Religion

1. Religion

2. Overview • estimates place the number around 4200. Of this number • a dozen have been classified as “major world religions.” • Baha’I (7 million adherents) • Buddhism (360 million) • Christianity (2 billion) • Confucianism (6 million) • Hinduism (900 million) • Islam (1.3 billion) • Jainism (4 million) • Judaism (14 million) • Shinto (4 million) • Sikhism (23 million) • Daoism (2.7 million) • Zoroastrianism (150,000)

3. a system of beliefs usually involving the worship of supernatural forces or beings • provide a sense of order what might otherwise be seen as a useless or chaotic existence • relieve our fears and anxieties about the unknown • provide understanding and meaning for inexplicable or tragic events • help us confront and explain death • times of crisis • play an important role in social control by defining what is right and wrong behavior • therefore, lifts some of the burden of decision making from our shoulders

4. Rituals • stylized and usually repetitive acts that take place at a set time and location • almost always involve the use of symbolic objects, words, and actions IRAQ: Sufi rituals in Kurdistan

5. five beliefs of supernatural beings and forces • Animatism • belief in a supernatural power NOT part of supernatural beings • usually impersonal, unseen, and potentially everywhere • something like electricity or "the force" in the Star Wars movies • Polynesian cultures- known as "mana"   • a force that is inherent in all objects, plants, and animals (including people) to different degrees • some things or people have more of it than others and are, therefore, potentially dangerous • for instance, a chief may have so much of it that he must be carried around all of the time for if he were to walk on the ground, sufficient residual amounts of his mana might remain in his footprints to harm ordinary people if they later stepped on them • volcanoes and some other places were thought to have concentrated mana and were, therefore, very dangerous

6. Animism • belief that natural objects are animated by spirits • each rock, tree, and cloud may have its own unique spirit • or, all things in nature may be thought of as having the same spirit (many Native American cultures) • must be concerned about them and will try to avoid displeasing them

7. Ancestral Spirits • souls or ghosts of ancestors • humans have at least two parts--a physical body and some kind of non-physical spirit or soul • spirit portion is generally believed to be freed from the body by death and continues to exist in some form • examples… • Chinese- set a place at feast tables for their ancestors as if they were still living • Europeans- spirits have been seen historically as dangerous and therefore buried their in cemeteries • ?- bury or store the remains of dead family members in or around the home to keep them close • Yanomamö- mortuary cannibalism is intended to allow the dead to remain part of their living family

8. Gods and Goddesses (deities) • powerful supernatural beings with individual identities • monotheism - belief that there is only one god (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) • polytheism - belief in more than one god (Hinduism) • gods are typically ranked relative to each other in terms of their powers and their interests • the supreme god is often an otiose deity • doesNOTtake an interest in the everyday affairs of humans now (lesser gods do this)

9. Minor Supernatural Beings • beings that have some supernatural capabilities • do not pray to them for help • often have a "trickster" role • Ireland - in the past believed that elves steal boy children • Indians of Western North America- coyote would disarm powerful people with his words and then magically steal what they valued most when their guard was down • India- a mouse • Africa- a spider

10. Religious Leaders • Priest (rabbis, ministers, mullahs, Imams) • leader who is part of an organized religion • authorized to perform religious rituals designed to influence the supernatural world and to guide the believers in their religious practices Catholic monks on a pilgrimage   (members of a "priesthood")  Hindu priest leading a ritual at a shrine

11. Shaman • normally not in an “organized” religion • in direct contact with the spirit world, usually through a trancing • altered state of consciousness • take a journey to pass through difficult situations in order to reach spirit helpers • methods to achieve a trance state • fasting • self-torture (flagellation) • sensory deprivation (prolonged isolation from normal human contact) • breathing exercises and meditation • prolonged, repetitive, ritual dancing and/or drumming • hallucinogenic drugs • considered to be the easiest and the fastest method of contacting the supernatural

12. Early 20th century Crow Indianon the Great Plains of NorthAmerica using self-torture inorder to receive a vision fromthe supernatural world.  Skewersof bone are inserted through the chest skin and tied with leatherthongs to a "sun pole."   Hewill dance around it until theskewers tear free. Turkish Dervishes usingprolonged, repetitive, ritualdancing to enter an alteredstate of awareness.Accompanied by music,they slowly dance aroundin a large circle whileconstantly spinning.  TheDervishes are a mysticSufi sect of Islam

13. COMMON HALLUCINOGENS USED BY SHAMANS AROUND THE WORLDCaution:  these substances should be avoided due to their dangerously toxic nature. (Primary source: Harner, Michael J. 1973. Hallucinogens and Shamanism.)

14. tells the supernatural beings what to do • American Philippine communities • perform "spirit surgery"  • Evangelical Christian • "faith healers“ have power to compel their god to cure people

15. Prophet • receives divine revelation concerning a restructuring of religion or even society • call for dramatic change • a new religion is usually established • Mohamed and the beginning of Islam • Joseph Smith's divine revelation led to the creation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons).