ANTHRO 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: East Los Angeles College
Document Summary
A set of beliefs in supernatural forces and beings directed at helping people make sense of the world and solve problems. All forms of religion are founded on a belief in the supernatural. Magic refers to supernatural techniques intended to accomplish specific aims. Magic may be imitative (as with voodoo dolls) or contiguous (accomplish through contact) Witchcraft is an inborn, involuntary, and often unconscious capacity to cause harm to other people. Sorcery is the performance of certain magical rites to deliberately bring about harm. A modern-day movement of witches and pagans. Covens are local groups of witches found in major cities in the united states, which are presided over by high priestesses. Identified four principal patterns of religious organization based on what he calls cults. Cult: forms of religion that have their own set of beliefs, rituals, and goals. Every religion in the world under wallace perspective is a cult. The least complex form of religious organization.
