The Search for New Meaning

1
The Search for New Meaning

• What happens when small-scale societies are drawn
  into a larger, more complex world?
• What happens to their religion?
• Does it cease to exist, or does it adapt to
  survive?

2
Change

• Most religious practices will be conservative
• A societys belief system is often considered to
  be ancient and sacred.
• Rituals, the repetition of the same, ensures that
  religious meaning is preserved.
• Change is not often welcomed, but is necessary
  for a religious system to survive

3
Mechanisms for Change
Nothing in this world is stagnant. Everything
changes in one way or another. Think of the
most permanent thing you can. Perhaps a
mountain? The fact that humans breathe oxygen?
The Sun?

• In regards to culture, there are a few factors we
  can label as gentle agents of change
• Discovery A new awareness of something that
  exists in the environment
• Invention When a person, using the technology at
  hand, comes up with a solution to a particular
  problem.
• Diffusion The apparent movement of cultural
  traits from one society to another. When two
  groups, such as those within a culture area, face
  similar problems, solutions that are developed in
  one group through discovery and invention might
  be adopted by the other.
• Stimulus Diffusion A new trait invented by a
  culture based upon a similar trait introduced by
  a neighboring culture.

4
Mechanisms for Change cont.

• There are also more intense agents of change,
  change that comes from economic/political/social
  control of one society over another
• Acculturation The process whereby a culture
  received traits from a dominant society.
• When two technologically unequal societies come
  into contact with each other, the subordinate
  society will experience change as traits are
  accepted from the dominant society. (Often at a
  rate that is too rapid to properly integrate the
  traits into the culture.)
• Assimilation A condition whereby a dominated
  culture has changed so much because of outside
  influences that it ceases to have its own
  distinct identity.
• Ex Many Native American groups
• Syncretism A fusing of traits from two cultures
  to form something new and yet permitting the
  retention of the old by subsuming the old into a
  new form.
• Ex Sarapis, Trobriand Cricket, The influence of
  Western culture (Coke, McDonalds, Starbucks,
  Hollywood, etc.)

5
Haitian Vodou An example of syncretism

• Vodou is a concept often misunderstood in Western
  culture and conjures up images of evil, sorcery,
  dolls w/ pins, etc.
• Ex http//www.youtube.com/watch?v9SSUQxGjZZ4
  (Godsmack Vodoo)
• Arose in Haiti during the first half of the 19th
  century (1804-1860) centered around the symbols
  of music, art and dance.
• Chromolithographs Color printed posters of the
  saints used by early priests who attempted to
  bring Christianity to Haitian slaves. Seen as
  symbolic of West African deities.

6
Haitian Vodou An example of syncretism

• Mainly Yoruba (with some Fon, Kongo) beliefs of
  West Africa combined with Christian elements to
  form Vodou.
• Vodou means spirit or deity in the Fon
  language.
• Pantheon of deities called Lwa and are very
  similar to the Yoruba orisha that we have
  previously studied. 2 important sub-groups of
  Lwa The Rada nanchon which are similar to the
  Yoruba gods, and the Petwo nanchon,
  aggressive/assertive gods born out of the slave
  experience.
• Legba, or Papa Legba is the first Lwa to be
  contacted when trying to breach the threshold
  between the human and supernatural worlds. Same
  function as the Yoruba Orisha Esu-Elegba, but not
  so much of a trickster, rather seen as a more
  compassionate figure, hence the Papa. Papa
  Legba is often syncretised with the Catholic St.
  Peter (shown above).

7
Haitian Vodou An example of syncretism

• Fon, Kongo and Yoruba beliefs of West Africa
  combine with Christian elements to form Vodou.
• Haiti
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vkpeLdXeIbwAampfea
  turerelated
• Brooklyn and the diaspora (the movement of a
  population out of their homeland)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vzYWFL3Bj2LUfeature
  related (Brooklyn Vodou)
• Have pg. 247 (Table 11.1) open as a references
  while watching the above. Pay attention to
  mentions of Legba and Gede. The Lwa here are
  called spirits. Look for the Vede (sign) for Papa
  Legba (symbol shown here on the right).

