ANT 3241 Final Review

Assimilation

A condition whereby a dominated culture has changed so much because of outside influences that it ceases to have its own distinct identify.

Sect

A new branch of a mainstream religion, usually involving new revelations, new scriptures, and a new leader.

Fundamentalism

A religious movement characterized by a return to fundamental principles, usually including a resistance to modernization and an emphasis on certainty through a literal interpretation of scriptures. Totalism, scripturalism,and traditioning are features of this.

totalism

A social, economic and/or political system in which some authority wields absolute power

nativistic movement

A type of revitalization movement that develops in traditional societies that are threatened by activities of more technologically advanced societies.

Azande Witches (E. E. Evans-Pritchard, Men Bewitch Others When They Hate Them)

-Believe that witchcraft, or mangu (physical substance), is something that exists within the body of a witch; passed down from parent to child of the same sex. -A person can possess mangu and yet not act as a witch. -Witchcraft accusations are based on real social tensions that exist in society; common conversation. -Witchcraft beliefs also embrace a system of values, which regulate human conduct. -All misfortune as being due to some supernatural agency; witchcraft becomes a good explanation for misfortune. -Antiwitchcraft rituals and the identification of the witch provide a plan of action.

Witches

-Bring death and destruction, for the source of this evil is a supernatural power that lies within the body of the witch. In small-scale societies witches differ from sorcerers.

Influence behind Magic

-Causation over coincidence -If didn't get expected results, failure is with the magician, not the magic. -People never ask impossible things of magic (appears to never fail) -Somebody could be doing counter magic to hinder results -Selective memory

Witchcraft in Small-Scale Societies

-Largely based on the work of E. E. Evans-Pritchard among the Azande of the Sudan, he concluded that a belief in witchcraft serves three functions: 1) It provides an explanation for the unexplainable, 2)it provides a set of cultural behaviors for dealing with misfortunate, 3) and it serves to define morality. -Zande believes that witchcraft is a substance found within the body of the witch.

Azande Magic

-Magic involves use of objects, usually plant material called medicines. -Medicine: Object in which supernatural power resides; accessed by using ritual to change natural object to medicine; excluding taboos. -Numerous uses, based on characteristic associations -Ritual: manipulate the medicine & recite a spell, address medicine and say request (power resides in spell)

Culture Change

-Occurs through the processes of discovery, invention, and diffusion.

Learning Magic

-Private property of individuals -Most common way to learn is from one's relatives -Can be purchased with gifts from the owner of the knoeledge

Vodou

-Resembles in many ways traditional West African religions in that it is characterized by a pantheon of intermediary deities, spirit possession, and offerings placed on altars. -A religion that is found in the country of Haiti and in the Haitian diaspora; rich in symbolism, with art, dance and music playing central roles in ritual. -Grew out of several religions indigenous to West Africa, especially the religions of the Fon, Kongo, and Yoruba peoples; syncretism: is the association of particular Iwa with Catholic saints and manifestations of the Virgin, i.e. in Haitian Vodou, the identification of the Yoruba deity Legba as St. Peter is an example of syncretism.

Syncretism

-Reworking of the trait through this process where traits from two cultures fuse to form something new and yet, at the same time, permit the retention of the old by subsuming the old into a new form, such as: Vodou in Haiti, Santeria in Cuba (In Cuba the deities are called orisha and are know by their Yoruba names-the religion known as Santeria).

Magic

-Rituals that people use to control/interact with the supernatural; usually includes: a spell, the manipulation of objects, special conditions for the performer of the ritual. -Somewhat associated with religion -Not all directed or purposeful (some accidental)

revivalistic movement

-Social movements for the purpose of religious nature, and total reform of a society -Associated with rapid culture change and domination of western society over non western society -Deliberate, organized, conscious effort by members of a society to construct a more satisfying culture -Goals: restore old ways, create new social order

Divination

-Techniques for obtaining information about things unknown, including events that will occur in the future. -Such magical rituals are used to manipulate the supernatural world in order to provide information. -2 types: 1)contact with supernatural 2)observation and manipulation of connections of everything.

I Ching

-also known as Classic of Changes or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text and the oldest of the Chinese classics -Possessing a history of more than two and a half millennia of commentary and interpretation, the I Ching is an influential text read throughout the world, providing inspiration to the worlds of religion, psychoanalysis, business, literature, and art -The I Ching uses a type of divination called cleromancy, which produces apparently random numbers.

termite oracle (dakpa)

When a question is presented before these oracles, they take a branch from two trees. One branch is called the dakpa, another kpoyo. The oracle takes these branches and sticks them into a termite mound and waits overnight to see which branch the termites eat, which dictates the answer.

poison oracle (benge)

When it is consulted or sanctioned by a chief, the results may be used as evidence in legal proceedings. It is used in all important legal and social situations and directs the Azande on what to do in major crisis situations.

inquisitions

a unit of the Roman Catholic Church that convened to judge cases of heresy

Witchcraft

an act of magic that results in harming a person or aspects of the material world on which he or she depends.

evil eye

an eye or glance held capable of inflicting harm

rubbing-board oracle (iwa)

inexpensive and easy-to-use oracle that can be consulted very quickly. There are many situations in which some answer is urgently needed, such as the sudden onset of an illness, decisions about going on a journey, questions about interpersonal relationships, and a myriad of minor questions.

