REL S 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Totem, Opiate, God Gene
Document Summary
Swidler: an explanation of the ultimate meaning of life and how to live accordingly based on a notion and experience of the transcendent *transcendent: beyond, outside. Cult: ritual activities - prayer, offerings, sacrifice (lent, donating), baptism. Community: followers (4 cs are a great test question) Monolatry: the belief that there is one god but you don"t deny the existence of others. Henotheism: the belief in many gods but you promote one god above all of the rest. Deism: thomas jefferson, belief that there is a god who made everything and now does not coexist with events or things on earth. Dualism: two gods, usually dark and light, good vs evil, dualists are balanced, devil vs angel. Agnosticism: the possible belief in a higher being or god but not following a religion. Characteristics of religion in primal cultures: awe before the sacred.
