Anthropology 121 Anthropology of Religion Magic and Witchcraft

Anthropology 121 Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft Prof. Kenneth Feldmeier Contact: feldmekj@lavc. edu Office Hours: Before Class

Note Taking – Let’s Practice! • Make two columns • Take notes in right-hand column • Formulate mirror questions in left-hand column (as soon as possible) • 2 -3 summary questions at bottom of page • Reflect on the notes

What Is Anthropology? �Study of Humanity � However, anthropology is a integrated study of humanity � Holism, theory that parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection, such that they cannot exist independently of the whole, or cannot be understood without reference to the whole, which is thus regarded as greater than the sum of its parts. Holism is often applied to mental states, language, and ecology. � What do we do? � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ZHOy 6 hi. Ucy. A � Fore Example pg. 6 � How do we do this? ? o Ethnography o Etic & Emic Views

Where do we go from here? �What is culture? �Who decides what is normal?

Culture is learned. You do not inherit your culture. You learn it in the culture that you are raised in. Markley, K. 2009. Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft & Religion.

�Culture is symbolic. When you are a part of a culture you learn the meaning or various meanings of the symbols in that culture. Depending on what culture you are raised in certain symbols will be significant to you or insignificant to you. � Markley, K. 2009. Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft & Religion.

�Culture is shared. Culture requires a community of people Markley, K. 2009. Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft & Religion.

Culture is adaptive. In that your culture tells you the acceptable way to live and survive. The culture that we are raised in informs us what animals and plants are food sources, what type of shelters to live in, and what clothing is appropriate to wear. The political and economic systems of a society are also a part of the culture that people live in. Markley, K. 2009. Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft & Religion.

�Culture is integrated. All of the different systems and institutions in the culture operate together, such as the economic and political system along with the predominant belief systems. No aspect of culture is isolated and each part affects the other parts. A change in one area of a culture often affects other areas of the culture (a change in the economic system can affect religious values and expressions. )

Cornell Notes – Let’s See How We Did �Review your notes �Make sure everything is clear �Write mirror questions �Write summary questions �Compare with a neighbor

Lets See How it Worked �Break up into groups of 4 -5 people �Write on a sheet of paper one example for each part of culture. How is culture; learned, symbolic, shared, adaptive, & integrated. �Put all the group members names on the paper. �Turn into me after we discuss.

Theoretical Approaches Homework �Turn to page 17 �Read theoretical approach's to Religion (pp. 17 -25). Describe which approach you mostly relate too. �Homework due next week

Religion �Why do you think religion exists?

Struggling to define Religion �http: //www. ted. com/talks/jonathan_haidt_humanit y_s_stairway_to_self_transcendence. html

Where do we go to learn about our past? � Our Closest Relative, Chimps � Jane Goodall � Our understanding about Chimpanzee groups and life increased � Complex Societies, Tool Use, Omnivorous � Chimpanzee’s live in Fission- Fusion Communities � Males will patrol the territories perimeter � Sometimes murdering outsiders � 1970 s study in Tanzania - fission of group into two communities where larger group “exterminated” smaller group. Chimps to only other Primate to do this (Stanford, Significant Others 2001)

Why? �Diet of Chimps 3/4 ripe fruit �Travel miles to sustain themselves-increased intelligence for memory �Location=Rise of territories �Highly territorial: Food/Mates

Chimpanzee Territorial Defense �Some males can benefit from defending a territory �Protecting Resources, Mates, Children (connected to status) �Cost (injury) vs Benefit (building cooperation, possible within-group rival assessment, maybe word gets back) �Selection for cooperation �Alliance formation among males �What about the “free riders” & Can evolution explain all this?

