ANT 3241 – Anthropology Of Religion

Summer A 2015 Class Meeting Times: Mon-Fri 12:30- 1:45 pm (period 4) Location: TUR L005

Instructor: Choeeta Chakrabarti Office: TBA Email: [email protected] Office Hours: TBA Course Description: Anthropology is the study of the human condition. From questions about how humans evolved, to debates about current human rights laws, it covers a whole spectrum of issues related to human behavior. This course introduces the anthropology of religion through analyses of the cultural and social dimensions of human variation. This course is not a synopsis of different religions in the world. Rather, it is an exploration of key concepts in religious belief including rituals, magic, witchcraft, religious healing and myth and the purpose these elements play for different religions. The course aims to expose students to diversity in religious behavior and encourage critical thinking in contemporary debates surrounding religious practices. Please be advised that this is not an easy course. As an upper level class during Summer A, it will be intensive. Your performance will be directly related to completing all the required readings and assignments in a timely manner. Please read the syllabus carefully to avoid any misunderstanding.

Required Text Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft (3nd Edition). Philip L. Stein and Rebecca Stein. [ARMW on reading list]

A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion (2nd ed.). Michael Lambek. [RAR on reading list].

Other readings will be uploaded on canvas

Course Objectives:  Gain an informed understanding of anthropology of religion  Understand anthropological approaches to the study of religion  Learn the various methodological tools used in the study of religion  Understand how one’s own assumptions and one’s specific cultural lens paints the way humans understand the world around them.  Gain an understanding of anthropological concepts of social complexity, cultural relativism and reflexivity.  Appreciate human diversity.  Gain experience in anthropological fieldwork.  Understand the relevance of anthropology to current affairs

This course fulfills a Social Science General Education requirement This course is a social and behavioral sciences (S) subject area course in the UF General Education Program. Social and behavioral science courses provide instruction in the history, key themes, principles, terminology, and underlying theory or methodologies used in the social and behavioral sciences. Students will learn to identify, describe and explain social institutions, structures or processes. These courses emphasize the effective application of accepted problem-solving techniques. Students will apply formal and informal qualitative or quantitative analysis to examine the processes and means by which individuals make personal and group decisions, as well as the evaluation of opinions, outcomes or human behavior. Students are expected to assess and analyze ethical perspectives in individual and societal decisions.

Learning outcomes: 1. Gain awareness and understanding of the cross-cultural impact of the social and/or natural environment on the development of self and culture: Students will conduct simplified ethnographies designed to illustrate diversity in religious behavior. Students will produce a semester paper centered on an aspect of religion. 2. Acquire the ability to collect information relevant to an issue/problem using methods and sources suitable to the discipline: Students will demonstrate this ability providing discussion posts of peer-reviewed sources 3. Verify the accuracy, authority, bias, currency, and sufficiency of collected evidence applicable to an issue/problem. Students will participate in scheduled in-class discussions designed to encourage critical assessments and debate regarding anthropological perspectives of religious behavior. 4. Document sources by following a system of citation appropriate to the discipline: Students’ semester papers will be assessed for appropriate AAA style citation. 5. Organize collected information in a coherent, unified, and logical manner: Student semester papers will be assessed for logical organization, appropriate arguments and accompanying supporting peer-reviewed reference materials.

Course Schedule Instructor reserves the right to change the course schedule and assignments Weekly readings will be announced and uploaded on canvas Week 1 (May 9)

MONDAY Class Introduction and Overview TUESDAY Intro to Anthropology? READING1: ARMW Chapter 1: “The Anthropological Perspective,” “The Holistic Approach,” “The Study of Human Societies, and “Two Ways of Viewing Culture”, “Cultural Relativism” and “The Concept of Culture”. WEDNESDAY Intro to Religion? - Part I READING: ARMW Chapter 1: “Attempts at Defining Religion” and “The Domain of Religion”; RAR Part I: “Religion as a Cultural System” by Clifford Geertz. THURSDAY: Intro to Religion? - Part II READING: ARMW Chapter 1: “The Biological Basis of Religious Behavior”; RAR Part I” “The Construction of Religion as an Anthropological Category” by Talal Asad. Discussion post due before class

