Points to emphasize CHAPTER 2: TRIBAL RELIGIONS KEY POINTS Most of our understanding of the religion of earliest humans is based upon inferences from archaeology. There are several common themes found in most tribal religions: shamanism, creation myths, rites of passage, totems, animism, taboos, tricksters). Each tribal religion has unique features due to the geographical and historical experiences of that people. Tribal religions develop over time and respond to historical events, developing innovative and syncretistic phenomena (e.g., Cargo Cults, Ghost Dance, Santeria) CHAPTER #2: KEY TERMS Africa: emphasis on ghosts, exorcism, animism, sorcery, divination, rites of passage (e.g., male initiation) Ainu: inhabitants of northern islands of Japan; emphasis on animism, shamanism, festival of sacrificing a bear animism: "all objects have a spirit"; this view is common in many tribal religions anthropomorphic: a deity having human form (e.g., some Greek Olympian deities) apocalypse: world-ending battle; doctrine found in Teutons, Christians, Pharisees, Muslims, Zoroastrians cargo cults: 20 th century Melanesian movement; hope for ancestral gifts coming by plane and ship; influenced by contact with Europeans Celts: original inhabitants of British isles, emphasis on priests (Druids), megaliths (Stonehenge), tricksters circumcision: male initiation rite: removal of foreskin (e.g., Judaism, Islam, Africa, Aborigines) clairvoyance: perceiving objects despite great distance or obstacles cosmogony: story of the creation of the world (e.g., Mesopotamian myth) deus otiosus: a "high" creator god, who has retired; not now active in the world's affairs (e.g., Aborigines, African) divination: attempting to foretell the future through various rituals (e.g., Africa, Mesopotamia, China, Greece) 33
Druids: members of the Celtic priestly caste eschatology: discourse on last things: judgment, afterlife (Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism) Eskimo: a.k.a. Inuit; Arctic peoples, emphasis on shamanism ESP: extra-sensory perception: perceiving in ways not dependent upon the senses: telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition exorcism: using rituals to drive out evil spirits; performed by shamans, priests, sorcerers, witch doctors extra-sensory perception (ESP): perceiving in ways not dependent upon the senses: telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition fetish: a charm or amulet seen as having magical power against evil spirits ghost dance: apocalyptic 19 th century American Indian religion: "rituals will bring forth the ancestors, better world" Hainuwele: Melanesian myth of primordial murder which was the origin of tuberous plant agriculture high god: a father, creator god has withdrawn from active intervention in the world; a feature of many tribal religions initiation rites: rituals of puberty, marriage, conversion, confirmation (e.g., Africans, Aborigines, Melanesians, North American Indians) Inuit: a.k.a. Eskimo; Arctic peoples, emphasis on shamanism Macumba: Brazilian popular religion with African roots magic: the use of ritual to manipulate spirits or natural phenomena for utilitarian or ulterior relevance medicine man: shamanic figure using folk medicine (e.g., North American Indians) megaliths: stone monument centers for rituals (e.g., Stonehenge for the Celts) Melanesia: western Pacific (e.g., New Guinea); emphasized puberty rites, dream time, ritual cannibalism, head hunting, Hainuwele myth; cargo cults came in the mid 20 th century North American Indians: emphasis on shamans, tricksters, male initiation rites; Ghost Dance & Peyotism in 19 th century oral: preservation of myth by retelling stories (before they were written down as scripture); oral (preliterate) societies are tribal, hunter-gatherers orishas: African deities appearing in a Roman Catholic pantheon in Santeria pagan: derogatory term for primitive religion 34
pantheon: a structured relationship between polytheistic deities (e.g., Greeks, Teutons, Mesopotamians, Aztecs) peyotism: American Indian movement emphasizing eating of a hallucinogenic cactus, spread after 19 th century on reservations phallic, phallus: symbols of male organ, fertility rites Polynesia: Pacific islands, emphasis on taboo; puberty rites polytheism: acceptance of several deities (e.g., Hindus, Teutons, Greeks, Egyptians, Aztecs, Mesopotamia) precognition: form of ESP which predicts the future primitive: religions of pre-civilized, tribal peoples (e.g., Aborigines); also known as pre-literate profane: not sacred; may be unclean psychic: a person who claims parapsychological abilities (e.g., channeling, psychokinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance) psychokinesis: influencing physical objects with mental powers alone puberty rite: rituals for coming of age, initiation into adulthood (e.g., Aborigines, Africans, American