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Anthropology

Terms in this set (59)

animism
A belief in dual existence for all things-- a physical, visible body and a psychic, invisible soul.
mana
A supernatural impersonal force that inhabits certain objects or people and is believed to confer success and/or strength.
magic
the performance of certain rituals that are believed to compel the supernatural powers to act in particular ways.
imitative magic
Magic based on the premise that performing a procedure that imitates the desired result will produce the desired result
animatism
A belief in supernatural forces.
taboo
A prohibition that. if violated, is believed to bring supernatural punishment.
supernatural
Believed to be not human or not subject to the laws of nature.
contagious magic
magic based on the principle that things or persons once in contact can influence each other after the contact is broken
rites of passage
Ceremonies or rituals that mark an individual's transition from one status to another, such as the entry into adulthood; no clear distinction in the US which brings confusion to kids; quinceaneras
Ghost Dance Religion
wovoka a shaman of the northern paiute in Nevada had visions that God told him that the land would be theirs and settlers would go away. if they did a sacred dance and were not to go to war, lie, or steal. It spread across the plains as people saw visions of buffalo returning and whites leaving.
monotheism
believing that there is only one high god and that all other supernatural beings are subordinate to, or are alternative manifestations of, this supreme being.
rites of solidarity
enhance group identity (lineages/clans/age sets/fraternities/etc.)-cooperate for future action
revitalization movement
attempt usually in reaction to outside caused stress, to make drastic changes, usually with religious base in one's culture.
totemism
From the Ojibwa ototeman; it involves the recognition of a relationship between a certain type of animal (the totem) and a group of people. The totem becomes sacred to the group and may not be killed by its members except under certain ritual conditions.
polytheism
Recognizing many gods, none of whom is believed t be superordinate.
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