ANTH 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Fundamentalism, Religious Pluralism, Polytheism
Document Summary
Religion: set of beliefs and behaviors related to supernatural beings and forces, helps people to make sense of the world meaning to existence, peace of mind, control. Spirituality: inner (or personal) experience of and search for the supernatural. In western thought, 1) is supernatural 2) is natural: religious stories. Myths stories about the supernatural, how things came to be. Doctrine formal, written teachings about the religion: religious symbols. Symbols allow people to grasp complex and abstract ideas without theological knowledge. Example: christian communion (wafer: supernatural beings, powers, places. Temporary sacred space where women read quran: rituals. Ceremonial acts or gestures used in specific occasions, often involving religious symbols. Contacting or controlling supernatural beings and forces. Attempt to control supernatural forces to affect events and human activities. Things that have been in contact with a person retain magic connection. Individuals who have special relations with religion and organize and lead the major ritual events. Priest appointed to a full-time religious office.