Indians) rites of passage: initiation, mourning, funeral rituals at times of life transitions (e.g., Van Gennep, Turner) sacred: that which is valued in the realm of ultimate relevance sacrifice: a ritual offering of something to deity human sacrifice practiced by some religions (e.g., Aztecs, Mayas) Santeria: a syncretistic religion of Catholic and African themes found in the Hispanic islands of the Caribbean shaman: medicine man figure prominent in religion of tribal cultures, performs variety of rituals such as exorcisms sorcery: magic, witchcraft, especially for evil purposes Stonehenge: English megalith used in pre-christian rituals taboo: something forbidden for ordinary use (e.g., Polynesians) telekinesis: influencing physical objects with mental powers, a.k.a. psychokinesis Teutons: northern European tribes, raiders; polytheistic pantheon, apocalyptic, megaliths 35
theophany: a manifestation of a god in human form; incarnation, avatar theriomorphic: deities in animal form (e.g., Egypt, Aztec, Maya) totem: animal symbols to represent ancestral or tribal relationships (e.g., Aborigines, North American Indians) tribal: religions of hunting-gathering peoples (e.g., Aborigines, Ainu, Melanesians, Celts, Teutons, North American Indians) trickster: clever deity, demon or human who teases or uses cunning to succeed (e.g., North America, Africa, Celts, Japan, Teutons) vision quest: puberty rite of American Indians; young man is sent into wilderness for communion with spirits voodoo: Haitian syncretism of African religion, Catholicism and sorcery Wicca: recent movement incorporating old Celtic pre-christian myths, rituals, and symbols witch: someone claiming the power of sorcery, may be related to pre-christian deities or Satanic worship witch doctor: sorcerer, especially in African religion 36
CHAPTER #2: GROUP ACTIVITY You must hand in one sheet from the entire group. Begin by writing the names of each group member on one of these sheets. Then read the information below and answer each question. You may talk within your group, but not get any help or materials from other groups: YOU MAY NOT TALK TO OTHER GROUPS OR PASS MATERIALS BETWEEN GROUPS. Shamans are the major feature of our religion. INUIT TRICKSTERS MEGALITHS CELTS TABOOS We live on an island and sacrifice a bear. AFRICANS AINU POLYNESIANS TEUTONS CELTS We developed cargo cults in the last hundred years. AFRICANS AINU MELANESIANS TEUTONS CELTS We have trickster myths and male initiations. INUIT ESKIMOS AFRICANS & INDIANS AINU We had rituals of head hunting, bungee jumping and cannibalism. INUIT ESKIMOS INDIANS MELANESIANS AINU We emphasize ghosts, divination, and rites of passage. INUIT ESKIMOS AFRICANS TEUTONS CELTS We have megaliths and trickster myths. INUIT ESKIMOS AINU TEUTONS & CELTS ABORIGINES We have taboos and tattoos. INUIT ESKIMOS AINU POLYNESIANS CELTS The Ghost Dance religion spread in the late 19th century. AINU INDIANS MELANESIANS TEUTONS CELTS We have the Hainuwele myth explaining the origin of agriculture. INUIT ESKIMOS AINU MELANESIANS CELTS 37
CHAPTER #2: GROUP ACTIVITY ANSWERS Shamans are the major feature of our religion. INUIT We live on an island and sacrifice a bear. AINU We developed cargo cults in the last hundred years. MELANESIANS We have trickster myths and male initiations. AFRICANS & INDIANS We had rituals of head hunting, bungee jumping and cannibalism. MELANESIANS We emphasize ghosts, divination, and rites of passage. AFRICANS We have megaliths and trickster myths. TEUTONS & CELTS We have taboos and tattoos. POLYNESIANS The Ghost Dance religion spread in the late 19th century. INDIANS We have the Hainuwele myth explaining the origin of agriculture. MELANESIANS 38
1. Megaliths were a. Polynesian tricksters b. Ainu shamans c. ritual centers in northern and western Europe d. Aboriginal peoples of Australia e. arctic peoples who emphasized shamanism CHAPTER #2 QUIZZES MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS 2. The large stone ritual centers of northern and western Europe were known as a. Ainus b. Aborigines c. Tricksters d. Megaliths e. Inuit 3. The Hainuwele myth explains a. African exegesis b. Ainu bear festival c. Melanesian agriculture d. Ghost Dance Religion e. Aboriginal rites of passage 4. The Melanesian myth explaining the origins of agriculture is the story about a. Hainuwele b. Ainu c. Inuit d. Trickster e. Megalith 5. The doctrine that spirits can be found in everything a. animistic b. theriomorphic c. teleological d. cosmological e. aboriginal 6. Magic attempts to a. unite with God b. express God's will c. manipulate forces d. make amends for sin e. submit to God 7. Shamans can be found in a. preliterate societies b. modern religions c. pantheistic religions d. monotheistic religions 39