8
Santeria

• Similar to Vodou. Developed in Cuba combining
  mostly Yoruba beliefs with Roman Catholicism.
• Deities are, as in Yoruba religion, referred to
  as Orisha
• Santeria name originally stemmed from a
  perceived over-concentration on the Saints
  (San). Proper name for the religion is Regla de
  Ocha or Rule of the Orisha.
• Similar to Vodou practitioners who refer to their
  religion as serving the spirits
• Animal sacrifice is used in ritual, which has
  caused conflict between religious freedom and
  animal rights

9
Revitalization movements

• A movement that forms in an attempt to
  deliberately bring about change in a society
• Usually occurs when a dominating culture
  overwhelms (politically, socially, economically)
  a subordinate one.
• Introduction of items/technologies to the
  subordinate culture might mean the destruction of
  the culture and assimilation into the dominating
  culture.
• If people from the subordinating culture survive,
  they are more often than not living on the
  fringes of the dominating society and are
  demoralized (their worldview, culture, mythology
  has either been destroyed or changed so radically
  as to be unrecognizable).
• Revitalization movements then occur, including
• Nativistic Movements
• A type of revitalization movement that develops
  in traditional societies that are threatened by
  the activities of more technologically advanced
  societies. These movements stress the
  elimination of the dominant culture and a return
  to the past, keeping the desirable elements of
  the dominant culture to which the society has
  been exposed, but with these elements now under
  the control of the subordinate culture.
• Ex The Ghost Dance (1890) (Wavoka, Nevada
  Pauite, Lakota Sioux, South Dakota Massacre at
  Wounded Knee)
• Revivalistic Movements
• A type of revitalization movement that Attempts
  to revive what is often perceived of as a past
  golden age in which ancient customs come to
  symbolize the noble features and legitimacy of
  the repressed culture.
• Ex Celtic revival Ireland
• Continued

10
Revitalization movements cont.

• Millenarian Movements
• A type of revitalization movement that envisions
  change through an apocalyptic transformation
• Ex Unarians (see later slide?a type of UFO
  religion)
• Ex Branch Davidians (Students of the Seven
  Seals) An example of a Millenarian group. Begun
  in 1940s by Victor Houteff a branch of the 7th
  Day Adventists. Secret information about the
  return of Jesus, contained in a scroll with 7
  seals, hence the name. Vernon Howell (David
  Koresh) believed that the apocalypse would come
  soon with an assault on the Branch Davidians.
  They stockpiled weapons for this event. 1993,
  Waco Texas Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
  Firearms decided to arresh Koresh on the grounds
  of illegally possessing these weapons. Thinking
  the apocalypse had come, a gunfight broke out,
  lasting 51 days. In the end 71 Branch Davidians
  (21 children) died due to fires.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vEr7gzj0BbSE
• Messianic Movments
• A type of revitalization movement that is based
  on the appearance of a divine savior in human
  form who will bring about the solution to the
  problems that exist within the society.
• Ex The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
  Saints (Mormonism) Founded in early 19th century
  by Joseph Smith (1804-1844). Smith was a Prophet
  who received a message from Jesus and the angel
  Moroni (hence Mormonism) that all the various
  versions of Christianity cropping up were all in
  error. Smith would then go on pen the Book of
  Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ based
  on golden tablets on which were written supposed
  supplements to biblical history. Brigham Young
  would later take over the cult (his accession
  based also on prophecy) and moved the group to
  Utah.
• Ex Cargo Cults (next slide)

11
Cargo CultsA Messianic Revitalization Movement
Late 19th century-end of WWII in Melanesia

• Cargo in Melanesia, was seen to be made by
  ancestors. The U.S. military had somehow
  intercepted the goods meant for the Melanesians.
• Cults emerged based on prophets who had foreseen
  how to control the cargo. Rituals were developed
  that mimicked activities of the soldiers
  (marching with sticks over their shoulder,
  marking on paper, wearing European clothes.)
• When these rituals failed, groups went so far as
  to destroy sacred objects, crops and food
  sources, thinking that cargo would not arrive for
  them as long as they had these items. Results
  were tragic.
• 50 years ago http//www.youtube.com/watch?vqmlYe
  2KS0-Yampfeaturerelated
• Present day acculturation has occurred, still
  keep rituals of original cult, but the mood is no
  longer desperate http//www.youtube.com/watch?vY
  fSC6RDyVA0ampfeaturerelated

12
Neo-Paganism and Revival

• Neopaganism pre-Christian religious traditions
  that have been revived and are practiced in
  contemporary times. A revivalistic movement.
• Wicca Popularized by Gerald Gardner in the1950s.
  An amateur anthropologist who found and joined a
  coven of witches who he believed to be one of the
  last from a line of pre-Christian movements.
• Wicca is a polytheistic religion with varying
  gods and goddesses. Gender equality is stressed.
  Rituals and holidays often Celtic in nature.
  http//video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/p
  laces/culture-places/beliefs-and-traditions/uk_wic
  ca.html
• An Athame (ritual knife) and a Chalice are used
  in ceremonies to represent the balance of
  male/female.
• Magic is used, but only for good, unlike in
  Satanism.

