Anthropology of Religion

Catalog description

Traditional and modern religions and historical and contemporary religious movements from an anthropological perspective. ANTH 453 Anthropology of Religion (3)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. This course will examine the origin, evolution and social function of religion from a cultural materialist perspective. It will begin with a general discussion of an anthropological approach to the study of religion, using numerous examples from different cultures for purposes of illustration. Following a discussion of several topics relevant to the anthropological study of religion --including magic, rituals, witchcraft and mythology-- the course will focus on the relationship between politics and religion: first discussing the role of religion as a mechanism of social and political control, and then examining the role of religion as a vehicle of sociopolitical change in the form of what anthropologists call revitalization movements. This course links to courses on the sociology, history, and philosophy of religion, to courses on intellectual history, and history of social sciences. Course evaluation will be based on 3 take-home essay examinations. Students will give the instructor 3 questions at indicated times; the instructor will return one question; the student will write an essay on the indicated question. Attendance is mandatory. This course will fulfill a 3 credit 400 level requirement for the Anthropology major and minor.