RLGA01H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: The Great Tradition, Theravada, Spirit Possession
Lecture 7
Slide 18 (Buddhist traditions part 2): not on exam
- few make the decisions that impact the many
- few make decisions that sometimes dont reach the many
- great traditions of authority place them on top, but disconnect between them
- dont blend together: practices, beliefs
- Ex: Theravada Buddhism, kid started a fire in a garage, called priest – thought
demon was possessing son
o No talk of spirit possession
o Little tradition/ elitist = superstitious beliefs
- The great tradition is religion, little tradition is superstition/culture… more
humanly constructed, less grand
- The great traditions = conscientiously cultivate their traditions; little
traditions dont submit to scrutiny
- Great tradition is self-/critical
- Great tradition = philosopher, theologian, and literary man; little people =
rest of us
- Problem what we should be doing as a scholar now is hearing more voices of
little people; historically – cant access things historically (archeologically find
schools & temples & textural) but cant recover history of little traditions
(silent) – even more of a challenge for women; only access to elite moments
o Power is heard – who is great, little, sophisticated / not
▪ Caricature – focuses on features that are prominent and distort
them for comedic effect
• Resemblance between caricatures than all the people
• Intentional distortion of reality
• Highly complex people participating in little traditions
▪ Sketch – have this persons face magically appear on the page,
no exaggeration of features
• Resemblance of person
• More precise
- Hang on to human authority
Authority
- Expert
- Parents
o Basic primary relationship – influential
o Providing needs
o Disciplinary
o Moral authority
o Types:
▪ Authoritarian
• Strict
• Overly strict – black and white behavior approach
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• Expectations
• Clear guidelines must be followed
• Cold and removed
• Gender: male
▪ Permissive
• Nurturing
• Over permissive – over nurturing
• Figure things out independently
• Emotional intimacy
• Gender: mother
- Police
- Administrators/ manager
- Politicians
- Teacher / professor
o Preaching
o Listening – power relation
o PHD – too much authority associated but only studied one subject
- Counselors
- Doctor
- Scientist
- Judges
- GOD
o Role as parent
Overview of reading (religious authority)
1) Supernatural
a. Important for religious authority
b. Never outside of human context
c. Sources: God (divine being, absolute, infinite), angels (intermediaries
in between divine being & us), Demons/devils
i. Elements that interact with us
ii. Spirit possessions – given authority because they are like
someone else
d. Reveal itself to us: prophets
i. Receivers of revelations
e. Visions – human interaction with these beings
i. Shamans – dead spirits
ii. Communication with another world
2) Human
a. Charismatic
i. Positive connotation
ii. Charming
iii. Magnetic personalities
1. People like to be around them
iv. Given to the person by the people
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Slide 18 (buddhist traditions part 2): not on exam few make the decisions that impact the many rest of us humanly constructed, less grand. The great traditions = conscientiously cultivate their traditions; little demon was possessing son: no talk of spirit possession, little tradition/ elitist = superstitious beliefs. Great tradition = philosopher, theologian, and literary man; little people = Great traditions of authority place them on top, but disconnect between them few make decisions that sometimes don(cid:495)t reach the many. Ex: theravada buddhism, kid started a fire in a garage, called priest thought. Teacher / professor: preaching, listening power relation, phd too much authority associated but only studied one subject. Abu bakhr: others believed it was an incorrect, women. Defense/apology: internal, authority outside of you that imposes rules/regulations, also generated from within, secular, religious authority + non-religious authority, political bodies.
