Religion, Magic, and Medicine

Supernatural Entities
o Forces of nature
o Animal or human spirits
o Superhuman or nonhuman entities
God, Angel, Devil
o Supernatural beings reflect the social structure of a society
(egalitarian, rank)
o Cosmology
World view, not just religion
o Monotheism, polytheism
o Syncretism
Blending of two things
Santeria- voodoo and Christianity (West Africa)
Purposes of Religion
o Functionalist Approach: to explain natural events and disasters,
reinforces the social order, relieves anxiety
o But why is religion around? Functionalist approach doesnt explain it
all
Magic, Witchcraft, and Sorcery
o Magic: when people believe that their actions can control
supernatural forces and compel them to act in a particular and
intended way
o Witchcraft and Sorcery: attempts to make supernatural forces or
spirits work harm against people (recall informal conflict resolution
and power)
o Wiccan, neopaganism
Religious and Magical Practitioners
o Shamans
General practitioner, spiritual and physical healing
Sorcerers or Witches
Mediums
Priests
Means of addressing the supernatural
o Prayers
o Sacrifice
o Magic
o Divination (scapulomancy)
o Vision quest
Rites of Intensification
o Ritual used to reinforce values/norms and enhance group solidarity
o Totemism: animals, plants, etc. as ancestors/ close to ancestors
Means of getting in touch with supernatural
o Trances, chants, pain, fasting, visions, drugs, alcohol, meditation
o Plants used by natives as well as modern medicines contain many of
the same properties
o Social hierarchies lead to differences in health among populations