Anth2106 - Religion, Magic And Witchcraft - Midterm

Front 1

What is a large problem or issue in relation to the anthropological study of religion

Back 1

a concise and definitive description of religion

Front 2

what are some of the hurdles encountered in defining religion?

Back 2

religion for many people is abstract - and what one culture recognizes as "religious" does not always translate to another. Time and context are also factors -for example, Paganism. Once Christianity was introduced in areas, they would look at such things as anything but religion. So closed-minds are another hurdle. Dividing religion from such things as magic is also difficult when they have much in common.

Front 3

What must a workable definition of religion be sure to do?

Back 3

It must be sure to be inclusive and broad, so that it can reach as many as possible

Front 4

Why do some disciplines attempt to explain religion biologically?

Back 4

The fact that religion is a cultural universal (in whatever form we accept) would seem to lean religion toward a biological explanation - it speaks to an innate or instinctive impulse.

Front 5

How does the fact that "cooking" is a universal lead us to believe that religion is not a biological expression?

Back 5

Since most cultures do some form of cooking, it shows that it is a commonality. But, this is a learned trait - if you are not shown how to cook, you may never know how to do it. You do not need to be shown how to breath, or shown how to blink - those are biological universals.

Front 6

What types of definitions are used to try and explain religions

Back 6

1. analytic - what does the process look like?
2. function/role - what purpose does it serve
3. essence/nature - what does it do - in its most basic character - not how it looks or its purpose - but where does it actually come from

Front 7

Why is anthropology uniquely suited to the development of a definition of religion and its study as a cultural entity?

Back 7

The fact that anthropology focuses on holism and humanism, but also in its existence as a science: it meshes together creativity, philosophical, etc. along with format, need for precision and objectiveness, etc.

Front 8

What does it mean when referring to the EMIC

Back 8

insider point of view: from the framework of Taking Part, Immersion
HUMANISTIC

Front 9

What does it mean when referring to the ETIC

Back 9

Outsider looking in - observant framework
SCIENTIFIC

Front 10

What is an "operant" definition

Back 10

a working one that is usually accepted and usually used to explain the abstract

Front 11

What is a problem when trying to define a religion in some cultures?

Back 11

The fact that a religion may be so all-encompassing within the culture, its pieces may be hard to distinguish by the outsider - what may seem just part of day to day activity is the religion living within the society. Contrary to this, in the west, it is easily distinguished because activities are clearly defined by time and place (go to church on Sunday, pray at church, etc)

Front 12

What would Tylor state is one explanation for the emergence of religion as part of the human condition?

Back 12

People's need to explain the unexplainable (ie. dreams). Tylor spoke of Animism, and how the idea of souls develops as separate from the flesh, and later further into gods and monotheism - all in ways to explain what otherwise would remain a mystery.

Front 13

What is "propitiation". How does Frazer say this helps differentiate religion and magic?

Back 13

It is the act of trying to gain favor thru worship. (ie. prayer to a god)
In magic, you are trying to control forces. In religion, your goal is not to control, but to please.
Religion is "asking and appealing", where magic is "controlling and compelling"

Front 14

What is Durkheim's focus in the study of religion?

Back 14

The social aspect. It's role in people's lives.
The sacred, he states, serves as the glue to hold a community together, leading to morals and laws. He believed there was duality in the world - the secular (religion) and profane (lay or non-religious)

Front 15

What does Marx say about religion?

Back 15

It is a religious construct which plays to a "false consciousness" and serves to control and oppress in a Capitalist society.

Front 16

What purpose does religion serve according to Berger?

Back 16

projecting human characteristics of humanity toward the "other"

Front 17

What is unique about Geertz's definition for religion?

Back 17

It is uniquely functional. It speaks of characteristics and function, and very inclusive. However it does not discuss the supernatural which may be its weakness. His is the most widely accepted anthropological definition of religion.

Front 18

How does Guthrie define religion?

Back 18

It is a reflection of human perception of the world, by trying to see patterns and messages. It is a succinct and most user friendly definition.

Front 19

What is the anthropological study of religion NOT ?

Back 19

The study of supernatural, validity of religion, meaning of life, etc.

Front 20

what does the anthropological study of religion try to accomplish?

Back 20

it is dedicated to understanding religion as it is perceived by the culture it exists in, and the commonalities that exist between religion, magic, witchcraft - a blending, where the ties that bind the three are larger than any differences

Front 21

explain Durkheim's Theory of the Homo-Duplex as it relates to anthropology and religion

Back 21

???

Front 22

Define "Culture"

Back 22

a shared system of beliefs, feelings, and rules that is shared by a group of people and expressed through actions and behaviors.

Front 23

How can religion be described as a "cultural contradiction"

Back 23

Relates to the nature vs. nurture argument. Religious feelings are typically nurtured in us by the culture we exist. However, to dispel nature as its source would ignore the fact that religion is universal

Front 24

what does Stein's "methodological agnosticism" mean?

Back 24

The fact that most beliefs in regard to religion can neither be proven nor disproved. It is more important to appreciate its existence, not validity. Existence of the supernatural is not important, but how belief in such affects a culture.

Front 25

How are religious symbols important in the study of religion.

Back 25

They reflect the beliefs and practices, act as a reflection of the religions power

Front 26

Why is Holism important in the study of religion?

Back 26

It shows that the parts of a religion are not understandable without understanding the rest. ( a cross is not much of anything until you understand its significance within Christian belief)

Front 27

What type of explanations are the authors of "Brain Science, God Science" trying to use for universal presence of religion?

