Science Of Shamans

The Superstitious Science of Shamans: Traditional Spirituality in South Korea Religion is an integral aspect of human life, but as one examines the different cultural, geographic, and social influences found among the varying peoples of the Earth, it becomes clear that it is not a uniform one. Humans have always sought to find the key that unlocks the secret of our very existence, and each civilization has formed its own narrative regarding the forces that rule and create life. We attempt to explain that which we cannot see by observing what is tangible; as such, many groups have observed and venerated the spirits of nature and ancestors as the driving force of all life through the tradition of shamanism. Before, during, and after the spread …show more content…
Once an altered state of consciousness is attained, the shaman is then possessed by a spirit or a god that is able to hold conversations with believers as well as heal those who are ill. The kut ritual is ultimately a social event as well as a communal therapy session that allows members of the community to be both purified and make contact with the spirits of their dead family members. In his book Korean Shamanist Ritual: Symbols and Dramas of Transformation, author Daniel Kister calls the intersection of these three aspects of kut the “threefold transformational thrust of all kut ritual toward contact with the gods, purificatory release from suffering and evil, and the attainment of heightened self-knowledge” (Kister). Through these actions, a shaman was believed to be able to promote the fertility, longevity, and general well-being of his or her followers. This is true not only because of the psychological benefits of finding comfort through supernatural belief, but also because of the power found in escapism and the outlet of negative