HIST 2070 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Simile, Liminality, Orality

99 views2 pages
27 Jun 2018
Department
Course
Professor
Unit 02 introduction:
Anthropology has taught us that there are no "primitive" cultures - every culture is complex
oCultures may not have been technologically complex, but they were complex in terms of
their social relationships, their political habits, their religion worldview and their artistic
endeavours
The term animism will be used in this course, but to describe a component of primal religion:
the belief that there is a spirit inhering in all living creatures, and in some cultures, within all
objects
While primal religions predominated prior to the development of urban or agriculturally based
societies, they exist today also
oThey are not less spiritual than later forms of religious belief, but are forms of religious
belief adapted to the lifestyle of pre-urban and pre-literate cultures
Basic Features of Primal Religion
oUnity of the material and supernatural worlds
oThe importance of physical place as a spiritual focus
oSpirits are inherent in all living things and also inanimate things
oOrality: the spoken word has a real power: it expresses metaphor and not simile, ie.
there is no difference between the world and the thing it represents
oTime is cyclical not linear. This means that there is a recurring cycle of birth, growth,
death, rebirth, and so on.
oRitual: rituals are not mere 'plays' or re-enactments, but the making of a spiritual event
of the past exist in the present, a 're-present', or being present again
oLiminality: the state when an individual or society is in transition, usually from childhood
to adulthood
oNuminosity: the sense of the sacred infusing existence
Primal religions can take different forms, depending on the very practical element of economic
activity
The earliest evidence of religion:
The earliest clear remains of religious beliefs date from about 30,000 BC, principally in cave
paintings in Europe, as well as in carved figurines
It appears likely that the form religious beliefs took in different societies in history was
influenced greatly by the predominant economic activities
oThus religion for hunter-gatherers differed from that of the agricultural societies, and
from societies which had developed urban centres based on mass agriculture
As there are no written records of this earliest religion, we must rely on archaeology and on an
intelligent understanding of basic human needs and nature
oThe cave paintings and rock art emphasis the religious element of activities such as:
getting food, defence against enemies, nurturing and socialising our young
oReligious rituals serve to reinforce co-operative group efforts, both suggesting a belief in
an afterlife
oRepresentation encapsulated and encompassed reality and was part of that reality.
Hence rituals that re-enacted a hunt ensured a successful hunt
Shamanism
oA common facet of primal religion is shamanism
oShamans were individuals within a particular culture who had special abilities to connect
to, on a spiritual level, the primary forces and spirits that govern and inhabit the world
unseen
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows half of the first page of the document.
Unlock all 2 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in

Document Summary

Anthropology has taught us that there are no primitive cultures - every culture is complex o. Cultures may not have been technologically complex, but they were complex in terms of their social relationships, their political habits, their religion worldview and their artistic endeavours. The term animism will be used in this course, but to describe a component of primal religion: the belief that there is a spirit inhering in all living creatures, and in some cultures, within all objects. While primal religions predominated prior to the development of urban or agriculturally based societies, they exist today also o. They are not less spiritual than later forms of religious belief, but are forms of religious belief adapted to the lifestyle of pre-urban and pre-literate cultures. Basic features of primal religion: unity of the material and supernatural worlds o o. The importance of physical place as a spiritual focus.

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents