Religion n Society

8/18/2019 Religion n Society

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ReligionReligion

andand SocietySociety


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This presentation discussesthe role of religion in a variety

of societies.

It focuses on the types ofreligion and the situations inwhich religions can change

rapidly.


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Introduction

Religion

1.earliest evidence of whatprobably was religious activity.

2. Wallace

belief and ritual concerned withsupernatural beings, powers, and

forces.So dened, religion is a cultural

universal.


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AnimismAnimism

oAnimism is seen as themost primitive form of

religionoreligion dened as a belief in

souls that derives from therst attempt to eplaindreams and li!e phenomena.


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Animatism

oAnimatism is the belief that allanimate and inanimate ob"ectsare infused with a common lifeforce

othe assignment to inanimate

ob"ects, forces, and plants ofpersonalities and wills, but notsouls.


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Mana and Taboo

o #ana is dened as belief in

an imminent supernatural

domain or life$force,

potentially sub"ect to human

manipulation.


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o #elanesian mana –a sacred impersonal force

that is much li!e theWestern concept of luc!.

–%%%&amples in your ownlife'


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o

(olynesian mana and therelated concept of taboo

–related to the morehierarchical nature of(olynesian society.


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Magic and Religion

o#agic refers to supernaturaltechni)ues intended to

accomplish specic aims.o#agic may be imitative *as with

voodoo dolls+ or contagious

*accomplished through contact+.

o%%%ave you tried this'


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Anxiety, Control,Solace

Magic is an instrument of

control,Religion serves toprovide stability when no

control or understandingis possible.


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Rituals

Rituals are formal, performed insacred contexts.

Rituals convey information about

the culture of the participantsand, hence, the participantsthemselves.

Rituals are inherently social –participation in them

necessarily implies social

commitment.


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-ites of (assage

-ites of passage which mar! andfacilitate a persons movement from

one state to another -ites of passage have three phases/

–Separation 0 the participant*s+

withdraws from the group andbegins moving from one place toanother.


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iminality 0 the period

between states,during which the

participant*s+ has leftone place but has not

yet entered the net.


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Incorporation 0 theparticipant*s+

reenters societywith a new status

having completedthe rite.


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Rites of assageRites of assage

!iminality is part of!iminality is part ofevery rite of passageevery rite of passage

and involves theand involves thetemporary suspensiontemporary suspension

and even reversal ofand even reversal of

everyday socialeveryday socialdistinctions.distinctions.


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Communitas refers toCommunitas refers tocollective liminality,collective liminality,

characteri"ed bycharacteri"ed by

enhanced feelings ofenhanced feelings of

social solidarity andsocial solidarity and

minimi"edminimi"eddistinctions.distinctions.

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Religion n Society