Anthropology of Religion Exam 1
Holism - Answer-The idea that a culture is an integrated whole, with parts that operate coherently in
relationship to each other
-From the examination of cultures, anthropologist have come up with four domains of culture: kinship,
politics, economics, and religion
Example: In order to study marriage, anthropologists would need to also understand a society's politics
and law, economics, ethics, and theology. Marriage, in the anthropological view, would influence
history, literature, art, and music.
The Four Fields - Answer-Physical anthropology (also called biological)
Archaeology
Linguistic anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Physical anthropology (also called biological) - Answer-- human biology and evolution
- Genetics, evolutionary theory, primate biology and behavior, paleontology.
- Studying Religion- Evolutionary origins of religion and the neurobiology of religious experience.
, Archaeology - Answer--the study of people who are known only from their physical and cultural remains.
-Provides insight into the lives of now extinct societies
-To study religion, would examine the ruins of ancient temples, art and writing.
Linguistic anthropology - Answer-- studies language in relation to human experience and culturally
specific meaning.
- Much religious practice takes a linguistic form, involving recitation of words.
- Religious beliefs are expressed through people's myths and literature
Cultural anthropology - Answer-- the study of contemporary human societies and makes up the largest
area of anthropological study.
- People's social organization, economics and technology, political organization, marriage and family life,
child-rearing practices, etc.
Ethnography - Answer-A detailed anthropological description of a culture or human societies
What cultural anthropologists produce in order to share the results of their research.
Cultural Relativism - Answer-- Anthropologists attempt to remain neutral and accept the ways of life of
other communities as appropriate for those who live in these communities.
-The goal is to study what people believe rather than testing if what they believe is true.
- We approach religions with a preexisting vocabulary.
-That vocabulary is not neutral because it's the language of a particular religion from a Western
perspective, usually from Christianity.
Holism - Answer-The idea that a culture is an integrated whole, with parts that operate coherently in
relationship to each other
-From the examination of cultures, anthropologist have come up with four domains of culture: kinship,
politics, economics, and religion
Example: In order to study marriage, anthropologists would need to also understand a society's politics
and law, economics, ethics, and theology. Marriage, in the anthropological view, would influence
history, literature, art, and music.
The Four Fields - Answer-Physical anthropology (also called biological)
Archaeology
Linguistic anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Physical anthropology (also called biological) - Answer-- human biology and evolution
- Genetics, evolutionary theory, primate biology and behavior, paleontology.
- Studying Religion- Evolutionary origins of religion and the neurobiology of religious experience.
, Archaeology - Answer--the study of people who are known only from their physical and cultural remains.
-Provides insight into the lives of now extinct societies
-To study religion, would examine the ruins of ancient temples, art and writing.
Linguistic anthropology - Answer-- studies language in relation to human experience and culturally
specific meaning.
- Much religious practice takes a linguistic form, involving recitation of words.
- Religious beliefs are expressed through people's myths and literature
Cultural anthropology - Answer-- the study of contemporary human societies and makes up the largest
area of anthropological study.
- People's social organization, economics and technology, political organization, marriage and family life,
child-rearing practices, etc.
Ethnography - Answer-A detailed anthropological description of a culture or human societies
What cultural anthropologists produce in order to share the results of their research.
Cultural Relativism - Answer-- Anthropologists attempt to remain neutral and accept the ways of life of
other communities as appropriate for those who live in these communities.
-The goal is to study what people believe rather than testing if what they believe is true.
- We approach religions with a preexisting vocabulary.
-That vocabulary is not neutral because it's the language of a particular religion from a Western
perspective, usually from Christianity.
