ANTH 2051 Chapter : Religion
Document Summary
Approached by anthropologists by functionalism and what it does for people. One of the ways that humans deal with the reality of death, misfortune, and uncertainty we have with life. This answers questions about death, like what happens after we die, if our relationships continue with people after they"ve passed away: answers questions; it gives meaning to human life in the face of dramatic experiences, like illness. In most societies, it"s an understanding that when older people die, it"s the order of things; it"s understood. When children die mysteriously or seemingly unnaturally, people look to religion for healing: answers questions like why me/why now? . There is some evidence that people who participate in a faith community tend to live longer. This is why people who advocate social change or revolution claim that this suppresses social complexities. It can be part of how we manage our relationship with our environment.
