The Search for new meaning

1. The Search for new meaning Chapter 11

2. Introduction • There is always the process of culture change • Outside influences change endemic cultures • Religions can also change, and new religious can movements start

3. Culture Change • Societies that are less technologically complex tend to be more isolated and change is slow • Usually discoveryand invention • When cultural traits move from one group to another, this is diffusion • These shared traits are molded to fit the new culture

4. Culture Change • Some cultures are on equal terms and diffuse traits that are easily welcomed • Other times one culture can dominate another and force cultural change, which is very rapid • This is acculturation and can lead to the native culture completely assimilating and losing its original traits • This is one concern over missionaries

5. Culture Change • Syncretism occurs when traits from two different cultures are fused together, allowing the old and the new to co-exist • Examples: Halloween, Day of the Dead

6. Examples of Syncretism • Haitian Vodou or Voodoo • Grew out of West African religions and Catholicism • Slaves came from Africa and Catholic religion was pushed by Spanish colonialism • Vodou is polytheistic, uses magic, dance, and music, and Catholic Saints

7. Examples of Syncretism • Haitian Vodou uses chromolithographics, the original posters missionaries use that now show Catholic saints representing West African deities • Example: The Yoruba god Danbla, the serpent deity, who is represented by St. Patrick, who is pictures with snakes at his feet

8. Vodou

9. Examples of Syncretism • Santeria • Caribbean and South America • Also fusion of West African religions and Catholicism • Very secretive religion that uses animal sacrifice • The term Santeria was originally pejorative

10. Santeria

11. Revitalization Movements • With diffusion, one culture may be completely assimilated into another; it may disappear; it may acculturate but keep its original traits… • Or there can be a revitalization movement, in which the original culture/religion forcefully keep things from changing

12. Origins • Revitalization develops in response to stress • Stress from contact with outsiders, stress from change, etc. • Some people may cope with drugs, alcohol, or crime • If the dominant culture tries to force change, the culture may disintegrate or choose revitalization • This often sets them apart and makes them hostile to the dominant culture

13. Types of Revitalization Movements • 1. Nativistic • Occurs when there is a large gap between dominant and subordinate cultures • Stresses a return to the way things were • 2. Revivalistic • Try to get back the past “golden age” • Focus on traditional symbols and practices as legitimate over the changes in culture

14. Types of Revitalization Movements • 3. Millenarian • Vision of change due to apocalypse • 4. Messianic • Believe that a divine savior in human form will bring about change by solving all the world’s problems

15. Ghost Dance • 1890 • US policies toward Native Americans were to wipe out their traditional ways • Move people to reservations, forbid native languages, restrict native practices • Resulted in poverty, alcoholism, suicide • A Paiute Native American named Wovoka had a vision, called the “Great Revelation”

16. Ghost Dance • He claimed to have gone to Heaven to speak with God and was told if his people followed the rules of a specific dance, they would all go to Heaven • He also said the apocalypse would come and wipe out the white man, Native Americans would inherit the land, and their ancestors would return • This is an example of syncretism (Native American religion and Christianity)

17. Ghost Dance • At a Sioux delegation, huge numbers of people began to congregate at Wounded Knee creek to perform this dance • The belief was that they were protected and nothing could harm them during the dance • Local government militias shot and killed more than 200 men, women, and children

19. LDS Church (Mormons) • Early 19th century (Civil War, Industrial Revolution) • Saw many different Christian sects, or branches off a main religion • With so many options and so much change, many revitalization movements began • Joseph Smith founded Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of a vision from God and Jesus

20. LDS Church (Mormons) • They told Smith to not join any of the sects and that Smith was a prophet to restore Christianity • He located golden tablets that showed a different Christian history that supplemented the Bible • LDS was heavily persecuted in the 1800s

21. LDS Church (Mormons) • One problematic point was polygamy (marrying more than one wife) and child brides • Brigham Young brought LDS to Utah • There is debate over whether this is considered Christianity or a different religion

22. Neo-Paganism • Refers to pre-Christian religions and traditions of these religions that are practiced in modern times

23. Wicca • Began in the 1920s and was connected to a study of the Witchcraze • Debate over whether Wicca is a continuation or a reconstruction of pagan practices

24. Wicca • Polytheistic (variety of gods and goddesses) • Gender equality • Focus on nature • Common symbols include: • Candles • Athame, ritual knife • Cauldrons and cups (symbolize goddesses) • Broom (to sweep and purify a ritual area) • pentagram

25. Wicca

26. Wiccan Popularity and Persecution • Has expanded rapidly in North America and Europe • Appealing to young women • Free from sexism • Focus on goddesses and nature • Religion is very flexible • However, they are also misunderstood and the focus of hate crimes • Use of pentagram • Term “witch”

27. Cults vs. New Religious Movements • A new group that is still considered mainstream is a denomination • A cult is a specific type of worship, but it has a very negative connotation so many call them new religious movements, which are on a continuum • High demand religions are at one extreme and are what we think of as ‘brainwashing’ cults • However, these are judgments

28. High Demand Religions • This religion requires a large amount of conformity • Example: Roman Catholicism • Monks have very strict schedules • Rules about clothes, diet • Oaths of celibacy and silence • Any religion with such strict control over members is considered high demand

29. Mind Control • Many people think cult members are brainwashed • But isn’t every member of a religion ‘brainwashed’ to some extent? • Have to be acculturated into the religion • Pg. 245 study • It’s really just perception, but there are some very dangerous religious groups that exist

30. Examples of NRM • Branch Davidians • Broke off from Seventh Day Adventists and believed in immanent return of Jesus after selected people purified themselves • David Koresh gained power and took complete control over members • Stockpiled weapons for the coming return and war of Armageddon • ATF raided compound and Koresh and 75 followers were killed

31. Examples of NRM

32. Examples of NRM • Unification Church (Moonies) • Rev. Sun Myung Moon had a vision of Jesus that told him to unite all the world’s religions • The coming of Christ focuses on family • Have to undo the sins of Eve that let Satan take control of the world • Large joint weddings

33. Examples of NRM

34. Examples of NRM • Heaven’s Gate • Biblical passages were interpreted as UFOs • Commune in San Diego • Unisex clothing • Celibate • Castration • Believed second coming was on Hail Bop comet and committed mass suicide to leave physical bodies and find passage to Heaven

35. Examples of NRM

36. Fundamentalism • Term began in 19th century and referred to returning to the fundamentals of Christianity • Now refers to extremists, usually who use terroristic tactics

37. Fundamentalism • Mormon: fundamentalism focuses on polygamy, despite federal laws • Also members tithe or deed all their property to the church • Prohibit African Americans from becoming priests and there can be no sex or marriage between sexes

38. Fundamentalism • Islam: focuses on rejecting Western culture • See the West as secular, decadent, and sinful • Terrorists are extremists and do not reflect the mainstream culture

39. ICA • Read handout on cults, then answer: • 1. What does the term cult mean? Should it be used as it is? • 2. What are aspects of these movements that have labeled them as cults? • 3. Are any of these examples of fundamentalism? Explain. • 4. Should we control some religious movements or should there be complete freedom of religion?