ANTH 0304 - Magic, Ritual, and Religion

Fall 3 Credit Hours
This course will examine early anthropological theories on the evolution of religion. It will also document the variety of belief systems surrounding the spiritual world in traditional and contemporary societies, including sorcery, shamanism, ancestor veneration, and transcendent experiences. Conceptions of the sacred and the significance of place make up another segment of the course, as does the role of myth in structuring human thought and societies. Religious practice in the form of ritual, prayer, and symbolism are included from the framework of cultural anthropology. Finally, it will address the effects of culture contact and diffusion of major world religions upon indigenous peoples’ belief systems.