Religion

The Anthropology of Religion - Anthropology 331

This is a cross-cultural study of the forms and functions of supernatural beliefs and associated rituals in various societies of Africa, Asia, aboriginal Australia, Oceania, South America, native North America and elsewhere. The emphasis of the course is on understanding beliefs and rituals within their social contexts, and on broad comparisons to derive insights into the general functions of beliefs and rituals in human life. Some topics we will cover include perspectives on death and the afterlife, religious specialists, new religious movements, rituals, symbols, magic and witchcraft in ethnographic perspective, and globalization and religion.

This class is not about deciding which religions are "best" or more "true" but instead about understanding how human cultures throughout the world order their beliefs about the supernatural in meaningful ways. This class is meant to educate students on human diversity and how there are different paths to enlightenment, the afterlife, and good ways to live.

In this class students will complete a major ethnographic project in which they observe the rituals of a religion other than their own and write an ethnography about it. Students will also collaborate with one another on presentations in class about symbols, deities, food and religion, and other topics. Class participation and online discussions are encouraged.

This class is taught as a hybrid course which means it will meet face-to-face once a week and will include a heavy online component including quizzes, discussion boards, and films.

Possible Readings and Films

Readings

Stein, R. and P. Stein (2011) The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft. Pearson. 3rd Edition

Films

The Asmat

Coming of Age: Ethnographic Profiles from a Global Perspective

Witchcraft Among the Azande

Rites of Death

Spirituality and the Brain

That Paradise Will Be Mine

The Mythology of Star Wars

Taboo: Tattooing