FRIDAY Approaches to Studying Religion READING: ARMW Chapter 1: “The Study of Religion,” “Theoretical Approaches to the study of Religion,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary” Paper outline due Week 2 (May 16) MONDAY Early Theoretical Perspectives on Religion I READING: RAR Part I: “Religion in Primitive Culture” by Edward Tylor, and “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life” by Emile Durkheim TUESDAY Early Theoretical Perspectives on Religion Part II READING: RAR Part I: “Remarks on Frazer’s Golden Bough” by Ludwig Wittgenstein”; RAR Part II: “Myth in Primitive Psychology” by Bronislaw Malinowski. WEDNESDAY Mythology Part I READING: ARMW Chapter 2: “The Nature of Myths,” “Understanding Myths,” and “Approaches to Analysis of Myths” FILM Part I: “Mythos” by Joseph Campbell THURSDAY: Mythology Part II READING: ARMW Chapter 2: “Common Themes in Myths,” “BOXES 2.1-2.6,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary” FILM Part II: “Mythos” by Joseph Campbell. Discussion post due before class

FRIDAY Religious Symbols Part I READING: ARMW Chapter 3: “What is a Symbol?,” “Religious Symbols”; RAR Part II: “The Logic of Signs and Symbols”;

Week 3 (May 23) MONDAY Religious Symbols Part II READING: RAR Part II: “The Problem of Symbols” by E.E. Evans-Pritchard, “On Key Symbols” by Sherry B. Ortner. ARMW Chapter 3: “The Symbolism of Music and Dance,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary” TUESDAY Review for Exam I WEDNESDAY EXAM I THURSDAY: Rituals Part I READING: ARMW Chapter 4: “The Basics of Ritual Performance,” “Prescriptive and Situational Rituals,” “Periodic and Occasional Rituals”, “A Classification of Rituals,” “A Survey of Rituals,” “Social Rites of Intensification,” “Therapy Rituals and Healing,” “Salvation Rituals,” “Revitalization Rituals” Discussion post due before class FRIDAY Rituals Part II READING: ARMW Chapter 4: “Rites of Passage,” “The Structure of a Rite of Passage,” Coming-of-Age Rituals,” “Alterations of the Human Body,” “Pilgrimages,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary”; Canvas: ”Transitions in Life and Death” in Religions and Practice pp. 41-66

Week 4 (May 30) MONDAY UF Holiday

TUESDAY Altered States of Consciousness READING: ARMW Chapter 5: “The Nature of Altered States of Consciousness,” “Entering an Altered State of Consciousness,” “The Biological Basis of Altered States of Consciousness,” “Drug-Induced Altered States,” BOX 5.1 & 5.2,” “Religious Use of Drugs in South America,” “Rastafarians,” “Conclusion” and “Summary” Canvas: “Extending our Powers: Magic and Healing” in Religions in Practice. Pp. WEDNESDAY Religious Specialists READING: ARMW Chapter 6: “Shamans,” “Defining Shamanism,” “Korean Shamanism,” “Priests,” “Aztec Priests,” “Eastern Orthodox Priests,” “Prophets,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary”; RAR Part IV: “Shamanic Practices and the State in Northern Asian...” by Caroline Humphrey. Canvas: “Shams and Shamans: The Discursive Effects of Ethnotourism in Ecuador” by Veronica M. Davidov

THURSDAY Magic and Divination READING: ARMW Chapter 7: “The World of Magic,” “Magic and Religion,” “Magic and Science,” “The Function of Magic,” “Why Magic Works,” “Magic in Society,” “Divination,” “Forms of Divination,” “Divination Techniques,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary”; RAR Part III: “Form and Meaning of Magical Acts,” by Stanely Tambiah, and “The Poetics of Time in Mayan Divination,” by Dennis Tedlock. Discussion post due before class

