Spirituality, Religion, and the Supernatural

1
Spirituality, Religion,and the Supernatural

• Part III

2
Magic

• Among the most fascinating of ritual practices is
  application of the belief that supernatural
  powers can be compelled to act in certain ways
  for good or evil purposes by recourse to certain
  specified formulas.
• Many societies have magical rituals to ensure
  good crops, the replenishment of game, the
  fertility of domestic animals, and the avoidance
  or healing of illness in humans.

3
Magic

• In the 19th century Scottish anthropologist Sir
  James George Frazer made a useful distinction
  between two fundamental principles of magic
  imitative magic and contagious magic.
• Imitative magic magic based on the principle
  that like produces like sometimes called
  sympathetic magic
• Contagious magic magic based on the principle
  that things or persons once in contact can
  influence each other after the contact is broken.

4
Witchcraft

• In Salem, Massachusetts, 200 innocent citizens
  suspected of being witches were arrested in 1692
  of these thirteen women and six men were hanged,
  and one 80-year-old farmer was tortured to death.
• Witchcraft an explanation of events based on the
  belief that certain individuals possess an innate
  psychic power capable of causing harm, including
  sickness and death.

5
Ibibio Witchcraft

• As the Ibibio of Nigeria have become increasingly
  exposed to modern education and scientific
  training, their reliance on witchcraft as an
  explanation for misfortune has increased
• traditional Ibibio attribute virtually all
  misfortune, illness, or death to the malevolent
  activity of witches.

6
Ibibio Witchcraft

• To identify a witch, an Ibibio looks for any
  person living in the region whose behavior is
  considered odd, out of the ordinary immoral, or
  unsocial.
• Witches are apt to look and act mean and to be
  socially disruptive people in the sense that
  their behavior exceeds the range of variance
  considered acceptable.

7
Ibibio Witchcraft

• Sorcerers are the very embodiment of a societys
  conception of evil beings that flout the rules
  of sexual behavior and disregard every other
  standard of decency
• Typically, they are morose, arrogant, and
  unfriendly people who keep to themselves but
  otherwise cause little disturbance
• Not surprisingly, people viewed as witches are
  usually treated with considerable caution,
  respect, and even fear.

8
Functions of Witchcraft

• Witchcraft functions as an effective way for
  people to explain away personal misfortune
  without having to shoulder any of the blame
  themselves.
• Witchcraft may also provide an outlet for
  feelings of hostility and frustration without
  disturbing the norms of the larger group, and
  hence functions as an agent of social control.

9
Functions of Witchcraft

• Sanctions a wide range of conduct by providing
  notions of right and wrong.
• Sets standards for acceptable behavior and helps
  perpetuate an existing social order.
• Lifts burden of decision making from individuals
  and places responsibility with god.
• Plays a role in maintaining social solidarity.

10
Functions of Religion

• First, religion provides an orderly model of the
  universe and thereby reduces fears and anxieties.
  
• Second, it sanctions a range of conduct by
  providing notions of right and wrong-and by
  setting guidelines for acceptable behavior, it
  helps perpetuate an existing social order.

11
Functions of Religion

• Third, religion serves to lift the burden of
  decision making from individuals and places
  responsibility with the gods.
• Fourth, it plays a large role in maintaining
  social solidarity.
• Finally, religion serves educational purposes as
  ritual ceremonies enhance the learning of tribal
  lore.

12
Revitalization Movements

• Revitalization movement a movement for radical
  cultural reform in response to widespread social
  disruption and collective feelings o great stress
  and despair.
• Cargo cults a spiritual movement in reaction to
  disruptive contact with Western capitalism,
  promising resurrection of deceased relatives,
  destruction or enslavement of while foreigners,
  and the magical arrival of utopian riches.

13
Sufism

• A Sufi sema (prayer dance) in Istanbul, Turkey.
  Sufism, a mystical Muslim movement that emerged
  in the late 10th century, borrowing ideas from
  Buddhism, Christianity, and Neoplatonism,
  emphasizes the surrender of individual ego and
  attachment to worldly things in order to be
  receptive to Gods grace.

14
Cargo Cult

• Spiritual movements in Melanesia in reaction to
  disruptive contact with Western capitalism
  promising resurrection of deceased relatives,
  destruction or enslavement of white foreigners,
  and the magical coming of utopian riches.