Anthropology of Religion Exam 1
Clifford Geertz - Answer-- Offered definition that helped set stage for anthro of religion
- moods have no beginning or end, just come to at different fruquencies by different symbols
- Religion provides meaning or purpose of life, helps to understand the pain and suffering of the world
- theoretical approach
- cultural relativism
A religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long lasting moods and
motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these
conceptions with such an aura of factuality that these moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic -
Answer-What Geertz definition of religion?
Symbols play double role, they provide representation of way things are (model of) and guides directing
human activity (model for) - Answer-What did Geertz say about symbols?
Articulates discription of natural and cultural phenomena - Answer-Model of
Shapes how one ought to behave and act in the natural and cultural world - Answer-Model for
- Religious rituals create "aura of factuality and deeper realities are reached
- Transends our everyday experiences and moves us to an underlying spiritual reality that fulfills a
purpose or meaning in our lives
- Not based on objectivity or detachment, its based on religious faith and commitment - Answer-Geertz:
How do humans believe religion?
, 1. Analysis of system of symbols which constitute the religious tradition
2. Investigation of relationship between symbols and social and psychological processes within the
society - Answer-Geertz sees anthro of religion as 2 stage process
Cultural Relativism - Answer-Understanding part or whole culture relative to that cultures ideas and
beliefs, history, effects or globalization to that culture, look at world through lens of that culture, means
to interpt and understand that culture
Geertz: Virgin of Guadalupe - Answer-Juan Diego sees her on hilltop and goes to the bishop, he returns
to the hilltop and asks for a sign, he picks the flowers and brings them to the bishop but is instead an
image of her
- Hilltop significance: Aztec goddess Tepayac, goddess of fertility Tonantzin, she gave virgin births
- After, 10,000's converted to Christinanity, believed her to be same or equilavent to Aztec goddess
- Changed and redifined the model of reality, model for reality included conversion
Power and provides protection for Polish people - Answer-Black Madona: Model of reality
Unity, pray to her for protection, take social action, fight without fear - Answer-Black Madona: Model for
reality
Orthodox - Answer-Sacred icons hold power
2 Streams of Enlightenment Thought - Answer-- Emphasized use of scientific method or "reason and
rationality" to explain and understand human life and history
- Through reason and rationaluty, humans improving institution and values resulting in progress and
unilineal evolution
Unilineal Evolution - Answer-Evolution of societies and cultures
Clifford Geertz - Answer-- Offered definition that helped set stage for anthro of religion
- moods have no beginning or end, just come to at different fruquencies by different symbols
- Religion provides meaning or purpose of life, helps to understand the pain and suffering of the world
- theoretical approach
- cultural relativism
A religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long lasting moods and
motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these
conceptions with such an aura of factuality that these moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic -
Answer-What Geertz definition of religion?
Symbols play double role, they provide representation of way things are (model of) and guides directing
human activity (model for) - Answer-What did Geertz say about symbols?
Articulates discription of natural and cultural phenomena - Answer-Model of
Shapes how one ought to behave and act in the natural and cultural world - Answer-Model for
- Religious rituals create "aura of factuality and deeper realities are reached
- Transends our everyday experiences and moves us to an underlying spiritual reality that fulfills a
purpose or meaning in our lives
- Not based on objectivity or detachment, its based on religious faith and commitment - Answer-Geertz:
How do humans believe religion?
, 1. Analysis of system of symbols which constitute the religious tradition
2. Investigation of relationship between symbols and social and psychological processes within the
society - Answer-Geertz sees anthro of religion as 2 stage process
Cultural Relativism - Answer-Understanding part or whole culture relative to that cultures ideas and
beliefs, history, effects or globalization to that culture, look at world through lens of that culture, means
to interpt and understand that culture
Geertz: Virgin of Guadalupe - Answer-Juan Diego sees her on hilltop and goes to the bishop, he returns
to the hilltop and asks for a sign, he picks the flowers and brings them to the bishop but is instead an
image of her
- Hilltop significance: Aztec goddess Tepayac, goddess of fertility Tonantzin, she gave virgin births
- After, 10,000's converted to Christinanity, believed her to be same or equilavent to Aztec goddess
- Changed and redifined the model of reality, model for reality included conversion
Power and provides protection for Polish people - Answer-Black Madona: Model of reality
Unity, pray to her for protection, take social action, fight without fear - Answer-Black Madona: Model for
reality
Orthodox - Answer-Sacred icons hold power
2 Streams of Enlightenment Thought - Answer-- Emphasized use of scientific method or "reason and
rationality" to explain and understand human life and history
- Through reason and rationaluty, humans improving institution and values resulting in progress and
unilineal evolution
Unilineal Evolution - Answer-Evolution of societies and cultures