FRIDAY REVIEW FOR EXAM II Film: Split Horn

Week 5 (June 6) MONDAY EXAM II TUESDAY The Soul and Death READING: ARMW Chapter 8: “Souls and Ancestors,” “Variation in the Concept of the Soul,” “Souls, Death, and the Afterlife,” “Examples of the Concepts of the Soul,” “Bodies and Souls,” “Death Rituals,” “Funeral Rituals,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary”; RAR Part III: “Spirits and Selves in Northern Sudan...” by Janice Boddy. WEDNESDAY Gods and Spirits READING: ARMW Chapter 9: “Spirits,” “Guardian Spirits and the Native American Vision Quest,” “Gods,” “Types of Gods,” “Gods and Society,” “The Gods of the Yoruba,” “Goddesses,” “Monotheism Conceptions of God in Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” “Atheism,” “Conclusion,” and “Summary” THURSDAY Witchcraft READING: ARMW Chapter 10: Entire chapter; RAR Part II: “Witchcraft and Sexual Relations...” by Raymond Kelly. Canvas: “Explaining Misfortune: Witchcraft and Sorcery” in Religions in Prcatice. Pp 82-100 Final paper due Discussion post due before class

FRIDAY Religion, Modernity, and Change READING: ARMW Chapter 11: Entire chapter; RAR Part IV: “The Genesis of Capitalism amongst a South American Peasantry...,” by Michael Taussig. Canvas: “The Place or Religions in Modern Nation-States” in Religions in Practice. Pp 234-256 Week 6 (June 13) MONDAY Film: Jesus Camp TUESDAY Abrahamic religions Part I READING: RAR Part I: “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” by Max Weber, “Christians as Believers” by Malcom Ruel; RAR Part IV: “Convicted by the Holy Spirit...” by Susan Harding. WEDNESDAY Religion, Human Rights and Contemporary Debates READING: Canvas: Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?: Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and its Others” By Abu Lughod “Behind the Veil” by Jennifer M. Westerfield “Ayahuasca and Spiritual Crisis: Liminality as Space for Personal Growth” by Sara. E. Lewis THURSDAY REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM Discussion post due before class FRIDAY FINAL EXAM (NO MAKEUPS!!!)

Grades There will be a total of 410 points for this course. Quizzes – 6 x 20pts = 120 points Discussion Posts – 6 x 5pts = 30 points Exams – 3 x 50pts = 150 points Paper outline – 10 points Research Paper – 100 points Total = 410 points

Course Grading Scale (by %):

Percentage Letter Grade (%) ≥ 90.0 A ≥ 86.7 A- ≥ 83.3 B+ ≥ 80.0 B ≥ 76.7 B- ≥ 73.5 C+ ≥ 70.0 C ≥ 66.7 C- ≥ 63.7 D+ ≥ 60.0 D ≥ 56.7 D- < 56.7 E

To find the percentage of your grade, simply divide your total grade by the total possible grade (360). A detailed breakdown of final grades is as follows: Additional information on UF grading policy can be found at: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx Reading assignments: Students are expected to come to class prepared for the week’s topic. Relevant readings and videos are specified for each class. The relevant material will be uploaded on canvas. Discussion posts: (30 points) There will be weekly discussion posts in this course. Questions/ topics of discussion will be posted on canvas well before the day it is due. All discussion posts will be on due every Thursday before class, that is, by 12:30 pm. Any post after 12:30 pm will not be given any credit. No exceptions.

POP Quizzes: (120 points) There will be a total of 6 unscheduled pop quizzes scheduled for the course. They will be multiple choice questions. Exams: (150 points) There will be three exams for this course. Exam III will be comprehensive. These will be held in class. Research Paper Outline: (10 points) An outline of the research paper is due in the second week of the course. Details will be provided on canvas. Research Paper: (100 points) Students are expected to write a research paper for this class. The details of the paper will be discussed in class and will be posted on canvas. The final paper is due on the Friday of week 5.

