MAGIC, RELIGION & CULTURE
ANTH V07
Fall 2006
Politics
and religion, it is said, make strange bedfellows. Indeed, few other domains of
human activity have the capability of arousing the emotions as much as these. Yet
whereas both are concerned with policies pertaining
to everyday life (how best to get from Point A to Point B), religion is also
concerned with questions that lie outside the normal realm of existence. That
is, religion not only provides guidelines for daily life, but also makes
statements about the nature of existence per se and, by
implication, about the proper manner for humans to approach the universe.
In this
class, we will look at some of the explanations people have developed to
explain religion, and examine some of the ways that this quintessential human
capacity has been given expression. We will explore where religion has come
from, and attempt to throw some light on those core experiences which can lead
people to become religious in the first place. As we proceed, I hope that you
will be challenged to consider why you hold your own particular conceptions
about the world.
In many
ways, this class is like this life—the more you put into it, the more you will
get out of it. So I hope that you will get into it.
Your Goddess: Maria Teresa Fiumerodo (please, call me Gigi)
Office: LRC-343
Voice Mail: (805) 654-6400, ext. 1274
Email: mtfiumerodo@vcccd.edu
Consultation & Counseling are available
during the following times:
Monday: 12:00 noon-12:30 pm & after class
Tuesday: 1:30-3:00 pm
Wednesday: 2:00-3:00 pm
Thursday: 1:30-3:00 pm
Congregation web site: http://academic.venturacollege.edu/mfiumerodo/
Our Scripture:
Stein, Rebecca L. & Philip L. Stein.
2005. The
Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft,
ISBN
0-205-34421-6.
All Congregants who wish to pass to the
Next Level
must fulfill the following requirements:
Short Papers (4@20 pts each)
80 pts.
Religious Sites Project (3 visits @40 pts each) 120 pts.
Quizzes (3@40 pts each) 120 pts.
Final (mandatory!) (credit/no credit)
40 pts.
________
Total possible 360 pts.
Next Level Reward Schedule:
320—360 =
290—324 =
255—389 =
215—254 =
214 & below = Rebirth (F)
Schedule
of Services
Week/Topic
Things to Do
Scripture
Week 1: 8/21
Welcome to the Jungle |
Sit Back & Enjoy! |
|
|
Week 2: 8/28 Let’s Get it Started |
TCB |
Chapter 1 The Anthropological Study of Religion |
|
Week 3: 9/4 NO CLASS |
NOT
BE HERE J |
|
|
Week 4: 9/11 Eyes of the
World |
Short
Paper #1 DUE |
Chapter 2 Mythology |
|
Week 5: 9/18 A Night without Vision!
|
Bring Objects & A
Blindfold |
|
|
Week 6: 9/25 The
Micro-Structures Of Religion |
|
Chapter 3 Religious Symbol |
|
Week 7: 10/2 Paint it Black |
Short Paper #2 DUE Painting- Dress Appropriately |
|
|
Week 8: 10/9 The Macro-Structures of Religion |
QUIZ 1 Chapter 1,2,3 |
|
|
Week 9: 10/16 Sacred Spaces |
Possible
Guest Speaker: Faten Habib, |
Chapter
4 Ritual |
|
Week 10: 10/23 Break on
Through… |
Guest
Speaker: Dr. John Baker, |
Shamanism Handout Chpt. 5:
Altered States of Consciousness |
|
Week 11: 10/30 Highway to Hell |
Short Paper #3 Due |
Chapter 7: Souls, Ghosts & Death Chapter 9: Witchcraft |
|
Week 12:
11/6 Black Magic Woman |
Guest
Speaker: Dr. Sabina Magliocco, CSUN |
Chapter 7: Souls, Ghosts & Death Chapter 9: Witchcraft Possible Handout |
|
Week 13: 11/13 Oh oh, it’s Magic! |
QUIZ 2 Chapters 4, 5, 7, 9 |
Chapter 6 Magic |
|
Week 14: 11/20 Eastern
Religions: The Wheel is Turning… |
Possible Guest Speaker RELIGIOUS
SITES DUE! |
Chapter 8 Gods and Spirits |
|
Week 15: 11/27 Knock on Wood |
Short
Paper #4 Due |
Folk belief
Handout
|
|
Week 16:12/4 Feasting, Fasting & Festivity |
Extra
Credit Due |
Sacred
Foods Handout
|
|
Week 17: 12/11 Are you a voodoo child? |
Quiz
3 Chapters 6, 8,10 & handouts |
Chapter
10
Syncretism |
Week 18
FINALS WEEK |
FINAL EVENT CLASS RITUAL |
|
To Attain True Happiness
Thou
shalt respect thy classmates
Thou
shalt read all scriptures
Thou
shalt not turn in papers late*
Thou
shalt come to class on time
Thou
shalt not return from break late
Thou
shalt keep the Congregation Hall tidy
*About those late papers…
Short Papers will not be accepted late at all.
The Religious Sites Project will have 10 points deducted from the
grade for each week day they are late.
Dispensations: Medical, legal,
or supernatural reasons that may prevent you from turning in a paper or taking a quiz will only be considered if
they are either reported before the due date or with the appropriate
documentation.
Please switch off all Cell Phones prior
to entering the Congregation Hall!
Like everything else in the universe,
this syllabus is subject to change.
Important-
I strongly encourage all students who
have a learning disability or challenges that may affect their performance in
class and on quizzes to speak with me as soon as possible!