to educated/middle class
-> alternative spriritual seekers (esp. women) consumption of goods/ services
e.g. books, cds, classes / courses, objects (crystals)
- women are free to make their own decision / no patriarchy
from deeply committed to casual consumers (they dont really consider themselves as part of the new age butits jus sumn they do like crystal heaering)
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influences of new age spirituality
influences include
- astrology
- spiritualism
- channeling
- theosophy
-(neo)paganisms e.g wicca Eastern philosophies / religions
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new age movement origins
contemporary origins
1960s/70s UK
-> reaction agaisst Christianity and secularism
-> individual appeal (you can make it your own)
-> N.A. and beyond (you also see it in North America)
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New age spiritual momvement;
followers may have different specific perspectives in the new age tradition
what is monism and pantheism ?
followers may have different specific perspectives
* varied, malleable concept of God/the divine
e.g. monism - belief that all that exists is derived form a single source of divine energy
pantheism -
- reality = divinity (everything is a component of God)
- everything is God
- in awe of all; all is God
range of influential conyemporary authors
- ex Shirley Maclaine, David Icke, Deepak Chopra, Sylvia Browne etc
various levels of perceived legitimacy within the movement
