HUM-10 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Zande People, Syncretism, Rationality
Document Summary
How do witchcraft accusations and consultation of oracles help the azande cope w/ uncertainty. What"s their punishment: they get shut off together/ locked. Gives them answers if they don"t know what to do it explains things (e. g. why people are unsuccessful on a hunt) The men are in control (women do not have access to any of the oracles). Christianity is accepted, this is not a reason to reject the old (witchcraft practices). You can consult oracles and believe in witches and still be christian . Mixture of catholic rituals and azande beliefs. Azande beliefs will disappear when they have better access to knowledge. They pick and choose what"s important a constantly evolving system. It"s just as rational as any other religion. It"s just as irrational as any other belief. It"s rational from a social control basis provides control. Logical looking at scientific evidence, making observations, etc.