Evolution of Behavior �Evolution by Natural Selection, process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in behavioral or physical traits �Can we explain group behavior with evolution? �Our Behaviors can effect our fitness �Adaptive advantages of behaviors can be linked to ecological conditions, known as Behavioral Adaptations �Behavioral ia a Strategie, and can be shaped by N. S. because they can increase reproductive fitness �We can look at food sources/diet and location to figure out primate territories and range strategies �Clumped fruit vs leaves �Predictions can be made about Social & Feeding Strategies, then compare to how we group ourselves

Group Selection �Can we explain group behavior with evolution? �First, do humans need to belong… �According to the American Psychological Association, YES �Socially alienated people are shown to have a multitude of behavioral, emotional, & physical problems �Group Selection: Group selection may also be defined as selection in which traits evolve according to the fitness (survival and reproductive success) of groups or, mathematically, as selection in which overall group fitness is higher or lower than the mean of the individual members’ fitness values. Typically the group under selection is a small cohesive social unit, and members’ interactions are of an altruistic nature (http: //www. britannica. com/science/group-selection). �What is Altruism?

Altruism: is when we act to promote someone else's welfare, even at a risk or cost to ourselves. ❖ Kin Selection ❖ Reciprocal Altruism

https: //www. ted. com/tal ks/jeremy_rifkin_on_the _empathic_civilization Empathy

What Does This All Mean? � E. O. Wilson claims we evolved to live in Groups � Under something called, � Multi Level Selectionbetween group competition led to the evolution of groups � The most successful group wins

Tribalism “People must have a tribe” (E. O. Wilson). � � “Modern groups are psychologically equivalent to the tribes of ancient history and prehistory. As such, these groups are directly descended from the bands of primitive prehumans. The instinct that binds them together is a biological product of group selection” (E. O. Wilson The Social Conquest of Earth). Tribe: a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader (According to Google). Today we are as tribal as ever, : clubs, politics, religious sects, & sports teams Sports Teams - Modern Tribalism at it’s best/worst

When do start to recognize our Tribes? Babies ❖ ❖ Studies have shown, before we are born Once born a baby can recognize the language spoken by their mother Word Boundaries Baby’s can recognize the rhythm in the language

Evolution of Tribes ❖ Hunter-gatherers 95% of our history had territories ❖ Environmental changes (i. e. droughts or favorable conditions) decrease populations or increased populations ❖ Survival by conquest or forced emigration ❖ Increase value of building alliances outside of your kin ❖ Agriculture changed food access, increased populations and tribal membership ❖ Still

Religion as a Unifier �Religion as product of Natural Selection? �Religion teaches individuals their cultural norms �How? Myths & Laws �Creation �Myths �Laws Myths, can teach groups how they are special also show our rolls within society via social charters pass on cultural norms �Common faith can bring people together & at the same time ostracize outsiders �Having a Unified group can give you a fitness advantage �Hunter-gatherers; successful �Agriculturalist; unify common faith in a tribe can make a them more large groups of people can use a common faith to �Does a more cohesive group have an advantage over a fractured group?

Group Questions Write on a piece of paper with everybody's name �What is self-transcendence? Give an example of self-transcendence? �Do you think that a religious experience is way for people to unit? Why? �What is Multi-Level Selection? �When do we start to recognize our people? How? �What is a Tribe? �What is Altruism?

Religion as a Divider

Religious Tensions Today �What is Cultural Relativism? �What is Ethnocentrism? �Read pg. 10 o Think back to Fore example

Stigmatization � Stigma is a mark of disgrace or dishonor (www. merriamwebster. com) � As humans we have the evolutionary need to be part of a group � Good for our psychological health � Why do we Stigmatize groups?

Reasons For Stigmatization Self-esteem or Social Identity: for individuals or groups, stigmatization can be used to put a group in an inferior position and another in a “psychologically superior position”(Kurzban & Leary, Evolution origins of Stigmatization) �Discrimination can build self-esteem �When your self-esteem is threatened it can lead to Stigmatization �Justification of social structure: people can be motivated to justify their systems; either social, political and/or economic �Stigma is used as a to explain group handicaps �

Religious Tensions Today �Yazidi People in Iraq & Islam in the United States – �What do you guys think causes religious persecution? �Give me some other examples of religious persecution. �What is Ethnocentrism? �What is Cultural Relativism? �Will the Yazidi religion continue if they all move from the Middle East?

Finally Lets Check out your Notes �Extra credit…. . .