Supernatural Beliefs

Cultural Anthropology Ms Carin Alejandria

Objectives
Definition of religion Function of religion for the individual and society Forms of religion Role of religion in the process of culture change

Religion
A set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices, pertaining to supernatural beings and forces. Such beliefs may vary within a culture as well as among societies, and they may change over time

Problems in defining Religion

1.Religious vs non-religious phenomena The case of Kikuyu ritual (Kenya) 2. Natural world vs spiritual world The case of Nyoro Society (Uganda)

Beginnings of religion
Religious beliefs are evident in all known cultures. Proofs date as far back as 60,000 y.a. Homo sapiens were the first group to display their religious beliefs It is a universal practice

Murdocks List of Cultural Universals

All societies have religious rituals that propitiate supernatural forces, set of beliefs concerning what we would call the soul, and notions about life after death. How about the atheists?

Purpose of religion
Humans create religion in response to certain universal needs or conditions, including a need for understanding, reversion to childhood feelings, anxiety or uncertainty, and a need for community

Magic
Involves the manipulation of supernatural forces for the purpose of intervening in a wide range of human activities and natural events

Religion vs Magic
Religion deals with major issues of human existence (life, death, relationship with deities) Magic deals with specific and immediate problems (curing illness, bringing rain, safety in journey)

Religion vs Magic
Religion uses prayer and sacrifices to petition and appeal to supernatural powers for assistance Magical practitioners believe that they could control or manipulate nature or other people by their own efforts

Religion vs Magic
Religion tends to be a group activity Magic is individually oriented

Religion vs Magic
Religion is practiced on a specified time
Magic is practiced irregularly in response to specific and immediate problems

Religion vs Magic
Religion involves officially recognized functionaries
Magic maybe practiced by virtually anybody in a society

Religion and Magic

1. faith-based 2. Rituals may be used simultaneously 3. Attempt to answer for the unexplanable

Function of religion
1. Social (social control, conflict resolution, group solidarity) 2. Psychological (cognitive, emotional)

Religion as social control

Divine intervention Faced with ignorance, pain, and injustice, people frequently explain events by claiming intervention by the gods. The gods are likely to punish the immoral behavior of people in societies that have considerable differences in wealth

Types of supernatural forces

Supernatural forces- have no personlike character Animatism Mana and taboo Present in both non-industrialized and industrialized societies

Types of supernatural beings

Maybe from non-human and human origin Non-human: gods- anthropomorphic, creators Non-human: spirits- lower than gods, hobgoblin vs efficacious spirits Human-like: Ghosts- ancestor spirits; guides for the lineage

Hierarchy in religion
Gods may be unpredictable or predictable, aloof from or interested in human affairs, helpful or punishing. In some societies, all gods are equal in rank; in others, there is a hierarchy of prestige and power among gods and spirits, just as among the humans in those societies

Hierarchy in religion
A monotheistic religion is one in which there is one high god, as creator of the universe or director of events; all other supernatural beings are either subordinate to, or function as alternative manifestations of, this god. A high god is generally found in societies with a high level of political development A polytheistic religion recognizes many important gods, none of which is supreme.

Ways to interact with the supernatural

Prayer, physiological experience, simulation, feasts, and sacrifices Divination- seeks practical answers from the supernatural about anything that is troublesome. Magic- when people believe their action can compel the supernatural to act in some particular and intended way. Sorcery- includes the use of materials, objects, and medicines to invoke supernatural malevolence Witchcraft- can accomplish malevolence by means of thoughts and emotions alone

Types of practitioners
Shaman- is usually a part-time male specialist who has fairly high status in his community and is often involved in healing Sorcerers and witches- have very low social and economic status Mediums- tend to be females; part-time; heals and divine while in possession trances Priests- full-time male specialists who officiate at public events

Characteristics of Different Religious organizations

Individualistic No role specialization Food collector
Crow Vision Quest

Shamanistic Part time specialization Food collector pastoralism/horticulture Tungus shamanism

Wallace (1966)

Characteristics of Different Religious organizations

Communal Groups perform rites for community Horticulture/ pastoralism Totemistic rituals Ecclesiastical Full time specialization in hierarchy Industrialism Christianity/Buddhism

Cross-cultural Miscue
Bahrain vs Qatar: The case of a VP (as told by business consultant Alison Lanier, 1979) Bahrain: liquor is permitted Qatar: liquor is strictly prohibited

Religion and social change

Religious liberalism (liberation theology) Religious nationalism Revitalization movements Mahdist movements Millenarian movements Nativistic movements

conclusion
The history of religion includes periods of strong resistance to change and periods of radical change. One explanation for this cycle is that religious practices always originate during periods of stress. Religious movements have been called revitalization movements due to their efforts to save a culture by infusing it with new purpose and new life