Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft 3 Units (AA/AS; Citrus D2; CSU; UC; Cal-GETC 4) 54 lecture hours

Catalog description

This introductory course examines the forms and functions of religion cross-culturally and the manner in which anthropology investigates religious beliefs and practices. Applying cultural relativism to the study of topics such as mythology, supernatural beings, souls and ghosts, magic, witchcraft, and altered states of consciousness is emphasized. Connections between religious life and general patterns of human behavior are explored, including the role of ritual in social life, the use of specialists, and processes of cultural change.