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REL 2300 Test 1

Terms in this set (90)

Animism
The belief that everything as well as everyone in this world has an individual soul or spirit.
Archaic Religions
These are the religions of antiquity and also pre-history. polytheistic or henotheistic. Their focus is on everyday life, not on an afterlife.
They are tribal, national, city-state, etc. No concept of evil, but rather believe that bad things happen to bad people. That 'evil' is the punishment of the gods on those who disrespect them, etc.
Basic, Indigenous, Oral Religions
These religions are practiced by contemporary peoples, usually they are restricted to a specific land, country, ethnic group, tribe, village etc. These religions usually have an oral rather than a written tradition. Characteristics of these religions are animism, shamanism, and polytheism. For these religions, evil is understood as not living in harmony with nature and/or the spirits/gods. For these religions all of life is sacred, and every thing they do is sacred.
Burial Neanderthals
Living between 150,000 to 35,000 B.C.E. in present day Europe, Ching and Iraq. They burial practices that including burying their dead with their tools and/or weapons which were made out of stone, bone or wood, along with food. They had also had the practice of burying their dead with the skull of a bear. around the grave they would arrange flowers or stones. The body was placed on its side in a flexed position. All of this burial activity is signs of ritual activity. Rituals are associated with myths, two components of most religions. Thus their burial practices have been seen as evidence of a rudimentary religion. What they actually believed no one knows because they were nonliterate, although it would appear that they believed the deceased journey to an afterlife or place that is similar to hear and now. thus the need of tools and weapons. Food would be necessary for the journey. On the other hand, it could be that they buried dead with the tools and weapons that deceased made because part of their spirits were in them, thus they would be dangerous for anyone else to use them.
Burial practices - Cro-Magnons (30,000 B.C.E.)
Their burial practices were similar to that of the Neanderthals. They also buried their dead with shell ornaments. and painted the bodies with a red ochre, which has been interpreted as a symbolic/religious/magical form of a blood transfusion. this is a practice that continues today with indigenous cultures such as Australian Aborigines, who perform this act to ensure that the deceased will have blood in the next life, since blood is the source of life. Many of the Cro-Magnons also buried their dead in a fetal position by means of binding the corpse. some have interpreted this as a re-enactment of being born again in the afterlife but the common assumption by anthropologists and archeologists is that one should focus on the binding of the body. The Cro-Magnons, like early Homo Sapiens, probably didn't have a concept of death and thus they might have had the belief that the dead are dangerous and need to be tied or bound in their graves so they won't get out.
Burial practices - Early-Homo Sapiens (30,000 B.C.E.)
Their burial practices include those of the Neanderthals and the Cro- Magnons. In addition, anthropologists have found piles of human skulls, minus the jaw bones, perhaps indicating war trophies, but then it could signify a form of a human sacrifice. Also at some grave sites there was found human skulls that had been carved into cups. could it be that these humans believed that drinking from the cup might enable them to gain the virtues or bravery of the deceased? what is also associated with Early Homo Sapiens are cave paintings. the paints are often found in the most inaccessible parts of the cave, indicating perhaps a holy section of the cave where only the shaman or medicine man goes? the paintings often show hunting scenes. The animals are lifelike but the figures of the hunters are not well done and it appears that at different times the numbers of the hunters were increased and at other times deceased. Evidence of a ritual to ensure a good hunt?
Deism
A movement within the Enlightenment. Deists believed that the world was created by a single god, but not the god of any religion. This god was and is unknown to humanity. For some deists the Creator created the world and all of its laws, and that is it. others believed that the Creator left us with a narrow, ethical code, or a common philosophy. Or, the Creator gave us reason and logic and that it all that we need. Deism came up with the concepts of Natural Religion and Revealed Religion.
Devotional approach
This is a common manner in which people study their own religion. It is "faith seeking understanding." the goal is to increase one's knowledge and commitment in his or her own religion. Both the instructor and students of this approach are members of the same religion, thus they tacitly accept the beliefs of the religion that they are studying for it is their own religion.
Empathetic
"We are not concerned whether a religion is true but how that religion is interesting and important." This is the view of academic scholars of religion.
Enlightenment
A 17th and 18th century movement in Europe and in the British Colonies. the leaders of this movement believed that humanity could make this world a better place through knowledge, science and technology, not through supernatural beliefs or religion.
Exclusivist
"My religion is not only true, but it is the truth." Christianity, and with exceptions Judaism, Hinduism and Islam.
Fundamental Assumptions of Religion Scholars
Human beings create religions. Concepts of divinity or what is absolute are human concepts. all religions are the products of a specific society or culture, but some transcend their original society or culture. All religions are social. All religions are historical. All religions eventually reject the teachings or some of the teachings of their founders. There is no absolute truth, for its based on time, place and circumstance.
