sketchy notes for discussion of primal
& ancient religion
barriers & deceptions to understanding
- cultural
repression & missionary conversion
 |
much
has been lost |
|
fear
results in secrecy to protect what remains
|
- cultural
fashions change over time
|
monotheism—tend
to interpret incorrectly polytheistic religion
|
|
science—tend
to see myths as “false” or primitive explanations
|
|
psychology—see
myths as manifestations of a psychological theory, look
for patterns and archetypes (miss the differences)
|
|
new
age—distorting traditions to fit into modern metaphysics
|
- cultural
syncretism
|
very
difficult to separate the influences—no pure cultures
remain |
|
very
difficult to determine sources and means of transmission
|
- communication
barriers
|
language
& translation barriers |
|
oral
culture interpreted by literate culture |
|
role
of music and other means of communication not recognized
by literate cultures (African & Indian drum, dance
as communication, various visual arts) |
|
poetry |
- complexity
of theology, cosmology, language, etc.
(primal cultures are rarely “primitive” in terms of
their religious beliefs.)
- wide
variety of cultures
|
generalizations
are always misleading (this statement is a contradiction)
|
|
urban
vs rural, western vs eastern, tribal vs “modern”
|
big themes in tribal religion
relationships—
 |
with
the tribe, especially elders |
|
with
tradition |
|
with
ancestors (and ghosts) |
|
with
power (mana, medicine, sacred power) |
|
with
animistic nature spirits |
|
with
gods and other spirits |
|
with
the great spirit, or some monistic ultimate reality (or
is this an idea that has been assimilated from monotheistic
missionaries?)
|
spiritual specialists & roles
|
shaman
(see p. 64 of LA) |
|
healer
|
|
storyteller
or bard |
|
prophet
|
|
poet
|
|
clown
or fool |
|
member
of secret society |
ritual
|
meaning
& emphasis change over time, innovations
|
|
propriety
& connection to tradition |
|
sacred
space & breaking out of everyday perspective
|
|
|
|
