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2667:2 [2016/02/21 13:59] – [Finding a topic of research] Ryan Schram (admin)2667:2 [2021/06/29 02:27] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 Mills 169 (A69) Mills 169 (A69)
  
-March 9, 2016+March 15, 2017
  
 Available at http://anthro.rschram.org/2667/2 Available at http://anthro.rschram.org/2667/2
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 Unit outline and assignment instructions. Unit outline and assignment instructions.
  
-Durkheim, Emile. 2008 [1912]. “The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life.” In A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion, edited by Michael Lambek, 34–47. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing. (Recommended.)+Durkheim, Emile. 2008 [1912]. “The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life.” In A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion, edited by Michael Lambek, 34–47. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing.
  
 ### Other media ###  ### Other media ### 
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 ## What did you bring? ## ## What did you bring? ##
  
-You should bring an example of a religious practice to tutorial today. We will be meeting in Fisher Library to learn about how to research them. Maybe some of you already have some ideas... Walk around and introduce yourself to people. Share what you have brought.+You should bring an example of a religious practice to your tutorial today. Maybe some of you already have some ideas... Walk around and introduce yourself to people. Share what you have brought.
  
 Now is a good time to mention my guide to research, *[[:the_quest:start|The Quest: Discovering new ideas through research]]*. Check it out. This week are a starting to seek a **topic** of research.  Now is a good time to mention my guide to research, *[[:the_quest:start|The Quest: Discovering new ideas through research]]*. Check it out. This week are a starting to seek a **topic** of research. 
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-## A new kind of essay ## 
- 
-The University wants undergraduate students (you) to do new and different kinds of work, especially fewer exams, and more projects, both on your own and in groups. What difference do you think this will make? What will it be like for you?  
  
  
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 Do you have any questions for me? Do you have any questions for me?
 +## Society, religion, social theory, social studies of religion ##
 +
 +This class focuses on the relationships between religion and society, and the role played by religious ideas, practices and institutions in societies.
 +
 +* The **social study of religion** is different than the history of religion, studying religious literature or texts, and theology. 
 +* The social study of religion seeks to examine the significance of religion - whatever it may be - for **human experience**. Why do people have or follow religions? What do these religions tell us about human societies? 
 +
 +Anthropology has its own special way of tackling this. 
 +
 +* Anthropology looks at human behavior and experiences in relation to **the social and cultural context**. Thus, it seeks to place religion in that kind of context too. Not only are there many, many kinds of religions, but the value of religion itself is different in every society, because every society is different.
 +* Anthropology looks broadly at the human condition in all its diversity because it wants to draw a general conclusion about **what it means to be human**. Religion has been particularly useful for this, because it seems to be everywhere, yet everywhere it is different--really, really different. 
 +* Anthropology seeks to look at the world from the **the native's point of view**. We look at people's lives from the outside in order to draw conclusions about what it is like from the inside. We observe the things people, do, say, and make in order to figure out how they think. Religion is a particularly hard problem for anthropology then. We can only see it on the outside, but many people will tell you that you'll never get their religious practices and never really know what it matters to them unless you are on the inside, unless you convert!
 +
 +Weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5 introduce to key theories - abstract, general explanations or models - anthropology uses to understand religions in all their cultural diversity, and all their complexity. 
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 +
 +
  
 ## The study of religion before anthropology ## ## The study of religion before anthropology ##
  
-* Describing and theorizing religion is first a branch of theology. This results in a 'normative' theory of religion. +* Describing and theorizing religion was first a branch of theology. This results in a 'normative' theory of religion. 
 * European Enlightenment philosophy attempts to prove whether or not there is a basis in 'reason' to believe in God, or to derive a 'natural religion,' i.e. the beliefs you could have based purely on reason.  * European Enlightenment philosophy attempts to prove whether or not there is a basis in 'reason' to believe in God, or to derive a 'natural religion,' i.e. the beliefs you could have based purely on reason. 
 * The development of science meant that the *is* could be separated from the *ought*. Studying religion became a topic people wanted to talk about objectively.  * The development of science meant that the *is* could be separated from the *ought*. Studying religion became a topic people wanted to talk about objectively. 
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 ## Durkheim on religion and society ## ## Durkheim on religion and society ##
  
-* Religion is essential to any societies. All societies must have a distinction between the 'sacred' and the 'profane'. This is the first social fact. +* Religion is essential to all societies. Every society must have a distinction between the 'sacred' and the 'profane'. This is the first social fact. 
 * Religion as we know it, and many other kinds of social institution, perform this "function" to maintain the distinction between sacred and profane for their societies. Religion is, in essence, an orientation to the sacred as society defines it. Religion is thus also socially functional. It connects people to the social whole. It fosters mechanical solidarity.  * Religion as we know it, and many other kinds of social institution, perform this "function" to maintain the distinction between sacred and profane for their societies. Religion is, in essence, an orientation to the sacred as society defines it. Religion is thus also socially functional. It connects people to the social whole. It fosters mechanical solidarity. 
 * Durkheim also spoke of "organic solidarity"--or connections to one's society based on specialized roles with the division of labor. All societies have both organic and mechanical solidarity. Religion functions to foster mechanical solidarity and economy functions to foster organic solidarity. We want to focus on mechanical solidarity.  * Durkheim also spoke of "organic solidarity"--or connections to one's society based on specialized roles with the division of labor. All societies have both organic and mechanical solidarity. Religion functions to foster mechanical solidarity and economy functions to foster organic solidarity. We want to focus on mechanical solidarity. 
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 Durkheim is best known for his statement that 'Religion is just society worshipping itself'. What does that mean?  Durkheim is best known for his statement that 'Religion is just society worshipping itself'. What does that mean? 
  
-## Durkheim, belief and practice ## 
- 
-Sacred things are symbols of society as a whole, something greater than the sum of its parts.  
- 
-Sacred rituals and sacred actions, especially group actions, create a heightened feeling. Durkheim calls this effervescence. This effervescence in ritual functions to create mechanical solidarity.  
  
-So it is the patterns of action, especially rituals, which are important to Durkheim. He doesn't dwell on things like faith and emotions. He is interested in the thoughts of the collective mind--social facts.  
  
 ## References ## ## References ##
2667/2.1456091956.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/02/21 13:59 by Ryan Schram (admin)