Primal Religion

Characteristics of primal religion ost world religions have holy texts: for example, Christianity has Ninian Smart (1927–2001) was a leading scholar and teacher in the field of Religious Studies. In his book The Religious Experience of Mankind (1984), he sets out some of the Myth Mthe Bible; Islam, the Qur’an; Hinduism, the Gita; and Sikhism, main features of primal religion. Myth and story-telling are the Granth Sahib. But what about those societies without a tradition important in primal religions Mana High God Ancestor veneration of writing? Many societies in the word are non-literate or oral, that is, both in their content, and A term originating in the Most, if not all, primal The human creator of the ongoing pattern of they communicate chiefly by the spoken word, and their traditions are cultures of the Pacific, religions have a concept the society, or a hero their telling. Myths explain mana is a surrounding of a High God. The High memorized. with great mana, is origins, good and evil, local force that is invisible God is above and beyond often honoured through landforms, past events, and and populated with this world; it is creator religious ritual. This may future possibilities. Oral traditions Animism deities. Mana resides and ruler of all, including be done due to perceived in chieftains, animals, souls. The High God is connections with fertility The creation myth of the The religion of oral societies has tended to be viewed as “Primal” religion is the best of a poor selection of words places, and large rocks often regarded as remote and the health of the Mongols magic or superstition, with the implication that these for the beliefs of these oral cultures. Primal religion or geographical features and can’t be described; land. Ancestors live on; religions were undeveloped, unsystematic, and hence not contains basic, fundamental, even universal religious of significance. hence people pay greater they are the "living-dead". This myth comes from really noteworthy. Another view suggests that perhaps forms. More literate religions have some characteristics of attention to lower gods. The Secret History of the Mongols (thirteenth century), religion has “evolved” over millennia, and these oral primal religion, such as the idea of the interconnectedness Tabu Taboo Shaman as translated by Igor de societies are in a sense “primitive”. of humanity with the world, and the concept of an From the Pacific word Totemism A shaman is a person Rachewiltz (2004). But this isn’t necessarily the case. Non-literate oral intermediary figure between humankind and the gods. In tapu¸ it is the idea that Rooted in the natural with the gift of ecstasy societies have quite sophisticated belief systems, addition, the term “primal religion” implies a sense of someone is so full of world, totemism relates who can go between the In the beginning there was a with complex rituals and profound mythology “first-ness”: it precedes and informs whatever mana that they cannot to kinship with animals living and the "living- blue-grey wolf, born with a and symbolism. In other words, just because follows. It does imply an evolutionary be approached by the or a species of plant. The dead". The motif of destiny ordained by Heaven a people is non-literate, it does model of the development of profane and worldly. totem object is sacred: journey is important: the Above. He mated with a fallow not mean they do not have a religion (something that is debated); Things also may be perhaps it is heroic in shaman has powers to doe and together they came noteworthy religion. Members nevertheless, the term allows various taboo, or a taboo may legend or is the creator journey to the realm of across the Tengis lake, and of non-literate oral cultures religions to stand in their own right. be put on something, of the tribe. The totem the living-dead so as to settled at the source of the have extraordinary powers of Primal religions are usually setting it aside as “holy”. animal usually represents return with guidance, Onan river, on Mount Burhan memorization, and they have grouped together as “animism”. All A warrior on the eve strength, cunning, or healing, and wisdom. Kaldun. And Batachkhan was unique ways of telling and physical things have anima (Latin of battle may become wisdom. born… dramatizing their society’s for “life”, “soul”), and are animated ritually taboo, and a beliefs and traditions. by spirit. These societies believe corpse may be taboo, Complex ideas and deep that the material and spiritual for example. spiritual insights are passed worlds are one and the same: in this way from generation everything has anima, that to generation. Many oral is, everything is animated by cultures also communicate having a living soul of some sort. by other means; for example, they may tell their stories and record their beliefs in rock paintings or bark carvings.