8. Ceremony re-enacting myth a. animation b. ritual c. theriomorph d. megalith e. trickster 9. Animal clan symbols a. animation b. megaliths c. tricksters d. totemism e. taboo 10. Totemism is a. prominent among monotheistic religions b. the use of animals as clan symbols c. the use of stone or wood statues d. found only on island cultures e. found only in arctic cultures 11. Casting out demons a. rite of passage b. exorcism c. totemism d. puberty rite e. taboo 12. Ghost Dance & cargo cults a. developed before 10,000 B.C.E. b. arose in Africa c. arose in Central Asia d. arose in the Mediterranean e. arose after 1850 13. Melanesian religion in the 20 th century developed a. Cargo cults b. Ghost dance rituals c. Pantheism d. Megaliths e. Mysticism 14. African religion emphasized a. rites of passage b. exegetics c. canonization d. the papacy e. hermeneutics 40
15. Divination was emphasized in a. monotheism b. pantheism c. Africa d. Henotheism e. Atheism 16. On American Indian reservations in the later 19 th century there developed a. Cargo cults b. Ghost dance c. Canonization d. Hermeneutics e. Exegesis 17. The myths of tribal peoples tend to be a. canonized b. exegetical c. hermeneutical d. orally transmitted e. non-existent 18. Animism is best defined as a. rituals where people act like animals b. myths about animals c. deities in the form of animals d. spirits found in people, animals, objects, places e. ethics of respect for animals 19. Who was apocalyptic? a. Polynesians b. Aborigines c. Teutons d. Africans e. Ainu 20. The manipulation of spiritual forces a. animism b. apocalypticism c. magic d. totemism e. circumcision 41
CHAPTER #2: MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS: ANSWERS 1. Megaliths were C. ritual centers in northern and western Europe 2. The large stone ritual centers of northern and western Europe were known as D: megaliths 3. The Hainuwele myth explains C: Melanesian agriculture 4. The Melanesian myth explaining the origins of agriculture is the story about A: Hainuwele 5. The doctrine that spirits can be found in everything A. animistic 6. Magic attempts to C: manipulate forces 7. Shamans can be found in A. preliterate societies 8. Ceremony re-enacting myth B: ritual 9. Animal clan symbols D: totemism 10. Totemism is B: the use of animals as clan symbols 11. Casting out demons B: exorcism 12. Ghost Dance & cargo cults E: arose after 1850 13. Melanesian religion in the 20th century developed A: Cargo cults 14. African religion emphasized A: rites of passage 15. Divination was emphasized in C: Africa 16. On American Indian reservations in the later 19 th century there developed B: Ghost dance 42
17. The myths of tribal peoples tend to be D: Orally transmitted 18. Animism is best defined as D: Spirits found in people, animals, objects, places 19. Who was apocalyptic? C: Teutons 20. The manipulation of spiritual forces C: magic 43
CHAPTER #2: TRUE AND FALSE ITEMS 1. Megaliths were ritual centers. 2. Hainuwele myth explains Melanesian agriculture. 3. Animism accepts that spirits are in everything 4. Magic attempts to manipulate spiritual forces. 5. Shamans can be found in most pre-literate societies. 6. Totems are ritual centers. 7. Exorcism is casting out demons. 8. Ghost Dance & cargo cults started before Europeans arrived 9. African religion had exegetics. 10. Tricksters were deceptive, clever figures for Indians and Celts. 11. Megaliths was a Polynesian trickster. 12. Hermeneutics accepts that spirits are in everything 13. Tribal religions emphasize hermeneutics and canon. 14. Shamans can be found in only where there is a written language. 15. Totems are ritual centers. 44
1. Megaliths were ritual centers. ANSWER TRUE 2. Hainuwele myth explains Melanesian agriculture. ANSWER TRUE 3. Animism accepts that spirits are in everything ANSWER TRUE 4. Magic attempts to manipulate spiritual forces. ANSWER TRUE CHAPTER #2: TRUE AND FALSE ANSWERS 5. Shamans are absent from most pre-literate societies. ANSWER FALSE 6. Totems are ritual centers. ANSWER FALSE 7. Exorcism is casting out demons. ANSWER TRUE 8. Ghost Dance & cargo cults started before Europeans arrived ANSWER FALSE 9. African religion had exegetics. ANSWER FALSE 10. Tricksters were deceptive, clever figures for Indians and Celts. ANSWER TRUE 11. Megaliths was a Polynesian trickster. ANSWER FALSE 12. Hermeneutics accepts that spirits are in everything ANSWER FALSE 13. Tribal religions emphasize hermeneutics and canon. ANSWER FALSE 14. Shamans can be found in only where there is a written language. ANSWER FALSE 15. Megaliths were rituals centers of northern Europe. ANSWER TRUE 45
