Anthropology and Religion

This course provides a limited overview of anthropological theories related to the study of religion. It focuses upon understanding religious practice from a cross-cultural perspective, with attention to myths, ritual and symbolism. Within that purview, the course will examine the uneasy relationship of ethnocentrism to religious diversity. This investigation proposes to offer a different way of looking at the role of religion in people?s lives. The course will also explore religious expressions that have received critical evaluation in popular opinion, and place them within the context of new religions, revitalized movements, cargo cults and/or charismatic.

Fall, Spring

019874