SRS 1110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Axis Mundi, Neoshamanism, Witchcraft Today

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: SRS 1110
• Professor: Shelley Rabinovitch

Document Summary

Full time, specialized religious statuses usually do not exist in such societies, because these societies do not produce the surplus of food that is necessary to support full-time specialists. Part-time specialists, people who earn living while hunting, farming and are called to perform a ritual when necessary. In larger and more complex societies, we see the development + religious specialist who are full- time and make income primarily from the performance of religious rituals. Very often a religious practitioner that we might classify as a priest will perform some function that are more characteristic of a shaman the reverse is also true. Shaman receives his or her power directly from the spirit world. Refers to the religious specialist who use handheld drums and spirit helpers to the members of their community healing the sick, divining the future, and ensuring success in the hunt. Relationship between a shaman and the community is personal one.