CHAPTER #2: CORRECT THE STATEMENT ITEMS Change a few words in the sentence to make it true. 1. Megaliths were tribal spiritual leaders. ANS: Megaliths were stone ritual centers in northern Europe OR: Shamans were tribal spiritual leaders 2. Hainuwele myth explains tribal organization. ANS: Hainuwele myth explains agriculture in Melanesia OR: Totems explain tribal organization OR: Myths explain tribal organization 3. Ghost dance developed in the Caribbean. ANS: Ghost dance developed on North American Indian reservations. OR: Voodun developed in the Caribbean. OR: Santeria developed in the Caribbean. 4. Atheism accepts that spirits are in everything. ANS: Atheism denies that god exists OR: Animism accepts that spirits are in everything 5. Mysticism attempts to manipulate spiritual forces. ANS: Mysticism attempts to achieve union with God OR: Magic attempts to manipulate spiritual forces 6. Shamans can be found in most post-industrial societies. ANS: Shamans can be found in most tribal societies OR: Shamans can be found in most pre-literate societies 7. Totems were large stone ritual centers. ANS: Totems were animal symbols of ancestors and clans OR: Megaliths were large stone ritual centers 8. Cargo cults developed before recorded history. ANS: Cargo cults developed in Melanesia. OR: Cargo cults developed in the 20 th century. OR: Shamanism developed before recorded history. 9. Exorcism is interpreting passages of scripture. ANS: Exorcism is casting out demons OR: Exorcism was performed by Shamans OR: Exegesis is interpreting passages of scripture OR: Hermeneutics is interpreting passages of scripture 10. Ghost Dance cults arose in the western Pacific. ANS: Ghost Dance cults arose on Indian Reservations in North America OR: Ghost Dance cults arose after 1850 OR: Cargo cults arose in the western Pacific OR: Melanesians, Ainu and Polynesians lived in the western Pacific 46
11. African religion lacked rites of passage. ANS: African religion had rites of passage OR: Modern religion often lacks rites of passage 12. Tricksters perform exorcisms. ANS: Tricksters are deceitful, clownlike figures in Celtic, African, Teutonic, and Japanese mythology. OR: Shamans perform exorcism 13. The Hainuwele myth was a major part of African religion. ANS: The Hainuwele myth was a major part of Melanesian religion. OR: Divination was a major part of African religion. OR: Rites of passage were a major part of African religion. 14. Native American religion emphasized megaliths. ANS: The Celts emphasized megaliths. OR: The Teutons emphasized megaliths. OR: Native American religion emphasized tricksters. OR: Native American religion emphasized rites of passage. 15. Polynesians had a bear sacrifice. ANS: Ainu had a bear sacrifice. OR: Polynesians had ritual tattoos and taboos. 47
CHAPTER #2: SHORT ANSWER ITEMS Instructions: answer each question with a COMPLETE sentence. 1. What is the term for the stone ritual centers of northern Europe? ANS: Megaliths are the stone ritual centers used by Celts and Teutons 2. What does the Hainuwele myth explain? ANS: The Hainuwele myth of homicide explains the origins of tuberous agriculture in Melanesia 3. What is the doctrine that spirits can be found in all objects? ANS: Animism is the doctrine that all people, animals and things have an individual spirit 4. How does magic differ from religion? ANS: Religion is a celebration of and commitment to the realm of ultimate relevance. Magic is an attempt to manipulate spiritual forces in the realm of ulterior relevance 5. Who is the primary religious officer in tribal societies? ANS: The Shaman is the main religious functionary in most tribal, pre-literate societies 6. What is a ceremony that re-enacts a myth? ANS: A ritual is a ceremony that re-enacts a myth 7. What are animal symbols for a clan? ANS: The totem is an animal symbol for a clan 8. What is the ritual for casting out demons? ANS: Exorcism is the ritual for casting out demons 9. Where and when did the Ghost Dance originate? ANS: the Ghost Dance originated among the reservation Indians of North America around 1890 10. What was a major feature of most African religion? ANS: African religion emphasized initiation rites, divination, exorcism and ghosts 11. What is one similarity between African religion and Native American religion? ANS: Both emphasized rites of passage. OR: Both had animism. OR: Both had a high god. OR: Both had exorcism. 12. What is one similarity between the religion of the Melanesians and the that of the Aborigines? ANS: Both spoke of a primordial past known as the dreamtime. OR: Both had shamanism. OR: Both had rites of passage, especially male initiation. 13. What is one similarity between the religion of the Aborigines and that of the Native Americans? ANS: Both had animism. OR: Both had shamans. OR: Both had totemism. OR: Both had rites of passage, especially puberty rites. 48
14. What is one similarity between the religion of the Celts and that of the Teutons? ANS: Both had megaliths. OR: Both had trickster figures. 15. What do Voodun, Santeria and Macumba have in common? ANS: These new world religious traditions developed among the descendents of African slaves and incorporate elements of African religion. 49