Henotheism
no absolute truth, for its based on time, place and circumstance.
Henotheism
The belief that the world is filled with gods, but a religion that is henotheistic focuses on only one god.
Inclusivist
"My religion is true for me, your religion is true for you." Religions in antiquity, indigenous religions and Jainism.
Kerygmatic approach
The term kerygmatic is based on the Greek term 'kerygma' which means to preach or proclaim. The goal of this approach is to persuade others that a certain religion has the absolute truth, that it is correct and all others is wrong. They kerygmatic approach the means of updating one's own religion, i.e., to make it relevant for the present generation. this approach is found in sermons and therefore is associated with ministers, rabbis, imams, pastors and priests, etc.
Monism
The belief that there is only one soul or spirit and that everything and everyone shares or is a part of that soul or spirit. Thus, Monism is the complete opposite of Animism.
Monotheism
The belief in the existence of only one god.
Natural Religion
This is a deist designation for humanity's assumption or feeling that there exists a god who did create the world.
Phenomenonistic Approach
Used by academic scholars. The goal is to define, understand and appreciate the varieties of religion. to be aware and accept their diversity. The goal is to understand a religion or religions as best as one can from the view point of those who are members of it/them.
Pluralist
"Every religion has something true to tell us." Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shintoism.
Polytheism
The belief that the world is filled with gods and spirits.
Religion
This is a western, nonuniversal term that scholars use to identify certain practices or a component in society. The term is based on the Latin, 'religion' which means "to join again" or "reconnect." The Romans used the term in reference to the worship of their gods and the feeling of awe, of being in their presence. Most languages do not have this term at all, and many societies would view everything in their cultures as sacred or religious. They don't make a distinction between religion and secular or sacred and profane.
Religions originated in China and Japan
Daoism; Confucianism; Shintoism. Shintoism is polytheistic while Daoism and Confucianism are nontheistic. For Daoism and Shintoism there is a focus on living in balance and harmony with nature. For Shintoism and Confucianism there is a focus on revering one's ancestors, the living as well as the dead. There is also a focus on society. These religions are tolerant of the beliefs of others; have a tendency of assimilating and adopting practices of other religions. These religions don't believe in divine revelation and actually rejected the notion. When it comes to evil, they are like other indigenous religions, in that evil comes by not living in harmony with nature, the gods, or from not honoring one's ancestors.
Religions originating in India
Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism. Among their beliefs and practices are monism, the belief in a universal soul, rather than a god or gods, and that all of life shares in that soul. This is what is found in one form of Hinduism. They can also be polytheistic, as is found in some forms of Hinduism and the belief in the existence of gods is a characteristic of Jainism and Buddhism. However, Jainism and Buddhism are identified as being nontheistic, i.e., while they believe in the gods they do not worship them or pray to them, for they are of little or non help. These religions believe in reincarnation or transmigration, i.e., when one dies one will eventually live again, with a new body. Their goal is to released from this process of rebirth. These religions have no concept of evil, but rather the concept of suffering which is associated with ignorance. They have no concept of divine revelation, with the possibly exception of Hinduism. Rather their beliefs came from persons who had achieved enlightenment. They are tolerant when it comes to the beliefs of others. They have a tendency of assimilating and adopting beliefs and practices of other religions.
Religions originating in the Middle East
Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam. These religions believe in a supreme creator god, thus they are categorized as being monotheistic, the belief in the existence of only one god. Thus they are not intolerant of other religions and the beliefs of other peoples, to one degree or another. They rejected the concept of reincarnation and unlike the previous types of religions, they view time, not in cycles, but linearly. Traditionally they believe that there will be pivotal point in the history of the world in which there will be a new heaven or a new earth, or a new earth, or new management on earth, or no earth at all, as in the case of Islam. These religions are exclusive, you can be a member of only one, whereas one can be a Buddhist, Daoist and Confucianist at the same time or a Buddhist and a Shintoist simultaneously.
Religious approach
This approach is similar to that of the devotional approach, however here the object of study might include examining the religions of other peoples. The goal, however, is not to gain knowledge of other people's beliefs and practices, but to contrast them to the 'true' religion of the instructor and students. This approach is used by some seminaries in the training of missionaries.
Revealed Religion
This is a deist designation for organized religion. Revealed religion or religions are the creations of human beings, not the creation of the Creator. It was the deists who observed that human beings are homo religioso, that the history of humanity is the history of the creation of religions.
