ANTHROP 2R03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Ficus Religiosa, Rela, Cing
27 Mar 2019
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Document Summary
Anthropologists took a long time to apply ethnographic methods and anthropological theory to was seen as too close to home. Early anthropologists desired to distance themselves from missionaries. Ideological differences btwn anthropology (evolution) and christianity (creationism) made it d anthropologists to gain rapport with christian groups. Sacred narratives are myths that are believed to be true. Set outside historical time, at the beginning of time. Tell how the world came into its present form. Often performed in special ways, at special times, in special places. Accepted on faith, taught to be believed, cited as religious truth. Myths serve an explanatory function in which they provide answers to questions like: how did where did humans come from, what are origins of death. Account for characteristics of animals, geographic features, natural phenomena. Myths can explain details of ritual, why taboos or certain customs are observed. In a popular sense, the word myth is associated with the word "untrue"
