Chapter 14

Religion and World View

Chapter Outline Defining Religion Theories of Religion Supernatural Explanations of Misfortune Varieties of Religious Organization Revitalization Movements

 Components of Religion

1. Beliefs about nature and character of supernatural powers.

2. Oral or written stories (myths) about the actions and deeds of supernatural powers and cultural heroes.

3. Rituals intended to include or direct these powers for the benefit of the group.

Beliefs Animism

Belief in spiritual beings. Myths

Oral or written stories about the actions and deeds of supernatural powers and cultural heroes.

Ritual The organized performance of behaviors

intended to influence supernatural powers.

Theories of Religion Intellectual

Humans want explanations for the world around them.

Psychological Religion helps people cope with times of

difficulty. Sociological

Religion has a useful effect on human societies.

Theories of Religion Intellectual/cognitive theory

The notion that religious beliefs provide explanations for puzzling things and events.

Psychological theory of religion The emotional or affective satisfactions

that people derive from religion.

Theories of Religion Sociological theory

The effects of religion on maintaining the institutions of society as a whole by instilling common values, creating solidarity, controlling behavior, and so forth.

Supernatural Explanations of Misfortune

Belief that common misfortunes are caused by spiritual powers.

Belief that misfortunes are caused by the action of some evil human who is using supernatural powers against the affected person.

 Sorcery Based on two kinds of logical principles.

imitative principle - the premise that like produces like (voodoo doll).

contagious principle - assumption that power comes from contact.

 Views of Witchcraft Navajo - associate witches with the worst

imaginable sins (incest, bestiality, necrophilia, cannibalism).

Nyakyusa of Tanzania - motivated by lust for food, witches suck dry the udders of cattle and devour internal organs of humans while they sleep.

Views of Witchcraft Azande of southern Sudan - witches

possess a substance that leaves their bodies at night and eats the flesh and internal organs of their victims.

Ibibio of Nigeria - witches remove the spiritual essence of their enemies and place it in an animal who dies when the witch slaughters and eats the animal.

Interpretationsof Witchcraft and Sorcery Cognitive

Explains unfortunate events. Witches serve as scapegoats.

Sociological Reinforces cultural norms that help

people live harmoniously. Provides an outlet for repressed

aggression.

Types of Religious Organizations

Individualistic Cults - emphasize direct, personal interactions between people and the supernatural.

Shamanistic Cults - some individuals are believed to have contact with the supernatural that ordinary people lack.

Types of Religious Organizations Communal Cults - members gather

periodically for rituals that are believed to benefit the group as a whole.

Ecclesiastical Cults - religion is carried out by specialized officials who perform rituals that that benefit the society as a whole.

 Vision Quest An active search or quest to acquire a

vision.

Shaman A person with a culturally defined special

relationship to supernatural powers, which he frequently uses to cure sickness.

Ancestral Cults Beliefs and rituals surrounding the

interactions between the living and their departed relatives. 

Totemism The cultural belief that human groups

have a special mystical relationship with natural objects, such as animals, plants, and sometimes, nonliving things.

Priests A kind of religious specialist, often full-

time who officiates at rituals.

Revitalization Movements Organized movements that help people

cope with rapid changes. Originate with a prophet who has a

revelation that includes: Statement about what is wrong with the

world. Vision of a new world and a prescription

for how to bring it about.

Cargo Cults Melanesian revitalization movements in

which prophets claimed to know secret rituals that would bring wealth (cargo).

Quick Quiz

1. The belief in spiritual beings is called:

a) animism

b) mana

c) sorcery

d) all of the above

Answer: a

The belief in spiritual beings is called animism.

2. The organized performance of behaviors intended to influence spiritual powers is called:

a) animism

b) mana

c) ritual

d) myths

Answer: c

The organized performance of behavior intended to influence spiritual powers is called ritual.

3. The use of psychic power alone to cause harm to others is called:

a) sorcery

b) divination

c) witchcraft

d) voodoo

Answer: c

The use of psychic power alone to cause harm to others is called witchcraft.