An antropological Study

• Cultural or Social Anthropology: The comparative study of human societies and cultures and their development

• Humanities: The study of literature, history, art, music and philosophy concerned with human culture

• Sociology: The study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society

Religion: Latin religio(n-) ‘obligation, bond, reverence,’ perhaps based on Latin religare ‘to bind.’

Theo (-Theistic): Greek Theos, God,•Monotheistic( from mono-one, belief in one god•Polytheistic (from poly-many, belief in many gods)•Pantheistic (from Pan-all, doctrine that identifies God with the universe, or regards the universe as a manifestation of God•Atheistic (from a-absence of, disbelief in existence of god

Philosophy: The study of KNOWLEDGE, REALITY, and EXISTENCE Ideology:A system of ideas and ideals that forms the basis of a belief system (related to a group) Numinous:Having a strong religious or spiritual quality; suggesting the presence of a divine being or divinity.

Esoteric: Greek: (esoterikos, esotero, eso, es)“within” or “into”Understood by only a small number of specialized knowledge or interest

Mysticism: A belief that unition with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute may be attained through contemplation and self surrender

Gnostic: (A-)Greek Gnostikos ‘to know’ relating to Gnosis: esoteric or mystical knowledge. •Also relating to a Pre-Christian belief system and religious movement that teaches Gnosis is the way to salvation of the soul from the material world

• To break down stereotypes and prevent ignorance

• To yield a deeper understanding of :• human beliefs and practices• Human behavior and • Social development and

evolution • Literature, Art, and culture• Humanity

Animism (Latin anima ‘life, soul’)

• The belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.

• Animistic religions maintain deep respect or reverence for the natural world

•Animals may be seen as relatives or ancestors, and living things may be viewed as sources of blessing or harm

•Primal and Traditional Religions often do not depend on scriptures or written teachings as do most other religions.

•Most traditional religions are Orally transmitted and passed down from generation to generation

•Tribal religions are often symbolically linked through evidence of an animistic belief system

Matriarcy: a society in which females have central roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property. •Matriarchal religions are centered around Goddess worship, fertility rites and sacred traits attributed to nature cycles

Patriarchy: a social system in which the male is primary authority figure central to social organization, where fathers hold authority over women, children and property. •Patriarchal religions are monotheistic. The Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism)

“Venus” of Willendorf – Artifact of Ancient Oral

Religion•Discovered in Austria, thought to come from fertility rituals dating from 30,000 -25,000 BCE

•Evidence of ancient matriarchal societies

• Stories have sacred origins

• In many primitive cultures, animals and humans are believed to have descended from gods or divine actions

• Stories from many primal cultures mention a high deity with several immortal manifestations in the form of offspring or ancient ancestors

•Primal religions are often viewed as polytheistic

•Dependant on archeological and anthropological discoveries

•Ethnocentricism: evaluating other peoples and cultures according to the standards of one's own culture

•The assumption that tribal cultures are inferior or savage has created bias in historical records

• Artifacts of oral religions may be impermanent (dance, songs, masks, etc.) and difficult to interpret

• Mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, etc., may be viewed as being sacred spaces

•Sacred spaces may also be constructed Stonehenge, pyramids, Easter Island, temples, mosques

•Sacred times often coincide with rhythms of nature constellations, lunar cycle, equinox, eclipses,

etc

• Ceremonies often are the means of re-telling sacred stories

• May include means of enhancing religious experience, such as fasting, ingesting mind-altering substances, etc.

• Ceremonies typically mark rites of passage related to the life-cycle

• Birth • Puberty• Marriage • Death

•Sacrifices often help protect people from dangerous spirits or forces

• A religious specialist who is believed to travel between or have connection with human and spirit worlds

•provides guidance and wisdom to leaders.

•Believed to hold the powers of spirit control, divination, healing, and communicating with the gods.

•Recognized within certain tribal societies as specially gifted with an ability to communicate with the sacred.

• Preside over ceremonies and other sacred rites.

1. How does religion define culture?2. How are different religions classified?3. How do religions evolve over time?4. What is considered sacred in a given

religion?5. What is the purpose of religion?6. How do religions impact social and

political structures?7. How do different religions interact?