The Golden Bough

is a wide-ranging, comparative study of mythology and religion, written by the Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer

scripturalism

the state of being scriptural or adhering to the Scriptures when translating or writing

Anthony Wallace

was a Canadian-American anthropologist who specialized in Native American cultures, especially the Iroquois. His research expressed an interest in the intersection of cultural anthropology and psychology. He was famous for the theory of revitalization movements

Harold Camping

was an American Christian radio broadcaster, author and evangelist. Camping is notable for issuing multiple failed predictions of dates for the End Times, which temporarily gained him a global following and millions of dollars of donations.

Clyde Kluckhohn

was an American anthropologist and social theorist, best known for his long-term ethnographic work among the Navajo and his contributions to the development of theory of culture within American anthropology

Law of Sympathy

The apparent association or agreement between two things; two parts: law of contagion and law of similarity.

Doctrine of Signatures

The belief that signs telling of a plant's medical use are somehow embedded within the structure and nature of the plant itself; traditional herb medicine is often based on this. -ex:Walnuts good for brain

millenarian movement

"containing a thousand", is the belief by a religious, social, or political group or movement in a coming major transformation of society, after which all things will be changed.

E. E. Evans-Pritchard

(Anthropologist) The Azande of Souther Sudan, Witchcraft functions to maintain a sense of equilibrium or balance in a nicety to reduce possibility for conflict

James Brain

(Anthropologist) Witch craze, the widespread belief in witches founded in horticultural/farming societies

Magic Influenced Ritualistic Behavior

-Associated with danger, uncertainty, fear, & anxiety. -Do not believe in coincidence. -Believe desired result was caused by action.

Revitalization Movement

-A movement that forms in an attempt to deliberately bring about change in a society. -May be brought about by political and economic marginalization, malnutrition and high level of epidemic disease, and perception that values of the community are being threatened. -Ex.s: Ghost Dance & US is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Spirit

-A supernatural being that is less powerful than a god and is usually more localized; often one of a collection of non-individualized supernatural beings that are not given specific names and identities. -Seen as classes of supernatural beings. They tend to be associated with specific locations. They provide protection and success, but also are blamed for minor mishaps. They are not responsible for some powerful aspect of nature.

Santeria

-Also known as Rule of the Orisha; developed in Cuba from a fusion of West African religions, primarily Yoruba and Spanish Catholicism. -It developed out of societies of freed slaves living in various locations and conditions throughout Cuba -Deities, called orisha, show the same syncretism as the Haitian Iwa; the orisha associated with particular saints, i.e. OgunàSaint Peter. -The religion is known for being secretive, partly because of the use of animal sacrifice in ritual; and relatively little info about beliefs, rituals, and symbols is released to the general public.

Baseball Magic

-An important part of the behavior of athletes in athletic competition. -Include certain ritual behaviors, such as wearing the same clothing or washing one's hands after a losing inning. -Are adopted because the player associated certain activities with success.

Homeopathic Magic/Imitative Magic

Assumes there is a casual relationship between things that appear to be similar; can be physical or behavioral. -Imitates a desired end, causing the end to occur

Law of Similarity

Based on the principle that "like produced like" -gave rise to homeopathic magic -ex.s: alternative/homeopathic medicine

Sorcerer

Evil, antisocial figures who use magic for unjust reasons.

James G. Frazer, Sympathetic Magic

Magic is closely related to science.

Image Magic

Whatever happens to an image of someone will also happen to them. -the most familiar type of homeopathic magic. -ex: voodoo dolls in Haitian folk traditions

Cargo Cults Peter M. Worsley, "Cargo Cults"

Religious movement occurring among small-scale societies of Melanesia in response to culture contact; the movement focuses on the attainment of trade goods. (New Guinea)

Anthropomorphic

Resemble people in their physical appearance and personalities; ex: gods

Jivaro Tribe Michael J. Harner, "The Sound of Rushing Water"

Shamans hold very strong power over supernatural forces; strong enough to be able to fully curse and kill, and to fully heal and cure someone. They gain this power by entering a tranced state of being with a hallucinogen.

John Frum

The John Frum cult is based upon a prophet who is said to have appeared in the 1930s. It is not known if John Frum was a real person or not, or whether he was a native or a European. However, he is said to have predicted the Japanese invasion and the subsequent arrival of the American military in World War II. John Frum is said to have prophesized the good age in which the white man, including the missionaries, would disappear followed by an influx of manufactured goods. In order to bring about this new era, in the early 1940s the people of Tanna rejected European customs such as European money and Christianity, and returned to the traditional Tannese kastom ( customs). Then the American army arrived. The people of Tanna were astonished by the wealth and power of the Americans and saw the United States as a source of cargo. Today, on John Frum Day, men march in military fashion— as they comprehend it— and raise American flags. They carry bamboo rifles and use a red cross as a sacred symbol. It is believed that on some future February 15, John Frum will return bringing with him manufactured goods or cargo that rightly belongs to them.

Denomination

The groups that remain mainstream and differ the least from the origin religion.

Diffusion

The movement of culture traits from one culture to another.

Acculturation

The process whereby a culture accepts traits from a dominant society.

Contagious Magic

Things that were once in contact always maintain a connection. Anything connected with the person can be used this. -ex: lucky rabbits foot, caterpillar for whooping cough -countermagic: keep bow near the fire, cause enemy pain (New Guinea), Kuru is a result of sorcery

Law of Contagion (Contact)

Things that were once in contact continue to be connected even after the connection is severed. -gave rise to contagious magic

messianic movement

in Judaism, the expected king of the Davidic line who would deliver Israel from foreign bondage and restore the glories of its golden age.

Malleus Maleficarum

manual for hunting witches

prophecy

something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.