ANTH 1150 Lecture : The Anthropology of Religion.doc
19 Apr 2012
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A set of rituals, rationalized by myth, which mobilizes supernatural powers for the purpose of achieving or preventing transformations of state in man [sic] or nature. (a. Animism sees nature as animated by all sorts of spirits -- animals, plants, mountains, rocks, springs, weapons, unattached free-ranging spirits more involved in human affairs foraging peoples. Animatism a concept of impersonal power, often coincides with animism mana - melanesia and polynesia orenda - iroquois wakonda - sioux manitu - algonquians. Myths explanatory narratives (stories) that rationalize religious beliefs and practices focus on humans where we and all in our world came from why we are here where we are going seen as true histories of a people. Shamans part-time religious specialists gifted healers or diviners, eg may involve hardship, vision quest, individual or communalistic power acquired individually. Arnold van gennep identified three stages in rites of passage: separation transition incorporation eg male or female initiation.
