Religion Flashcards
(60 cards)
Who was Durkheim and why were they important?
He was a sociologist who realized that religion wasn’t just belief in the supernatural, but also a set of practices and social institutions that brings community members together.
Who was Sir Edward Tylor?
Created the first anthropological description of animism. Believed that ordinary parts of the human experience like dreaming created basis for spirituality.
Additionally, believed that religions evolved from animism to be more sophisticated.
What is animatism?
Religions based on the idea that plants, animals, inanimate objects, weather, have a spiritual or supernatural element to them.
What is a voodoo doll? How does it work?
A replicate of a person that is used for magic, often to either do harm, or more usually, for healing.
Use both imitative and contagious magic.
What is the difference between imitative and contagious magic?
Imitative - envisioning a result and then getting it
Contagious - power being transferred from object to user
What is a taboo?
Things that you shouldn’t do. In baseball, often come from something different that one did that led to an undesirable result.
What is a ritual?
Something that should be done, leading to a desired result.
Can be religious (like baseball players putting on right before left shoe) or secular (like singing O Canada in the morning)
What is the supernatural?
Not natural. Not people or any other earthly beings.
What are priests?
Full time religious practitioners that act as intermediaries between human and supernatural being (God).
What is a myth?
A false story, often passed down orally.
What are abstract forces?
Impersonal supernatural forces.
Like the “mana” from Oceania, or the force from Star Wars.
What is zoomorphism?
When a supernatural being is in the form of an animal.
What are rites of passage?
A ceremonial event that marks passage from one state of life to another.
What are the three phases of rites of passage? Briefly describe each.
Separation - individuals are separated from community and stripped of their own personal identity.
Liminality - Tests and trials, often testing the limits of the body.
Incorporation - Reincorporating into society with new/redefined social status
What are the three different types of rites? Briefly describe each.
Rites of Passage - rite marking transition from one state of life to another
Rites of Intensification - rite used to bring members of community together. For example, Nagol land diving in Vanuatu.
Rites of Revitalization - rite used to solve some kind of problem. Ex. John Frum.
Describe the John Frum ritual.
During WW2, American soldiers were stationed on the island of Tanna, bringing with them many material goods. The people of Tanna believed that a spirit named John Frum was bringing these goods.
When the war ended, the Americans left and took goods with them. People of Tanna created a ritual in hopes of attracting John Frum and his wealth back to the island.
Ritual includes recreating American army boats, soldiers, and machinery.
What is sacrifice?
The offer of something to please the supernatural.
Ex. lamb to give to the needy
Define socialization.
The practice of actively learning the values, norms and rules of society.
What does the Azande showcase in regards to how magic can be warped in society.
Basically they believe that if something bad happens to you or your crops, its because a witch (male or female) put a curse on you.
Anyone can be accused of being a witch EXCEPT for the chiefs.
Enforces power dynamics within society, protecting the chiefs.
What do sports represent?
Other than being a leisure activity, can be a method of reproducing ideologies.
For example, when the Trobriander islanders took the colonizer game of cricket and made it their own as a form of resistance.
Additionally, the popularity of certain sports and attitudes of certain sports reflect the attitudes of society.
ex. the emphasis on QB in American FB showcasing American Individualism vs. the concept of WA in Japanese Baseball, showcasing the importance of teamwork in Japanese society.
What is the difference between performing culture and cultural performance?
Performing culture - how culture is expressed day to day. How people dress, act, speak, eat, etc.
Cultural performance - literal performance of song, dance to an audience.
What is hegemony?
The idea that your culture is squeezing you into a box and has complete authority over you.
Define front space vs back space.
Front - Spaces where we can control how audience perceives actors
Back - Where these pretenses can be dropped.
For example.
Front space - when a waiter clocks in to shift
Back space - when waiter goes home and doesn’t have to use customer service voice
Define social drama. What are the 4 stages?
Disharmonic social process that leads to social conflict.
Breach, crisis, redressive action, and reintegration