Critical Dates: Mark the following days on your calendar. Any changes will be discussed in class and posted on canvas. Paper Outline Due: May 13 Exam I: May 25 Final Paper Due: June 9 Exam II: August 17

Attendance Policy: Attendance will not be taken but is expected. Absence in class will directly affect your grade, since power point presentations will not be posted online. Additionally, quizzes and exams will contain questions that pertain directly to lectures and discussions in class. Absence due to a sickness will be excused with a doctor’s note. If you have some other valid reason to miss class, please contact the instructor well before class by email to arrange for make-up work. Requests for make-up work after class absences will not be accepted. This is non-negotiable. Any student who misses more than three classes must communicate to the instructor the reasons for these absences. If for any reason you stop attending class, without notifying your instructor, you will receive an “E” grade on your permanent record. Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work are consistent with university policies that can be found at: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx Harassment and Discrimination: “Harassment” is defined as conduct that (1) is of any type (written, oral, graphic, or physical) (2) is directed towards or against a person because of their personal status (i.e. race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy or others) and that (3) unreasonably interferes with the individual’s work, education, or participation in activities or programs at UF or creates a working or learning environment that a reasonable person would find threatening. “Discrimination” is defined as a conduct that (1) adversely affects any aspect of an individual’s employment, education, or participation in activities or programs at UF, and (2) is based on one or more personal characteristics listed above. Any student who feels their rights have been violated are asked to confront the offending party, should that not resolve the issue, or the student is uncomfortable with confronting the offending party they may file a complaint with UF Department of Human Resources. Cell phones, computers, touch pads and other smart devices: College students are adults and capable of making informed decisions. Use of cell phones, computers and touch pads will not be actively policed. However, students are asked to please be respectful their fellow students in the course as well as the instructor, who will not appreciate continued distractions. Course evaluations: Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing online evaluations at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results/. Academic Honesty: All students are expected to do their own work without unauthorized assistance. Any student found cheating, will be given a grade of zero on the assignment. Violations will lead to the Department’s and the University’s procedures for dealing with academic dishonesty. UF students are bound by the Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignments.” The Honor Code (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student- conduct-honor-code/) specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or TAs in this class. For questions about what constitutes academic misconduct please consult the UF Honor Code as well as the UF Policies on Academic Honesty. These are available online at https://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/. Here are three websites that explain plagiarism and I encourage you to look at all of them - http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/msl/07b/studentplagiarism.html - http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/procedures/honorviolations.php - A 30 minute video, titled ‘Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism’, at the bottom of the webpage - https://teachingcenter.ufl.edu/video.html

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

If you require accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment during my office hours so that we may discuss your needs. Students with disabilities requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Disability Resource Office (352-392-8565, http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/) by providing appropriate documentation. Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter which must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodation. The Disability Resource office is located in 001 Reid Hall. Further information can be found at www.dso.ufl.edu/drp. UF Counseling Services: Resources are available on campus for students having personal or goal oriented problems 1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575 2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 391-1171 (personal counseling) 3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161 4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601 Please make any requests by the second week of class.

UF Counseling Services

Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals that interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:

1. University Counseling and Wellness Center, 3190 Radio Road, 392-1575, http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/Default.aspx, personal and career counseling 2. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling 3. University Police Department, 392-1111 or 911 for emergencies 4. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling 5. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling 6. Reading & Writing Center, Broward Hall, 392-0791, writing assistance, study skills, test preparation

24-hour Grade Dispute Policy Students who wish to discuss grades on assignments and exams should contact the instructor within 24 hours of posting to arrange a meeting time. Please do not wait until the end of the semester to question grades or request special consideration. Twenty-four hours after posting, all grades are final. Late Assignment Policy: Assignments that are turned in late receive no credit or will not be evaluated unless there has been a documented emergency. Similarly, missing an exam deadline will result in a failing grade for that exam unless there has been a documented emergency. Documented emergencies include emergency (not routine) hospitalizations of the student (certified by attending physician), deaths in the immediate family or love (parents, siblings, spouses, children, or a lover; certified by a mortician), or disabling accidents/diseases involving the student near the time of the due date (certified by police). No more than one such exception will be made.

Student Conduct All students must comply with the Student Conduct Code which can found at http://www.dso.ufl.edu/studentguide/studentconductcode.php. Any behavior that interferes with either the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to benefit from the instructional program will not be tolerated. Please turn off cell phones and all other electronic devices before class. Laptops may only be used to take notes. Disruptive students will be asked to leave.