Spirituality, Religion,Spirituality, Religion,and the Supernaturaland the Supernatural

Part IIIPart III

Magic:Magic:

Among the most fascinating of ritual Among the most fascinating of ritual practices is application of the belief that practices is application of the belief that supernatural powers can be compelled to supernatural powers can be compelled to act in certain ways for good or evil purposes act in certain ways for good or evil purposes by recourse to certain specified formulas. by recourse to certain specified formulas.

Many societies have magical rituals to Many societies have magical rituals to ensure good crops, the replenishment of ensure good crops, the replenishment of game, the fertility of domestic animals, and game, the fertility of domestic animals, and the avoidance or healing of illness in the avoidance or healing of illness in humans. humans.

Magic:Magic: In the 19th century Scottish anthropologist Sir In the 19th century Scottish anthropologist Sir

James George Frazer made a useful James George Frazer made a useful distinction between two fundamental distinction between two fundamental principles of magic: imitative magic and principles of magic: imitative magic and contagious magic.contagious magic.– Imitative magic: magic based on the principle that Imitative magic: magic based on the principle that

like produces like; sometimes called sympathetic like produces like; sometimes called sympathetic magicmagic

– Contagious magic: magic based on the principle Contagious magic: magic based on the principle that things or persons once in contact can that things or persons once in contact can influence each other after the contact is broken.influence each other after the contact is broken.

Witchcraft:Witchcraft:

In Salem, Massachusetts, 200 innocent In Salem, Massachusetts, 200 innocent citizens suspected of being witches were citizens suspected of being witches were arrested in 1692; of these thirteen women arrested in 1692; of these thirteen women and six men were hanged, and one 80-and six men were hanged, and one 80-year-old farmer was tortured to death.year-old farmer was tortured to death.

Witchcraft: an explanation of events Witchcraft: an explanation of events based on the belief that certain individuals based on the belief that certain individuals possess an innate psychic power capable possess an innate psychic power capable of causing harm, including sickness and of causing harm, including sickness and death.death.

Ibibio Witchcraft:Ibibio Witchcraft:

As the Ibibio of Nigeria have become As the Ibibio of Nigeria have become increasingly exposed to modern increasingly exposed to modern education and scientific training, their education and scientific training, their reliance on witchcraft as an reliance on witchcraft as an explanation for misfortune has explanation for misfortune has increasedincreased

traditional Ibibio attribute virtually all traditional Ibibio attribute virtually all misfortune, illness, or death to the misfortune, illness, or death to the malevolent activity of witches. malevolent activity of witches.

Ibibio Witchcraft:Ibibio Witchcraft:

To identify a witch, an Ibibio looks for To identify a witch, an Ibibio looks for any person living in the region whose any person living in the region whose behavior is considered odd, out of behavior is considered odd, out of the ordinary immoral, or unsocial.the ordinary immoral, or unsocial.

Witches are apt to look and act mean and to be socially disruptive people in the sense that their behavior exceeds the range of variance considered acceptable.

Ibibio Witchcraft:Ibibio Witchcraft:

Sorcerers are the very embodiment of a Sorcerers are the very embodiment of a society’s conception of evil – beings that society’s conception of evil – beings that flout the rules of sexual behavior and flout the rules of sexual behavior and disregard every other standard of decencydisregard every other standard of decency

Typically, they are morose, arrogant, and Typically, they are morose, arrogant, and unfriendly people who keep to themselves unfriendly people who keep to themselves but otherwise cause little disturbancebut otherwise cause little disturbance– Not surprisingly, people viewed as witches are Not surprisingly, people viewed as witches are

usually treated with considerable caution, usually treated with considerable caution, respect, and even fear. respect, and even fear.

Functions of Witchcraft:Functions of Witchcraft:

Witchcraft functions as an effective Witchcraft functions as an effective way for people to explain away way for people to explain away personal misfortune without having to personal misfortune without having to shoulder any of the blame themselves. shoulder any of the blame themselves.

Witchcraft may also provide an outlet Witchcraft may also provide an outlet for feelings of hostility and frustration for feelings of hostility and frustration without disturbing the norms of the without disturbing the norms of the larger group, and hence functions as an larger group, and hence functions as an agent of social control. agent of social control.

Functions of Witchcraft:Functions of Witchcraft:

Sanctions a wide range of conduct by Sanctions a wide range of conduct by providing notions of right and wrong. providing notions of right and wrong.

Sets standards for acceptable behavior Sets standards for acceptable behavior and helps perpetuate an existing social and helps perpetuate an existing social order.order.

Lifts burden of decision making from Lifts burden of decision making from individuals and places responsibility with individuals and places responsibility with god.god.

Plays a role in maintaining social Plays a role in maintaining social solidarity.solidarity.

Functions of Religion:Functions of Religion:

– First, religion provides an orderly model of First, religion provides an orderly model of the universe and thereby reduces fears and the universe and thereby reduces fears and anxieties. anxieties.

– Second, it sanctions a range of conduct by Second, it sanctions a range of conduct by providing notions of right and wrong-and by providing notions of right and wrong-and by setting guidelines for acceptable behavior, it setting guidelines for acceptable behavior, it helps perpetuate an existing social order. helps perpetuate an existing social order.

Functions of Religion:Functions of Religion:

– Third, religion serves to lift the burden Third, religion serves to lift the burden of decision making from individuals and of decision making from individuals and places responsibility with the gods. places responsibility with the gods.

– Fourth, it plays a large role in Fourth, it plays a large role in maintaining social solidarity. maintaining social solidarity.

– Finally, religion serves educational Finally, religion serves educational purposes as ritual ceremonies enhance purposes as ritual ceremonies enhance the learning of tribal lore. the learning of tribal lore.

Revitalization Movements:Revitalization Movements:

Revitalization movement: a movement for Revitalization movement: a movement for radical cultural reform in response to radical cultural reform in response to widespread social disruption and collective widespread social disruption and collective feelings o great stress and despair.feelings o great stress and despair.

CargoCargo cults: a spiritual movement in cults: a spiritual movement in reaction to disruptive contact with Western reaction to disruptive contact with Western capitalism, promising resurrection of capitalism, promising resurrection of deceased relatives, destruction or deceased relatives, destruction or enslavement of while foreigners, and the enslavement of while foreigners, and the magical arrival of utopian riches.magical arrival of utopian riches.

SufismSufism

A Sufi sema (prayer dance) in Istanbul, Turkey. Sufism, a A Sufi sema (prayer dance) in Istanbul, Turkey. Sufism, a mystical Muslim movement that emerged in the late 10th mystical Muslim movement that emerged in the late 10th century, borrowing ideas from Buddhism, Christianity, and century, borrowing ideas from Buddhism, Christianity, and Neoplatonism, emphasizes the surrender of individual ego Neoplatonism, emphasizes the surrender of individual ego and attachment to worldly things in order to be receptive to and attachment to worldly things in order to be receptive to God’s grace. God’s grace.

Cargo CultCargo Cult

Spiritual movements in Melanesia in Spiritual movements in Melanesia in reaction to disruptive contact with reaction to disruptive contact with Western capitalism promising Western capitalism promising resurrection of deceased relatives, resurrection of deceased relatives, destruction or enslavement of white destruction or enslavement of white foreigners, and the magical coming foreigners, and the magical coming of utopian riches.of utopian riches.