World ReligionsWorld ReligionsExplaining the Unexplainable
What is Religion?What is Religion?
Relationship with a Deity◦Deity – god figure
Expression of GoodnessSacred Frame of MindMoral Exchange of PowerEthical PracticeSet of Beliefs and Practices
Types of ReligionsTypes of Religions
Atheistic - no deityMonotheistic - one deityPolytheistic - multiple deitiesPantheistic - everything is deityAnimism – ancestors become spiritual
forcesHenotheism – believing in many gods, but
one of them is supreme
Attributes of ReligionsAttributes of Religions
Belief in SupernaturalSacred/Secular DivideCommunal/Individual RitualsMoral/Ethical CodeCommunication with DivineMythical (sacred) stories
◦Myth – story that attempts to explain the reality of the world in which a person lives
Social OrganizationsPromise of Inner Peace/HarmonyOffer future hopePropagate themselves
Function of ReligionFunction of Religion
Give AnswersAddress MoralityOffer ControlProvide Society, Structures, and ValuesGive Meaning to ExistenceShow guidance of how to live
Perspectives of ReligionPerspectives of Religion
Adherent - looking from the insideOpponent - from outside to prove againstScholar - from inside to understandSeeker - from the middle with intent to
follow or not follow
History of Religious StudiesHistory of Religious Studies
Began to view religion from outside in 1500’s
Why Religious Studies?◦Understand new cultures in travel◦Modernity (worldview of reason and rational
explaining)Responses to Religions:
◦Exclusivism – only ours is right◦Inclusivism – ours is true, but others could be
right too◦Pluralism – every religion has truth◦Universalism – all willed be “saved”
Jean Bodin (1530-1596)Jean Bodin (1530-1596)
French Wars of Religion (Cath./Protest.)◦French diplomat - peacemaker◦Didn’t believe Christians could solve war
Wrote “Colloquium”◦Best religion is closest to Adam and Eve◦Earliest religion is the best religion◦Concerned with the best version of Christianity
Edward Herbert (1582-1648)Edward Herbert (1582-1648)
Lived during 30 Years War (Cath./Prot.)Diplomat
◦Seek religion accepted by majorityFound common religious themes:
◦One God◦God is Worshipped◦Virtue is Key◦Repent of Sins◦Afterlife Consequences
Brenard Fontenelle (1657-1757)Brenard Fontenelle (1657-1757)
Studied myths and rituals of other groups◦“Primitive Mind” seeks to explain nature
Gods are in control A basic mind cannot handle complexity, so a
simple concept must be presented (gods)◦Concludes that religion will be trumped by
Science◦Because religion was an attempt to explain
reality, science is the ultimate way in which one explains reality
David Hume (1711-1776)David Hume (1711-1776)
Scottish Empiricist (no instinctual knowledge)◦No spiritual realm
“Natural History of Religion”◦Sources of Religion:◦1) Nature’s Power ◦2) Anthropomorphism – assigning human
characteristics to a deity“No progression in religion”
Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)
“Religion is the opiate of the masses”Focused on the Economic Aspect
◦Have’s and Have Not’sDivides Social Functions:
◦Sub-Structure - physical needs◦Super Structure - arts, philosophy, religion
History Is between Workers and OwnersReligion is the Owners’ attempt to calm
the Workers
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Founder of Sociology◦Sociology – the study of personal interactions
and the systems of those interactionsReligions based on Social BehaviorLooks at Totemism
◦Sacred things are related to society◦Totem is unifying mark◦Religions worship themselves
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Founder of Psychoanalytical Technique“Totem and Taboo”
◦Monotheistic religion arises from mythical and primal murder of father figure
“Future of an Illusion”◦Religion is a coping mechanism◦Religion is illusion of wish-fulfillment◦Religion forces neurosis (deal with issues)
4 Theories of Origins4 Theories of Origins
1) Naturalism2) Animism3) Ghost Theory4) Totemism
NaturalismNaturalism
Naturalism – the idea that worship originated with the fact that nature is unexplainable, and therefore worthy of worship
Max Muller◦Humans are in awe of nature◦Lightening, Rain, Fire, etc.◦Religion is personification of nature
AnimismAnimism
Animism – the idea that religion originated because all things had a spirit that must be controlled
Edward Burnett Taylor◦“everything is inhabited by a spirit”
Religion is interaction between human and spirit Many spirits but few gods Worship is control of unique spirits
Ghost TheoryGhost Theory
Ghost Theory – the idea that religion originated by seeing spirits/ghosts in a dream state, thus the people’s spirit still exists
Herbert Spencer◦People are confused by Real and Dreams
You see dead people in dreams◦Ghosts must be alleviated
Leads to ancestor worship◦Therefore, we are surrounded
TotemismTotemism
Totemism – religion originated by means of communities needing to control their worlds and sacrificing to the group’s icon/mascot
W. Robertson Smith◦Religion begins with sacred animal◦In times of need, sacrifice the animal
Origin of sacrifice system◦Tribes have different animals as unifying
Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions
Indigenous - originating locally◦Traditional, aboriginal, tribal, primal, native,
oral, non-literateCommon Features
◦Oral/Spoken Religion◦Connection to the Land◦Life and Sacred Connected◦Time is a Circle◦Seasonal and Generational Cycles◦Taboo – a rule that forbids a specific behavior
Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions
Relationship to Spirits◦Presence of Supreme Being◦Unseen Powers (human-like, nature, ancestors)
Kinship to Creation◦Everything has spirit◦Earth as Mother (land is sacred)◦All creatures are kin (brother bear…)
Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions
Relationship with Power◦Sacred Sites
Places have higher concentration of power◦Sacred Objects
Power built through sacred practices Ritual objects retain power
◦Women= mysterious and dangerous
Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions
Spiritual Specialists◦Storyteller - maintain oral tradition◦Instrumentalist - communication with spirits◦Sacred Dancers - make unseen visible (hula)◦Shaman - heals phys/psych/spirit problems
Techniques: herbs, sweat bath, massage Divination – the act of determining the past,
present, and future will of the god(s) Prayer, and chanting Altered Consciousness (drum, sing, drink, drugs,
etc.)
Indigenous ReligionsIndigenous Religions
Group Rituals◦Rites of Passage (birth, manhood, womanhood,
etc.)◦Rituals of Survival (hunting, feasting, etc.)◦Rituals of Purification (marriage, errors, etc.)
Individual Rituals◦Seek Visions◦Vision Quest