ANP 443 Lecture Notes - Lecture 43: Church Attendance, Emic And Etic, Pentagram
Document Summary
Myths (how people came to be, and the order of the universei. e. genesis) and sacred narrative deal with fundamental questions in the religious and social order. Provides origin stories and explains the unexplainable and the world "as it really is. " Legitimates the status quo and provides social cohesion. ( example; pope puts crown on king, legitimizing government. ) Calling on the help of spiritual beings, particularly in unpredictable situations. Can increase or decrease. (example; spike in church attendance post 9/11; sickness, natural disasters, etc. ) If there is no result, faith crisis (aztec human sacrifice), panic attacks, suicide. Provides rationale for social order and gives social values religious authority. Or doing a ritual together reaffirms people that others have the same values and beliefs as you). "western economic development experts occasionally cite the hindu cattle taboo to illustrate the idea that religious beliefs can stand in the way of rational economic decisions.