Syncretism
The practice of identifying your god or gods with those of another culture or religion. These may also include assimilating and adopting practices, rituals of another religion.
Indigenous Religion
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Divination
The ritual by which a priest, shaman or prophet discovers the will of the god or gods on a specific matter. Divination can be inspection of the liver of a dove to see where it is spotted (the gods are against the action) or not (A liver without spots indicates the god's or gods' favor.)
Fetish
Any object that contains supernatural power(s). A fetish could be a wooden stick, a sacred stone, or collection of special stones or bones, or a special weapon. Musical instruments can be so classified. An example would be the Nehushtan of the Israelites. The Nehushtan was a gilded copper snake fixed at the top of a wooden pole. Anyone suffering from a snake bite would touch the pole and the god of Israel would cure them of the bite. For contemporary parallels: four-leaf clover; good luck charm, etc.
Indigenous Religion
A religion that still maintains its ethnic or national identity. Most indigenous religions preserve oral traditions rather than written ones, but not all. Major characteristics of indigenous religions is that they view all of life and the world as sacred. They view time in cycles and hold that certain places and times are sacred. For those indigenous religions that are 'oral,' the spoken word is especially viewed as sacred. They are polytheistic or henotheistic religions. When it comes to the origin of the world, they attribute it to the work of the gods, or a high god, or they hold that the world was never created. The goal of these religions is to live in harmony and balance with nature and the spirits/gods.
Libation
The ritual by which one offers milk, honey, wine, water or ghee to a god or the gods, normally by pouring on the ground as an offering.
Magic
The most common definition is that magic is the means by which one is enable to manipulate the forces of nature or the gods/spirits to do one's bidding. If the ritual is done correctly, for example, then the god or gods must accede to the request that was made by the ritual. This view of magic is contrasted with the understanding of religion is that means by which one makes requests from the gods or spirits, who can refuse.
Shaman
Originally a Siberian term, now used by anthropologists and other scholars to classify religious leaders who have the ability to enter the world of the gods or the spirit world. They act as mediators between their people and the gods. They are known for herbal remedies as well as being faith healers. The practice of divination is associated with them as well. Under this category scholars have placed Native American medicine men, the Israelite prophets, Moses, Muhammad and the oracle of Delphi, the Pythias.
Sympathetic magic
This term normally refers to practices by which the ritual imitates the action that the spirit or god is supposed to perform. A perfect example of this is the Canaanite practice of worshiping their god Baal by having sex in Baal's temple. The goal is to influence to Baal to have sex with one of his wives, the byproduct of this act being rain.
Taboo
A Polynesian term (tabu or tapu), which refers simply to supernatural power. Such powers can be found in objects, persons, places and even special behavior. Associated with that identification is often a prohibition. Thus the Israelite Ark of the Covenant was powerful, and it was prohibited (taboo) for anyone other than a priest to touch it.
Totem
Originally a Native American term, it refers to an animal, insect, or even tree that is associated with a clan or tribe. The members closely identify with the totem animal. Thus, for example the American Bald Eagle can be classified as the 'totem' of the United States. Many totems were food animals that were originally the only food for that particular tribe. Because the tribe survived of that animal, it became sacred. Along with that change of status was the prohibition against eating the totem animal except on special occasions.
Arachic Religions
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Annanki
The seven judges of the dead. For these seven judges, they do not judge a person as to whether they have been moral or immoral, good or bad, but whether the funeral ritual was performed correctly and also the memorial rites.
Apsu
The Mesopotamian creature that represented fresh water. Apsu was slain by Ea (Enki) who became the god of fresh water. He was the original consort of Tiamat.
Archaic Religions
Those religions that originated during the Bronze age, approximately 3,000 to 1,2000 B.C.E.
Characteristics of Archaic Religions
Nonuniversal, plurality of sacred powers or gods; little distinction between sacred and profane; indifference to other peoples' beliefs; no concerns about ethics or morality. The focus of these religions, with the exceptions of the Egyptians, was on this life, not on an afterlife.
Dilmun
This is the Mesopotamian concept of a 'garden of Eden,' in which was a plant that the gods ate so that they would be immortal.
Dumuzi
Mesopotamian god of fertility, who gave life to vegetation and children to women. The consort of Inanna/Ishtar. He took her place in the underworld.
Ea
The Sumerian water god. He is also known as Enki. According to Matthew, he is identified as Enlil, which is incorrect.
Enki
Also known as Ea, he was the god of fresh water. According to one myth, the goddess Ninti was born from his side/ribs.
Enki and Inanna
According to one myth, this god and goddess created humanity by making clay figures mixed with their saliva and the blood of a slain god, We. Thus, humanity was understood originally as clay figures animated by the blood of a god. Significance: we are our bodies, i.e., humans do not have souls.
