ConclusionsConclusions

1.1. Anthropological Anthropological PerspectivePerspective

2.2. Defining “Religion”Defining “Religion”3.3. Defining “Magic”Defining “Magic”4.4. Defining “Witchcraft”Defining “Witchcraft”5.5. Race, Nation, and Race, Nation, and

ReligionReligion6.6. Individuals & Individuals &

CommunityCommunity7.7. New millenniumNew millennium

Anthropological Anthropological PerspectivePerspective

Understanding cultural practices Understanding cultural practices from within the culture itself from within the culture itself (emic) and from outside the (emic) and from outside the culture (etic)culture (etic)

Culture = system of symbols and Culture = system of symbols and meanings that people express meanings that people express through telling stories through telling stories

Culture = emergent and Culture = emergent and contested, shaped by historical contested, shaped by historical relations of powerrelations of power

EX. MyerhoffEX. Myerhoff Explains Venice Beach Jewish Explains Venice Beach Jewish

immigrants from their own perspectives, immigrants from their own perspectives, featuring the view point of Shmuelfeaturing the view point of Shmuel

Immigrants’ culture exists in the stories Immigrants’ culture exists in the stories they tell themselves about themselvesthey tell themselves about themselves

They constantly debate and redefine They constantly debate and redefine their culture in the face of power their culture in the face of power negotiations: they ultimately challenged negotiations: they ultimately challenged and shot down Kominsky’s leadership & and shot down Kominsky’s leadership & were left struggling for their basic were left struggling for their basic survival in a gentrifying beachfront city survival in a gentrifying beachfront city in LAin LA

Encountering DifferenceEncountering Difference Bohannan argues that the Tiv Bohannan argues that the Tiv

concepts of ghosts and status are concepts of ghosts and status are different than those of Western different than those of Western Europeans & US AmericansEuropeans & US Americans

But both cultures understand that But both cultures understand that Hamlet had to have been Hamlet had to have been “possessed” to seek revenge: “possessed” to seek revenge: either by spirits or by intense either by spirits or by intense emotions due to betrayalemotions due to betrayal

DEFINING “RELIGION”DEFINING “RELIGION”

1.1. System of beliefs and practices based System of beliefs and practices based on a systems of symbols and meanings on a systems of symbols and meanings (Geertz)(Geertz)

2.2. 6 Dimensions: 6 Dimensions:

Institutional (organization and leadership)Institutional (organization and leadership)

Narrative (myths, creation stories, Narrative (myths, creation stories, worldview)worldview)

Ritual (rites of passage, other events)Ritual (rites of passage, other events)

Social (community formation)Social (community formation)

Ethical (moral rules)Ethical (moral rules)

Experiential (experiencing the spirit realm, Experiential (experiencing the spirit realm, etc.)etc.)

EX. Falwell EX. Falwell FundamentalismFundamentalism Harding argues that FF is a Harding argues that FF is a

historically and politically specific historically and politically specific form of Protestant Christianity that form of Protestant Christianity that emerged in the 1980s emerged in the 1980s

Charismatic leaders challenged the Charismatic leaders challenged the trend of secular modernity, trend of secular modernity, launched by the Scopes Trial in the launched by the Scopes Trial in the 1920s1920s

Resulting in a merging of religion & Resulting in a merging of religion & national politics.national politics.

EX. Orthodox JudaismEX. Orthodox Judaism Myerhoff argues that this religion Myerhoff argues that this religion

provides a sense of “community” and provides a sense of “community” and “spirituality” that all humans want.“spirituality” that all humans want.

Strict rules of behavior organize Strict rules of behavior organize people’s relationships, family life, sex people’s relationships, family life, sex life, as well as beliefs.life, as well as beliefs.

Jews were chosen by God to enter Jews were chosen by God to enter into a special relationship with Him.into a special relationship with Him.

Defining “Magic”Defining “Magic” Practices, often rituals, through Practices, often rituals, through

which a person can influence the which a person can influence the supernatural realmsupernatural realm

– Information about the unknownInformation about the unknown– Predicting the futurePredicting the future– Why something happenedWhy something happened– DivinationDivination

EX. Songhay spirit EX. Songhay spirit possessionpossession

Stoller argues that the Stoller argues that the yenaandiyenaandi (rain ceremony) (rain ceremony) brings rain as long as the ritual brings rain as long as the ritual specialists are respecting & specialists are respecting & pleasing the spirits AND the pleasing the spirits AND the society is harmonioussociety is harmonious

““Magic” only works when the Magic” only works when the conditions are right.conditions are right.

EX. Wiccan MagicEX. Wiccan Magic ““real magic” = movement of real magic” = movement of

energy that takes place in the energy that takes place in the practitioner’s body. practitioner’s body.

Power exists in all things. Power exists in all things. Through ritual, power can be Through ritual, power can be awakened & focusedawakened & focused

Do no harm. Respect for life, the Do no harm. Respect for life, the earth, and the power.earth, and the power.

Defining “Witchcraft”Defining “Witchcraft”

Ability of a person to cause harm Ability of a person to cause harm by harnessing personal power that by harnessing personal power that resides in the body of a witch.resides in the body of a witch.

Christianities associate witchcraft Christianities associate witchcraft with Satanwith Satan

Neo-pagans have reclaimed & Neo-pagans have reclaimed & reappropriated the term “witch” reappropriated the term “witch”

EX. Haitian VodouEX. Haitian Vodou

Alourdes’ mother, Philo, Alourdes’ mother, Philo, harnessed her power to kill the harnessed her power to kill the lawyer and judge responsible for lawyer and judge responsible for her unjust imprisonment.her unjust imprisonment.

