WRA 115 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Elementary
24 Sep 2014
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Document Summary
Study of religion as a phenomena subject to social rules. Religious practice only make sense within specific societies. Societies use religion to enforce social rules. Don"t separate between natural and supernatural (like moderns) Not all religious people believe in a divine being. Not interested in guessing about the evolution of religious ideas. Locate a simple society and observe religious behavior. Explain religion in this form explain all religion! All religions have primary split between what is scared and what is profane. More secular than religious past, in history . Whenever we look, religious peoples divide their worlds into two separate arenas. Sacred things : set apart, powerful, forbidden, deserve respect. Profane things : ordinary, uneventful, practical routine. Profane things involve small concerns : day - today activities of individuals. Scared can be good or evil, but not profane. Profane can be good or evil, but not sacred. Functions as the focal point for issues that effect a community.