Enkidu
A 'wild man' created to fight Gilgamesh, however, he became Gilgamesh's closest friend. Enkidu died because he ridiculed the goddess Inanna/Ishtar. According to one version he was killed by Enlil.
Enuma Elish
1700 B.C.E. This is the story of how Marduk became the patron god of Babylon by slaying Tiamat. It was read out loud at every New Year's festival.
Ereshkigal
The sister of Inanna/Ishtar, the ruler of the Mesopotamian underworld. Ereshkigal imprisoned her sister, actually killed her, when Inanna entered the underworld.
Etemmu
"Ghost" or "Spirit;" this is what enters Kigal, the underworld of the dead. The Mesopotamians did not have a concept of a soul, but that of a ghost. It was their practice of offer food and drink not only at burial but annually so that the Etemmu would survive in the underworld, otherwise it would eventually suffer a 'second death.' Starving etemmus were known to wreck havoc and disease on their survivors.
Gilgamesh
The first great epic hero in world literature. Following the death of his friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, sought to gain immortality and failed.
Inanna
The Mesopotamian goddess who was the wife of Dumuzi (Tammuz). She descended into the underworld.
Ishtar
The Babylonian mother goddess, who descended into the underworld. She is also known as Inanna.
Kigal
Also known as Irkallu, this is the underworld of the dead for the Mesopotamians. It is dark, dirty and dusty. The inhabitants are described as having wings and can only chirp like birds. Everyone enters Kigal. It matters not whether a person was good or evil, everyone suffers the same fate in Kigal. Kigal itself is depicted as an underworld city surrounded by seven walls. At the gate of each wall, the deceased upon entering gives up an article of clothing so that when they enter the city, they will be naked, thus giving no indication of wealth or rank.
Marduk
The chief god of Babylon who slew Tiamat and Kingu, the outcome of which was the creation of dry earth and the firmament. He is sometimes identified as the Babylonian god of creation.
Nergal
The consort of Ereshkigal and therefore king of the underworld. Originally a son god who was trapped in the understood by Ereshkigal.
Tammuz
The Babylonian version of Dumuzi, the god of spring time. He was a god of fertility.
Tiamat
The Mesopotamian creature that represented salt water. Marduk, Ea's son, slew Tiamat and her second consort Kingu to become the chief god of the Babylonians. From her body came dry land and the firmament.
Utnapishtim
A priest of Ea/Enki who was informed of a great flood. Utnapishtim following Ea's instructions built a boat so that he and his family could survive the flood. The story of Utnapishtim is found in the Epic of Gilgamesh which predates the story of Noah by approximately 2,000- 3,000 years. According to that story he informed Gilgamesh where he could find the plant of immortality.
Ziggurats
Step-pyramid-like structures used in worship. They were build on mounds, whether natural or artificial, and are best understood as stairways to the heavens. They were the focal point of a city's temple complex, for they were understood as the point closest to heaven. They were topped by a house that represented the court of the deity. The ziggurats were also the home of the city-king who was also the chief priest.
Yoruba
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'orun rere'
"Good heaven" This statement is made when it is determined that the recently deceased Yoruba has lived a good life, and will be honored as a deceased ancestor.
Aiye
The Yoruba term for the earth, the home of animals, humans and warlocks/witches (omoraiye) Originally it was only marshland.
Ara
The Yoruba term for one's physical body.
Ase
This is the source of power for the gods and originates from Olorun.
Aworo
The Yoruba term for 'priest.'
Babalawo
"Father of sacred things." This is the shaman-like figure who does the ritual of divination, "Ifa." They will provide medicines and charms.
Candomble
Brazilian combination of Portugese Catholicism and the Yoruban.
Elegun
They are people who have become possessed by spirits. They are not shamans for anyone can become an elegun and does not require any instruction or apprenticeship. Their function is that of spontaneous mediators between the people and the gods.
Emi
This is the Yoruban term for breath/spirit, that which animates us. Olorun breathed his emi into us, thus animating us.
Esu
This god was the teacher of Orunmila. Esu can be understood as a mediator between the orisha and humanity and he observers our actions, especially the sacrifices and rituals for the orisa. He can be described as a trickster in that he will try to deceive humanity as a means of testing one's faith. There is no specific acts of worship or places of worship for him because he is present at all the rituals and sacrifices for the other orisha.
Ifa
This is the ritual of divination that uses 16 kola nuts, divining powder and a divining board. This ritual is conducted throughout one's life.