12 13 See Also Northern Europe The Celts and the Germanic tribes

odern European life and thought The importance of myth The Vanir deities of Norse Other Norse deities Mcan be traced back to the “old Picts mythology The first people to record the myths and stories were mainly In addition there are some other gods” of northern Europe. There are deities: Tiwaz (English “Tuesday”) is Roman, so no doubt some bias has crept into the retellings These are the “lesser” gods of Germanic the legislator, and the Valkyries are two traditions identified: the Celts we have today. Also, early Christian missionaries who spread Norse mythology, which are largely Odin’s maidens of war who carry slain (now recognized particularly in Ireland, out over Europe recorded various myths and folk tales. Much associated with maintenance and Celts warriors off to Valhalla, the majestic of this is interpreted through the lens of early European reproduction. Scotland, Wales, parts of south-western Christianity. For example, many of the Scandinavian myths halls of Odin. Valhalla is a type of England and north-western France) and were written down by one Snorri Sturluson (d. 1264) in • Njord: The deity who controls heaven: it is a place of reward for Iceland. Many of the stories were oral traditions, and hence wind and sea. slain warriors, with golden shields the Germanic tribes (particularly the reinterpreted in the telling by either Roman or Christian on its walls, and it is surrounded by • Frey: Son of Njord, deity of rain sacred animals and trees. Valhalla Scandinavians and the Vikings). There storytellers: their religious aspects may well have come Celts unstuck from their broader cultural functions (such as and sun, he is also associated has inspired popular culture today is a rejuvenation of these traditions Germanic entertainment, explanation, or celebration). Both Celtic and with fertility. The English as diverse as art, place names, and Picts today, with the Druids of Britain, Celtic Germanic traditions are polytheistic – there were many gods. Friday is named after Frey. video games. worship themes in modern Christianity, • Freyja (Frigg): Consort of and the New Age movement drawing on Celtic religion Odin and sister of Frey, she is the rites, rituals, and symbols of both The Aesir deities of Norse goddess of love and fertility. There has been some reinterpretation of pre-Roman Celts mythology traditions. Like Greco-Roman traditions, (Gauls) by the Romans, but it is clear that the Celts had a • Heimdall: Watchman of the much has made it into the worldview horned god called Cernunnos. He may have been represented gods. Viking memorial picture stone by a stag, and was probably related to fertility and war. The TheOne-stop Aesir World deities Religions were the “active” gods and language of Europeans, from ofLion Norse Hudson legend, the victors in a series of of Sanda Gotland with saga of Horned One sometimes had a consort. This Earth Mother Name - 2.5 Ancient Celtic Civilization God Thor son of Odin dedicated Christmas traditions to names of the was worshipped, and there are many Irish stories about her mythologicalMap size - 64.22mm battles x 55.45 that pitted them against theMap lastVanir updated deities. - 10/12/12 After the war was finished, to brothers Rodvisl Farbjorn & days of the week. mystery, vigour, and beauty. Water played a role in Celtic Gunnbjorn 10th century AD religion, particularly springs, wells, caves, and sacred groves. and the deities united, the Aesir nevertheless Human sacrifice is evident, and there was probably a “cult retained their associations with war. of the head” – the human head is a major theme in Celtic art. • Woden (Odin): Named Woden in the Celts believed in an afterlife, and Druids performed south, and Odin in the north (amongst sacrifice, divination, and a liturgy. the Norse peoples), he was father of all the gods, the god of war, who was Germanic religion and the worshipped particularly by warriors and Vikings tribal leaders. The English Wednesday (literally “Woden’s day”) is named Again, coming to us through Roman after him. interpretations, the Germanic tribes (such as the Goths) were warlike, and • Thor: Along with Odin, hence Roman observers assumed a war Thor is the best-known god was dominant. There is a prominent deity. He is the god of female deity, probably associated with thunder, and is depicted fertility: women were associated with with a large hammer. holiness, purity, and prophecy. Divination, He is the strongest of often associated with horses, was common. the gods, and also the The Norse gods – those of the northern Scandinavians and Vikings – are widely god of fertility (and known: Woden (Odin), Twiz, Thor, Frey, and hence “Thor’s day” – their homeland Valhalla are still studied today. Thursday). • Balder: Son of Odin Gundestrup Cauldron (bowl), Celtic ritual vessel and Freyja, he is a of 2nd century BC. Inside on right is Cernunnos, god of beauty and King of the animals. Silver partially gilded. brightness. • Loki: A mischievous deity, he is the father of monsters. 20 21