ANTH 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Pantheism, Cultural Relativism, Polytheism
Document Summary
Textbook source: cultural anthropolog y: global forces, lo cal lives 3rd. Diversity of religious beliefs globally: anthropological perspective, cross-cultural, holistic, cultural relativism. Defining religion: religion, shared symbolic system, enacted through rituals and social life, relates to humankind"s existence. Social relationships - humans and supernatural beings/forces: and associated actions, objects and institutions. Shaman: religious specialist, often a healer, communicates/interacts with supernatural forces or beings, power is based on unique life experiences or apprenticeship, priest, acts as agent of religious institution, ritual leaders, achieve supernatural effects. Sorcerer: exercises spiritual power by specific technical means, achieve supernatural effects, witch, supernatural ability to manipulate the natural world. Rituals: highly stylized and formalized behavior pattern, different types of rituals. Is thought to bring about a certain outcome if performed properly. The ritual process: rites of passage: individuals undergoing ritual are transformed from one condition status to another. 3 stages: separation (removal from previous role/status, liminal ("betwixt and between", resolution/reincorporation.