Ile-Ife
This is the major city of the Yoruba and can be traced back to the 9th century B.C.E. According to Yoruba tradition, this is where the act of creation took place.
Oba
This is the 'chief' of a Yoruba town or urban center. by tradition and Obas trace their origins back to Ife. The Obas are the priests of their towns and villages.
Odudduwa
This is the major god of the city of Ile-Ife. According to Ife, it was Odudduwa who finished the job of creation, not his brother (or his wife - depending on which version of the myth) because Orisa-nla had become drunk on palm wine.
Ogun
Ogun started out as a human king, the first king of Ife. And, like Sango, he lost control of himself. In this case a good number of his subjects did not show him the proper respect as a king. For this insult, Sango began to kill his subjects. When he finally got control of himself, he killed himself. His body mysterious disappeared into the earth and he was transformed into the orisha of iron and by extension tool making. Thus for the Yoruba, the origins of tools and tool making is from the gods themselves. The axe is the one tool that is especially associated with Ogun, who used it to carve a road. And since it is by tools that the Yoruba were able to carve out their own 'world,' so to speak, Ogun is associated with both heaven and earth. But tools also include weapons and so Ogun is also considered the orisha/god of war which is associated with humanity, again showing a split origin of tool-making between heaven (the orishas) and earth (humanity). Ogun is also the god of law, justice and truth. Ogun presides over the making of contracts and for traditional Yorubans who have to testify in court, they swear to tell the truth by kissing a piece of iron. Ogun's colors are green and black, and is associated with the forges of blacksmiths and is found wherever iron is being used such as forests and railroads, but also automobiles, in which you can find a small statue of Ogun to safeguard against accidents.
Oloogun
This is your traditional 'medicine man' who has the power of healing, which comes from the Orisha. The Oloogun works in tandem with the Babalawo.
Olori ebi
This is the Yoruba head of the family, a male. He is the aworo of his family and looks over the family rituals, etc.
Olorun
Also known an Olodumare, he is the high god of the Yoruba, responsible for the making of earth, but not human beings. Although some Yorubans pray to him, he has no temples, shrines, rituals, or any form of worship. Once, the world was created as well as the other gods or orisha, his 'job' was done.
Ori
The term literally means 'head.' This is our mind and intellect. Before birth, each one of us chose our own identity which also includes are destiny or fate. The problem is that at the moment of birth we forget our identity and therefore also our destiny. It is the babalawo who has ability to recover this knowledge and also help us protect our destiny and at times shape it.
Orisa/Orisha
These are the spirits or gods of the Yoruba. They are understood as extensions of Olorun or simply his creations. They derive their power from him.
Orisa-nla
He is identified as the creator of all things and is the source of purity, wisdom and compassion. Orisa-nla was responsible for the creation of our physical bodies and it is to him that women pray for fertility. Orisa-nla is also known for revenging wrong doers and during illness, however, he does make mistakes and that can lead to birth deformities. Because of his problem with palm wine, his worshipers are prohibited from drinking palm wine. Contact with dogs is also forbidden.
Orun
The heavens. This is the home of Olorun, the Orishas, departed ancestors and others.
Orunmila
Orunmila, the oldest son of Orisa-nla, is the god of divination and therefore the primary god of the babalawo. It was Orunmila who provided his father with the knowledge of creation. Orunmila's teacher is Esu. Esu can be understood as a mediator between the orisha and humanity and he observers our actions, especially the sacrifices and rituals for the orisa. He can be described as a trickster in that he will try to deceive humanity as a means of testing one's faith. There is no specific acts of worship or places of worship for him because he is present at all the rituals and sacrifices for the other orisha.
Sango
Sango quite probably started off as a human being, then a deified ancestor and then an orisha for he was the a rule of the city-state Oyo. His greed to power led him to kill his own family and which led to suicide by hanging. While alive he had an fetish by which he could cause lightning, and now he has become the god of lightning and thunder, along with fire, drums and dancing. His colors are red white, symbols of his virility. He is not a benevolent god for he is still hot-blooded and quick tempered. Still, his adherents appeal to him for help in legal problems and protection from any hostilities. He is associated with any place that has been struck by lightning.
Santeria (Lukumi)
Cuban combination of Spanish Catholicism and the Yoruban religion.
Voudun (Voodoo)
Haitian combination of French Catholicism and Yoruban religion.
Yoruba
People who are tied ethnically and linguistically to SW Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Ghana and Togo, but they are found throughout the world. There is somewhere between 12 to 15 million Yorubans, perhaps as high as 20 million. They are sometimes referred to as the "People from the East," which could indicate that their origins are to be found in the ancient Middle East, or perhaps just the forest and dry regions beyond the Niger River.
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