Sociology 3370F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Spirit Possession, Cultural Relativism
23 Jan 2019
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Document Summary
Understanding western and non-western medical systems as cultural systems through the lens of cultural relativism : a non-judgemental stance that sees every system with its own internal logic. Have unique explanations re: human body, disease causation, and appropriate interventions. Ex. theory of pathogens, hot/cold theory of disease, should loss/theft, spirit possession, breach of taboos, etc. Key features: sacred healing: communicating with spirits to achieve visions of healing. Prolonged apprenticeship: trying to tap into a spiritual realm, trying to achieve a trace and gain knowledge from spirits. Experiential healing approach: through feeling and experiencing. Disease causation in terms of spirit darts . Trance state to achieve visionary healing powers.