13
New Religious Movements

• Denomination vs. Sect vs. Cult
• Denomination A religious group that differs on
  just a few points from the mainstream religion
• Ex Within Christianity Baptists, Presbyterians,
  Catholics, Lutherans, etc.
• Sect A new branch of a mainstream religion,
  usually involving new revelations, new
  scriptures, and a new leader
• Ex Mormons (from Christianity)
• Ex Unification Church (Moonies)Founder Sun
  Myung Moon 1954 Seoul, Korea. Goal is to unite
  all Christian denominations. The Divine
  Principle contains new truths as revealed
  through Rev. Moon and serves as the cults main
  literature. Moon and his wife alternately seen
  by members as the Spiritual Parents of
  humanity.
• Cult
• Historical meaning A particular form or system
  of religious worship.
• Used to describe a small, recently created, and
  spiritually innovative group, often with a single
  charismatic leader. However
• Connotations of the term include that the leader
  is evil, is in total control of his followers,
  and believes that the end of the world is
  imminent. These allegations usually in reaction
  to a religion classified as a
• High Demand Religion A religious group in which
  much is demanded of members in terms of strict
  adherence to rules for thought and behavior
• Ex Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of
  Latter Day Saints, Heavens Gate

14
UFO Religions
Usually see Extraterrestrials as advanced
spiritual beings that have come to help humanity
in some way.

• Heavens Gate Founded by Marshall Applewhite and
  Bonnie Nettles. Lived in a communal house in San
  Diego. Believed the soul was a superior entity
  to the body. Spiritually evolved individuals
  would be taken to join the ranks of
  extraterrestrials who were coming to Earth,
  hidden in the tail of the Hale-Bopp comet. March
  1997, mass-suicide of 21 men and 18 women.
• Marshall Applewhite initiation video
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?vAqSZhwu1Rwo
• Raelians Founded in 1973 by Claude Vorlihon
  Rael
• Unarians An example of a Millenarian movement.
  Founded by Ernest and Ruth Norman in LA, 1954.
  An apocalyptic event, extraterrestrials will
  provide knowledge and spiritual salvation for
  humanity. Along with Raelians, often accused of
  becoming the next Heavens Gate
• Unarius Academy of Science
• From www.unarius.org The Unarius Educational
  Foundation provides information about the
  evolutionary design of life, the physics
  describing the mind and brain/body system,
  explaining the nature of consciousness
  substantiated by an interdimensional science of
  lifeThe founders laid down a bridge that is a
  cosmic link to the Space Brothers. Unarius, an
  acronym for Universal Articulate Interdimensional
  Understanding of Science is dedicated to
  exploring the frontiers of science and expanding
  our awareness and connection with galactic
  intelligence. The Unarius Science of Life
  teaching is the basis of the galactic
  intelligence of advanced, intelligent persons.
• Not UFO religions!
• Universalists, Unitarians, Unification Church
  (Moonies)

15
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.

• Characterized by
• Totalism The belief that religion is relevant
  to, and should be a part of, all parts of a
  society.
• Scripturalism The practice of justifying
  beliefs and actions by reference to the religious
  text. These texts are generally held to be
  inerrant and represent certainty and stability in
  a rapidly changing world.
• Traditioning The idea that religious texts are
  relevant to life today
• Example (not in book) Fundamentalist Church of
  Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• This community at the Yearning for Zion ranch in
  Texas practices polygamy, originally sanctioned
  and encouraged by Joseph Smith (founder of
  Mormonism). An example of a High Demand Religion.
• In the last few months has garnered much media
  interest due to accusations of a sex offenses
  against minors, mainly by its behind bars leader
  Warren Jeffs. There was a State raid on the
  ranch, where all the children (450) were removed
  from their parents
• Most up-to-date coverage from CNN here
  http//topics.cnn.com/topics/fundamentalist_church
  _of_jesus_christ_of_latter_day_saints
• Charges against Warren Jeffs http//www.cnn.com/2
  007/US/law/09/12/jeffs.walkup/index.htmlcnnSTCVid
  eo
• History of raids at the Yearning for Zion ranch
  http//www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/10/polygamist.tow
  ns/index.htmlcnnSTCVideo
• Fallout from raid, interview with community
  mothers http//www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/28/flds.
  openness/index.htmlcnnSTCVideo
• Freedom of religion vs. human rights?