Chapter 14, Supernatural Beliefs

Chapter Outline

Defining Religion Myths Functions of Religion Types of Religious Organization Globalization of World Religions Religion and Social Change

Defining Religion

A set of beliefs in supernatural forces directed at helping people make sense of the world and solve problems.

All forms of religion are founded on a belief in the supernatural.

Religion in Societies

All societies have:– religious rituals that appease supernatural forces– sets of beliefs concerning what we would call the

soul– notions about life after death.

Origins of Religion

Tools, weapons, and artifacts found in Neanderthal graves led anthropologists to conclude that they believed in an afterlife.

Paleolithic art includes religious symbols that may have appeared as early as 200,000 to 300,000 years ago.

Religion and Magic

Similarities: Both are systems of supernatural belief and

cannot be empirically demonstrated. Both must be accepted as a matter of faith. Both are practiced as a way of coping with the

anxieties, ambiguities, and frustrations of everyday life.

Religion and Magic

Differences: Religion deals with the major issues of human

existence: the meaning of life, death, and one’s spiritual relationship with deities.

Magic is directed toward specific immediate problems: curing an illness, bringing rain, or ensuring safety on a long journey.

Religion and Magic

Differences: Religion uses prayer and sacrifices to appeal

to supernatural powers for assistance. Magic attempts to manipulate nature or other

people by their own efforts. Religion tends to be a group activity; magic is

more individually oriented.

Religion and Magic

Differences: Religion is practiced at a specified time, magic is

practiced in response to specific and immediate problems.

Religion usually involves officially recognized functionaries such as priests.

Magic may be performed by practitioners who may not be recognized as having supernatural powers.

Myths

Sacred literature that states certain religious truths.

Include stories of the gods, their origins, their activities, and the moral injunctions they teach.

A culture’s mythology is closely connected to its moral and social order.

Social Functions of Religion

Social control Conflict resolution Intensifying group solidarity

Psychological Functions of Religion

Cognitive – provides an intellectual framework for explaining

parts of our world that we do not understand.

Emotional– helps reduce anxiety by prescribing straightforward

ways of coping with stress.

Classifying Religions: Anthony Wallace

Based on level of specialization of the religious personnel who conduct rituals and ceremonies.

Cult refers to forms of religion that have their own beliefs, rituals, and goals: – Individualistic cults– Shamanistic Cults– Communal Cults– Ecclesiastical Cults

Characteristics of Different Religious Organizations

Role Specialization Subsistence Pattern

Example

Individualistic No role specialization

Food collector Crow vision quest

Shamanistic Part-time specialization

Food collector Pastoralism

Tungus shamanism

Communal Groups perform rites for community

Horticulture Totemistic rituals

Ecclesiastical Full-time specialization in hierarchy

Horticulture/Pastoralism

Christianity and Buddhism

Religion in the U.S.

Roman Catholicism is the largest with 24% of the adult population.

Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant comprising 220 denominations, represent 36% of the adult population.

Approximately 1.5% of the population is Jewish. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the U.S. with 1%

of the adult population.

Religious “Outlook” for Americans

3 out of 4 Americans claim their general “outlook” is religious or somewhat religious.

16% claim to have a secular or somewhat secular outlook.

Women (42%) are more likely than men (31%) to describe their outlook as religious.

Older adults are more likely than younger adults to describe their outlook as religious.

Religion and Social Change

When societies experience high stress, new religions may create social change.

These include:– Nativistic movements, found among American Indians.– Cargo cults, found in Melanesia.– Separatist Christian churches of southern Africa.– Mahdist movements in the Muslim world.– Millenarian movements found in Christian areas of the world.

Revitalization Movements

Aim to add new life and purpose into the society.

Tend to occur during times of cultural stress brought about by:– rapid change– foreign domination– perceived deprivation

Revitalization Movements: Process

A society is pushed out of equilibrium by such forces as conquest and social domination.

People become disillusioned, the culture becomes disorganized.

Revitalization movements promise an effort to bring about a more satisfying society.

Some call for a return to the better days of the past; others seek to establish a completely new social order.