In order to do so, she consulted In order to do so, she consulted with Ogou.with Ogou.

Yoruba folklorist warns Alourdes Yoruba folklorist warns Alourdes about “intention.”about “intention.”

““Heresy” crimes in EuropeHeresy” crimes in Europe Magic & witchcraft = crimes against GodMagic & witchcraft = crimes against God 12c. “Roman Law” revival = burned 12c. “Roman Law” revival = burned

relapsed hereticsrelapsed heretics Inquisitions = authorities (from Inquisitions = authorities (from

Franciscan or Dominican Catholic Franciscan or Dominican Catholic orders) actively looked for witches orders) actively looked for witches throughout EUthroughout EU– Penances like wearing the cross or Penances like wearing the cross or

pilgrimagepilgrimage– Enforced sanctions against hereticsEnforced sanctions against heretics

Papal Inquisition (1227-1235) = Papal Inquisition (1227-1235) = imprisonment, torture, execution upon imprisonment, torture, execution upon minimal evidenceminimal evidence

Witchcraze in EuropeWitchcraze in Europe 1450-1650: witches were men and women 1450-1650: witches were men and women

who formally rejected Christianity , who formally rejected Christianity , believed to have made a pact with the believed to have made a pact with the DevilDevil

Millions of “witches” accused, convicted, Millions of “witches” accused, convicted, and executedand executed

Hammer Against Witches Hammer Against Witches ((Malleus Malleus MaleficarumMaleficarum, 1486) = spelled out church’s , 1486) = spelled out church’s beliefs about witches, what to do w/a witchbeliefs about witches, what to do w/a witch

Witches—people living on the fringes--Witches—people living on the fringes--convenient excuses for the stresses of civil convenient excuses for the stresses of civil wars, diseases, and “enlightenment” ideaswars, diseases, and “enlightenment” ideas

Witchcraze in England & USWitchcraze in England & US England: no Inquisition, no Roman England: no Inquisition, no Roman

law, weak tradition of heresylaw, weak tradition of heresy English witches: harmed livestock, English witches: harmed livestock,

caused diseases, & hurt childrencaused diseases, & hurt children 1640s= height of WC, English civil 1640s= height of WC, English civil

warwar 1692= Salem witch trials in MA1692= Salem witch trials in MA

– 2 girls (9 & 11 yrs.) divined to see 2 girls (9 & 11 yrs.) divined to see future husbandsfuture husbands

– Fits & convulsions, named 3 “witches”Fits & convulsions, named 3 “witches”– 19 killed, 100 jailed19 killed, 100 jailed

Race, Nation, & ReligionRace, Nation, & Religion ““Secular modern” (western) societies Secular modern” (western) societies

justify their actions through rational justify their actions through rational analyses of political or scientific facts analyses of political or scientific facts – The US will go to war in Afghanistan The US will go to war in Afghanistan

& Iraq to “protect its national borders & Iraq to “protect its national borders & maintain national superiority.”& maintain national superiority.”

Non-western societies justify their Non-western societies justify their actions through “religion.”actions through “religion.”– Osama Bin Ladin attacked the Towers Osama Bin Ladin attacked the Towers

to fight against evil in the name of to fight against evil in the name of AllahAllah

Are “secular” & “religious” Are “secular” & “religious” societies societies thatthat different ? different ?

The US President is “born again” The US President is “born again” and names his enemy the “axis of and names his enemy the “axis of evil.” evil.” – Religious extremism or secular Religious extremism or secular

modernity?modernity?

Islamic countries are “protecting Islamic countries are “protecting their borders” against increasing their borders” against increasing Western cultural & economic Western cultural & economic infiltration into Islamic countries.infiltration into Islamic countries.– Secular modernity or religious Secular modernity or religious

extremism?extremism?

What What isis religion anyway? religion anyway? Humans have justified violence Humans have justified violence

through arguments based on through arguments based on religion and later, ideologies of religion and later, ideologies of race and nation.race and nation.

When used as a means to justify When used as a means to justify violence--religion, race, & nationviolence--religion, race, & nation

are all the same!are all the same!

God, if she exists, would not approveGod, if she exists, would not approve. .

Individuals & CommunityIndividuals & Community Humans turn to religion & Humans turn to religion &

spirituality to:spirituality to:– Feel connected to other humans & the Feel connected to other humans & the

spirit realmspirit realm– Cope with destabilizing Cope with destabilizing

transformationstransformations– React against threat of secularizationReact against threat of secularization– Ease the blows of everyday lifeEase the blows of everyday life– Answer big & small questions about Answer big & small questions about

the mysteries of our worldthe mysteries of our world– Feel a sense of empowerment in a Feel a sense of empowerment in a

world that is unpredictable and chaoticworld that is unpredictable and chaotic

Anthropology of Religion Anthropology of Religion for the new millennium!for the new millennium!

Describe how religious language, Describe how religious language, symbols, motives provide meaning symbols, motives provide meaning during cooperation & conflictduring cooperation & conflict

Interpret meanings of belief from Interpret meanings of belief from practitioners’ perspectivespractitioners’ perspectives

Explain & respect diverse human Explain & respect diverse human values, goals, beliefs & how they are values, goals, beliefs & how they are embedded in particular economic, embedded in particular economic, political, & cultural contextspolitical, & cultural contexts

Anthropological knowledge has Anthropological knowledge has potential to reduce religious & ethnic potential to reduce religious & ethnic tensions worldwidetensions worldwide

What do religion, What do religion, magic, and witchcraft magic, and witchcraft

mean to you?mean to you?