Magic, Witchcraft & Religion

Catalog description

This course is a cross-cultural study of the forms and functions of supernatural beliefs and rituals in contemporary and historical societies. Various methods, theories, and models from anthropology and related social sciences are applied to the cross-cultural study of belief systems. An anthropological perspective, emphasizing holism and cultural relativism, is taken to demonstrate how belief in supernatural forces reflects other cultural patterns of behavior and thinking, such as subsistence practices, social organization, and cultural change. Students will gain a comparative understanding of diverse belief systems and their cultural significance.