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Exploring Religion: Beliefs, Rituals, and Myths Across Cultures

This chapter delves into the diverse world of religion, from defining its types to exploring supernatural beliefs and misfortunes. Learn about the intellectual, psychological, and sociological theories of religion, as well as the supernatural explanations of witchcraft and sorcery. Discover various cultural views on witchcraft and the cognitive and sociological interpretations of these phenomena. Explore different types of religious organizations, from individualistic cults to ecclesiastical cults, and understand the role of revitalization movements in coping with societal changes.

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Exploring Religion: Beliefs, Rituals, and Myths Across Cultures

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  1. Chapter 14Religion and World View • Defining Religion • Types of Religious Organizations • Theories of Religion • Supernatural Explanations of Misfortune • Varieties of Religious Organization • Revitalization Movements

  2.  Components of Religion • Beliefs about nature and character of supernatural powers. • Oral or written stories (myths) about the actions and deeds of supernatural powers and cultural heroes. • Rituals intended to include or direct these powers for the benefit of the group.

  3. Theories of Religion • Intellectual • Humans want explanations for the world around them. • Psychological • Religion helps people cope with times of difficulty. • Sociological • Religion has a useful effect on human societies.

  4. Supernatural Explanations of Misfortune • Belief that common misfortunes are caused by spiritual powers. • Belief that misfortunes are caused by the action of some evil human who is using supernatural powers against the affected person.

  5.  Sorcery Based on two kinds of logical principles. • imitative principle - the premise that like produces like (voodoo doll). • contagious principle - assumption that power comes from contact.

  6.  Views of Witchcraft • Navajo - associate witches with the worst imaginable sins (incest, bestiality, necrophilia, cannibalism). • Nyakyusa of Tanzania- motivated by lust for food, witches suck dry the udders of cattle and devour internal organs of humans while they sleep.

  7. Views of Witchcraft • Azande of southern Sudan - witches possess a substance that leaves their bodies at night and eats the flesh and internal organs of their victims. • Ibibio of Nigeria - witches remove the spiritual essence of their enemies and place it in an animal who dies when the witch slaughters and eats the animal.

  8. Interpretationsof Witchcraft and Sorcery Cognitive • Explains unfortunate events. • Witches serve as scapegoats. Sociological • Reinforces cultural norms that help people live harmoniously. • Provides an outlet for repressed aggression.

  9.  Types of Religious Organizations • Individualistic Cults - emphasize direct, personal interactions between people and the supernatural. • Shamanistic Cults - some individuals are believed to have contact with the supernatural that ordinary people lack.

  10. Types of Religious Organizations • Communal Cults - members gather periodically for rituals that are believed to benefit the group as a whole. • Ecclesiastical Cults -religion is carried out by specialized officials who perform rituals that that benefit the society as a whole.

  11. Revitalization Movements • Organized movements that help people cope with rapid changes. • Originate with a prophet who has a revelation that includes: • Statement about what is wrong with the world. • Vision of a new world and a prescription for how to bring it about.

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