Back 27

Evolutionary psychology - using genetics to explain religious behaviour. It would lead us to assume they should be present in everyone.

Front 28

What does "Brain Science" give as a reason for religion enduring, in the light of science.

Back 28

even though there is proof against many beliefs, it is a natural human condition to believe - have faith. Even if there was definitive proof against the existence of the 'holy', people would still choose to believe in such.

Front 29

How does religion act as a "stress-therapy"

Back 29

1. reduces anxiety and fear around 'death'
2.socializing - sharing with a community a common belief system, rituals, and worldview
3. the rituals themselves serve as de-stressers - meditation, prayer, etc

Front 30

What are some criticisms in the explanations within "Brain Science" in regard to why religion continues to exist in our society?

Back 30

1. as an answer to questions of death and the after-life, it does not work in all religions, since some religions do not approach the topic.
2. instead of de-stressing, religion can cause stress - fear
3. if it is a product of the normal brain, it ignores the existence of atheists, agnostics.

Front 31

What did Haidt say about the relationship between culture and religion?

Back 31

Cultures with religion continue to exist. Those without would be among the cultures which have died out - explains why all cultures have religion in some form?

Front 32

Most anthropologist favour a belief contrary to Maguire's and Tiger's evolution hypothesis. Explain how most would approach the idea of religion.

Back 32

Religion is not passed down via genetics (and developed through time and evolution). Instead, it is proposed that it is a "bug", "meme", or accident, passed and exchanged via culture - imitation, learning, socially constructed. As with cooking, just because it is widely spread (even 'universal' in some aspects), and useful, it does not mean it is genetic.

Front 33

When discussing science Vs./And Religion, how is it thought that most people will approach the topics?

Back 33

For most people, a combination of the two ways of thinking will guide them. Some will lean more to one (ie. Many Scientist will lean away from religious explanations for most things such as creation vs. evolution, but may still have faith in a "soul" and "higher power"). The general public however will tend to have a more even keel, mixing the science for what they know, and some religion for what they dont know. (This is increasingly moving more toward the science side - Agnosticism and Atheism is on the rise in much of the western world, as displayed in class handout showing religious breakdown from the Canadian Census)

Front 34

What is Cognitive Dissonance?

Back 34

A contradictory way of thinking for a particular topic. A person may have an educated understanding of how things work, but still hold true to a religious belief around the same thing
ie. Although most people will agree that at death, the bodily life is over, many will also hold true that the soul will live on, and perhaps be reborn or re-incarnated - explaining why traits of one generation may be passed to another.

Front 35

What is the basic arguments for the article on Non-overlapping Magisteria?

Back 35

1. science occupies one realm, religion another
2. the two should stay in their own realms, and not try to explain the mysteries of the other to avoid conflict
i.e. Science should not try to explain heaven or how to get there, religion should not explain creation or how the heavens work
3. Science = facts and theory, Religion = morals and values

Front 36

What criticism exist around the NOMA theory?

Back 36

1. Their still remains "unexplainable" in science - religion fills the gaps
2. Religion can provide a watchdog role - in abortion, stem cell research, etc. (Ethics, values)

Front 37

What is the overall lesson relayed from the article "Darwin's Rib"

Back 37

That neither religion nor science has all the explanations, and one must be aware of each's limitations

Front 38

In the section on symbols, according to Turner, what is the origin of some conflict within religion?

Back 38

The fact that symbols may carry different meaning for different people within a religion - context (time and place) may influence this.
ie. Within Christianity, RC's portray the cross with Jesus on it, Protestants will present the cross without

Front 39

What is said about the nature of mythology and its purpose?

Back 39

1.It is about opting living intensely within the world, not opting out of it.
2. it can provide a framework to help understand the worldview of a religion (ie. Since the Quran is the literal word of God, it would explain why any reference in a derogatory or contrary manner would raise many Islamic to arms in defending its virtues.
3. the function of the myth, not the story, is what is important

Front 40

Compare and contrast myths, legends, folktales

Back 40

Folktale:
Fiction, meant to entertain
supernatural elements, yet secular
characters are human and non-human
independent of time and place

Legend
Based on real events, people, places
few elements of the supernatural, can be sacred or secular
take place in modern world

myth
accepted as fact, and used for moral/ethics
supernatural events are important, considered sacred
characters human and non-human
take place in "other than modern" world

Front 41

What are the types of myths discussed in class?

Back 41

1. creation/origin
exist in all cultures, usually most important
type for humans - very sacred
2. Apocalyptic
regarding end of world as opposed to start
3. Trickster
used to explain natural phenomenon and basic human traits, common every day creatures include the raven, the fox,
4. Hero Myth
usually highlights good vs. evil, Us vs. them - the hero will usually be someone from our common culture, the enemy will be a minority or 'other'
5. rites of passage
the 3 stages - separation, liminality, incorporation

Front 42

How do many anthropologists approach a study of myths?

Back 42

1. The origin - when, where
2. Content - setting, character
3. Genre - form: music, poetry
4. Context - time, place, who tells it and why
5. Function - what does the story do for us

Front 43

In regard to myths, what is said to be the most important realm when performing a study of them? Why?

Back 43

Function -
From the perspective of
Social - what does it do for the culture it exists in (morals, values)
Psychological - how does it serve our mental needs (Jung thought this explained the universality of many myths such as creation and hero stories)
Structure - like language, myths have a common structure which explains commonalities among cultures

Front 44

What is THE most important facet of myths ?

Back 44

Binary - Opposition - the fact that everything has its opposite (good vs. bad, honesty/deceit, Hero/foe, order/chaos, light/dark)