Anthropological Perspectives on Religion

1. Anthropological Perspectives on Religion

2. Religious v. Secular Worldview • Since 1960’s: people worldwide have become more “religious” than predicted • On the rise: televangelism, fundamentalisms, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Pentecostalism, Neo-paganism • Still going strong: belief in afterlife, heaven, angels, miracles, power of prayer to heal

3. What is Anthropology? • Holistic: studying humans societies as systematic sums of their parts, as integrated wholes • Comparative: we are able to gain insight into a culture by comparing it to another • Multiple Perspectives: we look for the dominant or “hegemonic” way of thinking as well as the various counter-perspectives

4. What is Anthropology? • 5 interconnected subfields:Physical, Archaeology, Linguistics, Cultural, Applied • Started out investigating small-scale, nonwestern societies(1880’s) v. large-scale, industrialized societies • Methodology: Ethnographic= participant-observation, interviews, life histories, “deep hanging out,” field notes, photography, video, key informants, long-term collaborations

5. Key aspects of an Anthropological Perspective: • Ethnocentrism: using your own culture as the basis for interpreting and judging other cultures * Is it possible not to be ethnocentric? • Cultural Relativism: Attempting to understand and evaluate another culture on its own terms * When do we have the responsibility to judge?

6. What is Anthropology of Religion Good For? Anthropology CAN NOT: • Verify, disprove, or judge anyone’s religious or spiritual beliefs Anthropology CAN: • Investigate relationships among: religious traditions, doctrines, & aspects of society (economy, culture, politics, media, etc.) • Offer new insights into your own religious traditions & cultures

7. What is Culture? (1970's)-system of symbols & meanings (Geertz) • Blurring boundaries between social sciences & humanities • Cultures: texts to be read and interpreted • Interpretation: way people make sense of differences • Creative Process: take something that makes sense in one context and figure out its meaning in another • “Native’s Point of View”: Perspective of people you are working with

8. Culture as system of symbols & meanings • Meanings are not private or in people’s heads but public & talked about everyday • People are sophisticated interpreters of their own culture • Anthropologists seek access to stories people tell themselves about themselves • “thick description”: layers of meaning stacked on top of each other

9. What is Culture? (1990's)- emergent & contested(Anzaldua, Rosaldo) • Cultural mixing at national & community borders • Borders are everywhere: groups once defined by religion, race, class, gender, sexuality (etc.) are in contact • Relationship between Power & Culture: analyze social inequality tomove toward equality • Shift from looking at cultures as consistent wholes to looking at differenceswithin cultures—difference is more typical than sameness • Culture is emergent (always being created) & contested (always being debated)

10. Anthropological vocabulary:Describing Culture & Religion • VALUES = widely shared assumptions in a society (eg. “freedom,” “equality”) • BELIEFS = cultural conventions concerning true or false assumptions, individual variation, not subject to scientific method (eg. ghosts, omens) • WORLDVIEW = Beliefs & assumptions about the nature of reality (eg. the nature of human nature)

11. Vocab cont. • COSMOLOGIES = beliefs & assumptions about how we are interconnected with the universe (who are we?, where did we come from?, why are we here?) • NORMS = right or wrong behavior according to society (eg. the appropriate family) • MORES = core rules for maintaining a decent & orderly way of life; upheld by law (eg. ten commandments) • SPIRITUALITY = supernatural experience, intensely personal or private experience (how do we research this?)

12. "Religion as a Cultural System"by Clifford Geertz (1966) A religion is a : • System of symbols which acts to • Establish powerful, pervasive, & long-lasting moods and motivations in men by • Formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and • Clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that • The moods & motivations seem uniquely realistic

13. 1. System of symbols • Symbol = external source of information publically shared within a society • Ex. The meaning of Jesus Christ • Son of God who died for our sins • Human suffering • Human sacrifice • Hope • Human goodness

14. 2. Establish powerful, pervasive, & long-lasting moods and motivations in men • Moods = religions teach us how to feel about humanity Ex. Reflecting on the crucifixion or human suffering • Motivations = religions teach us what to work towards or hope for Ex. Eternal salvation, inner peace, enlightenment

15. 3. Formulating conceptions of a general order of existence • Religions teach a particular worldview that helps to provide meaning or purpose in life • Religions provide us with ways to endure pain, suffering, injustice • Ex. Belief in Satan, karma, the law of 3-fold, etc.

16. 4. Clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality • We come to believe in metaphysical ideas about spirits, souls, revelations through participating in RITUALS • Deeper religious realities are reached through rituals • Ex. Catholic mass, Jewish Passover, Native American sweat lodges, pilgrimages to holy places, etc.

17. 5. Moods & motivations seem uniquely realistic • Religions teach us to experience, inhabit, or believe in an underlying spiritual reality that fulfills a purpose in our lives • Religions are based on faith & commitment, not the scientific method • Ex. Religious practice can make us feel hopeful, grounded, happy, etc.

18. Anthropology for the new millenium:Engaged & Humanistic • All humans share in the “human condition” • No room for “extreme cultural relativism”: anthropologists bear the responsibility to publicize violent practices so as to protect human rights • Understanding & respecting differences in religion & culture will lead towards respect for all human beings, a perspective that will create a more peaceful & sustainable world