34 Questions
What is the main challenge in defining the term 'religion' according to the text?
Avoiding definitions that are too narrow or too vague.
Why is it important for anthropology, as a social science, to define its terms?
To adhere to the methodology of science.
What is the risk of using a definition of 'religion' that is too narrow?
Excluding important topics like magic and witchcraft.
How does an overly inclusive and vague definition of 'religion' impact its meaning?
It loses much of its meaning and usefulness.
What is an 'operant definition' according to the text?
A definition where terms are observable and measurable.
Why do anthropologists need to define their terms in a way that is observable and measurable?
To study the phenomena scientifically.
What is the role of sacred mountains in various cultures according to the text?
They hold symbolic importance and are considered real by the people.
What is the significance of Mount Olympus in the context of ancient Greece?
It was believed to be the dwelling place of the gods.
Which culture area is known for hunting caribou and fishing, with settlements in small family groups?
Arctic
Name a culture area characterized by acorn collecting, fishing, and hunting of small game, with band organization.
California
Which culture area features large rectangular plank dwellings with gabled roofs, salmon and deep-sea fishing, and lack of pottery?
Northwest Coast
In which culture area can you find hunting of sea mammals and caribou, shelters made of snow blocks, and dog-drawn sledges?
Arctic
Which culture area is associated with acorn collecting, semisubterranean lodges, and a multiplicity of small contrasting tribes?
California
Name a culture area known for its elaborate basketry, acorn collecting, and fishing.
California
Which culture area features highly nomadic bands with chiefs, conical skin tents, and bark or skin canoes?
Northern Subarctic
Name a culture area characterized by small brush windbreaks, band organization, and hunting of small game.
California
What anthropological study focused on the California tribes and their way of life?
The anthropological study of religion
How do members of the California tribes differ from non-Native American peoples?
Members of the California tribes no longer gather and process acorns, making their way of life similar to non-Native American peoples.
What concept did Robert R. Marett develop?
animatism
What is the term used to refer to the belief in an impersonal supernatural power in the religions of Polynesia and Melanesia?
mana
Who wrote extensively about magic and considered it a separate category from religion?
James Frazer
What type of approach did James Frazer belong to?
evolutionary school
What criticism is mentioned regarding the ideas of Tylor in the evolutionary school of thought?
ethnocentric
Why is it mentioned that the idea of cultural progression, with Western societies being more 'evolved,' is no longer used in anthropology?
highly speculative and ethnocentric
What general question has remained a concern in anthropology despite the abandonment of the idea of cultural progression?
origins of religion
Which scholars relied on reports of explorers, missionaries, and colonial administrators in their research?
Robert R. Marett and James Frazer
What is an example of a patient who was blind due to brain damage but could still navigate a hallway full of objects?
Patient with strokes that destroyed visual cortex
Does the brain create realities that are indistinguishable from "reality"?
Yes
What part of the brain shows increased activity during deep meditation?
Frontal lobe
Which brain region sees a decrease in activity during deep meditation?
Parietal lobe
What kind of experiences fall under the range of religious experiences mentioned in the text?
Feeling good, hallucinations, revelations
Give an example of a brain-created reality mentioned in the text.
Seeing a ghost
What remained healthy in the patient mentioned despite being blind due to brain damage?
Eyes and optic nerves
What does the increase in activity in the frontal lobe during meditation indicate?
Increased concentration
Study Notes
- Robert R. Marett introduced the concept of animatism, a primitive supernatural force derived from human emotional reactions to nature.
- The belief in an impersonal supernatural power called mana is prevalent in Polynesian and Melanesian religions.
- James Frazer, another scholar, discussed the evolution of cultures from magic to religion to science, emphasizing a natural progression.
- The evolutionary approach in anthropology, despite criticism for being ethnocentric, has raised questions about the origins of religion.
- Cultural progression theories, like Western societies being more "evolved," are no longer accepted in anthropology, but the origins of religion remain a topic of interest.
- A case study involving a blind patient with a damaged visual cortex but intact eyes and optic nerves raises questions about how the brain processes information unconsciously.
- The text explores whether the brain creates realities that are indistinguishable from actual reality, citing examples like religious experiences and brain activity during meditation.
- The study of religion in anthropology faces challenges in defining the term, with narrow definitions being ethnocentric and exclusive, while broad definitions lose meaning and utility.
- An operant definition is proposed, emphasizing the need for observable and measurable terms in the study of religion.
Test your knowledge on the culture areas of the world by identifying societies and their distinctive features based on the text provided in Table 1.1.
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