ANT 245 - Culture and Religion

This course is designed to foster the knowledge, skills, and attitudes which will assist the student to successfully compare, contrast, and evaluate supernatural and scientific explanations for the origin, function, and persistence of religious belief and practice in human societies. Also, the student will gain a greater awareness of how world events are often shaped by religious beliefs and differences.

COURSE COMPETENCIES

1. Discuss theories proposed to explain the origin of supernaturalistic belief in human populations

2. Evaluate theories proposed to explain the persistence and function of supernaturalistic belief and ritual in both non-Western and Western societies

3. Identify cross-cultural universals in mythology

4. Define such concepts as animism and mana

5. Compare and contrast magic with other forms of religious behavior

6. Explain why belief in divination, astrology, witchcraft, sorcery, ghosts, spirits and gods has been ubiquitous throughout human history and persists in modern nations.

7. Compare and contrast rites of passage and rites of solidarity

8. Discuss both the secular and religious explanations that have been given for trances, drinking poison, handling snakes, talking in tongues, the use of hallucinogenic drugs, food and other taboos, animal and human sacrifice, cannibalism, and belief in the afterlife or in reincarnation

9. Evaluate millennial fear

10. Compare and contrast scientific and religious explanations for near death experiences

11. Explain the role of shamans and priests in human societies

12. Explain why certain plants, animals and locations are believes to possess dangerous and/or beneficial supernatural powers

13. Trace the origin, growth, and decline of revitalization movements, cults, and institutionalized religions

14. Describe the social, cultural, and political consequences of religious differences