ANT 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Origin Myth, Cargo Cult, Polytheism
20 Apr 2016
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Found in all societies: evidence dates back to at least 100,000 bp, not disappearing. Difficult to define: some societies do not distinguish between supernatural and natural worlds, vast variations in beliefs and forms of religious" behaviours/activities. Reflect or legitimize structures of society: often through myth: sacred narrative explaining how the world came to be in its present, ex. Tewa (new mexico, usa) origin myth and summer people/winter people moieties form. Major deities (gods and goddesses: monotheism: only one major deity, polytheism: system of many gods/goddesses. Pantheon: the group of all gods/goddesses of a people (ex. Animism: belief in spirits/souls inherent in non-human entities (rocks, trees); spirit doubles and spirit beings that work behind the scenes (ex. pixies) Animatism: belief that world is animated by impersonal supernatural power: ex. mana, ju/"hoansi. Full-time: people who occupy a position at all times who undergo training (priests, priestesses, rabbis, imams)
