Religious Studies REL-R 133 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Animism, Edward Burnett Tylor, Thick Description
16 Oct 2016
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Intellectualist: religion as arising from individual beliefs, not larger social structures. Believed in the intellectual evolution of human societies. Believe humankind would progress from magic to religion to science. Functionalist/reductionist: religion as arising not from conscious thoughts but from other hidden factors. Argued the material world is absolute and the realm of religious ideas is alien to this material world. Believed that religion is thus part of humans self-alienation. Disti(cid:374)guished (cid:271)etwee(cid:374) so(cid:272)iety"s (cid:271)ase(e(cid:272)onomic facts) and its superstructure (ideologies) Wrote the future of an illusion, totem and taboo, and moses and monotheism. Humans sensing their helplessness before the forces of nature seek reassurance by believing in. Religion is an illusion something humans powerfully want to be true. Defined soul as the totemic principle in each individual, the individual transcending himself and becoming one with the clan. Analyzed the different types of rituals used to maintain solidarity and order in society.
