REL 1000 : Rel 1000 Midterm Notes Spring '17
Document Summary
Based on connections with other people: western - individual self-identity. Syncretism: going to different religious resources for different needs, makes missionaries in china very difficult, gods, goddesses and spirits. "earth-god" is a title, each village has one: only a minimum amount of respect is required. The spirits have an obligation to their job: e. g. , crops are plenty, babies are born healthy, water is potable. Can lose his position if he doesn"t do his job. Shan ti is a title: has to keep the universe at play, make sure the seasons follow each other, he doesn"t get much attention though. People"s problems are not big enough to confront shan ti: the people who actually deal with your problems matter to you, mazu "the mother of heaven" Prevalent in the mid-1800s: gold rush to california. They are still here even after they"ve died. Every major event is going to involve them. Priests: messengers between us and the spirits.
