ANTHROP 1AB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Animism, Byrsonima Crassifolia, Medicine Man

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 1AB3
• Professor: Karen Mc Garry

Document Summary

As an anthropologist you never ask questions about the true/falsity of someone"s beliefs ! What are the core of their beliefs ! Mana- one that is prevalent in a lot of religious ! How is that the notion of supernatural comes about! Maybe it could be it comes about because of spiritual force (invisible energy) ! Over idea that you could harvest that energy for yourself (good or bad purposes) ! The force is mana, you can acquire through training, some can have more than others, can be used as force for good or bad ! In particular, they believe some people are born with more mana than others ! Chiefs for example, are believed to have a lot of mana, and can manipulate it for particular outcomes (can use to help crops grows, for bad purposes (ie. hurt a neighbouring village) !