Overview

Religion is a cultural universal. Anthropologists examine how religious beliefs and practices organize social life, provide comfort, explain the unknown, and legitimize power.

Core Idea

Durkheim argued that religion is society worshipping itself—rituals create “collective effervescence” that binds the group together. Geertz viewed religion as a “cultural system” of symbols that establish powerful moods and motivations.

Formal Definition (if applicable)

Ritual: A repetitive, stylized act performed in specific places and times, often involving the manipulation of sacred symbols. Rites of Passage (Van Gennep) mark transitions between social statuses (e.g., childhood to adulthood) and have three stages: separation, liminality, and incorporation.

Intuition

Why do we shake hands, stand for anthems, or blow out birthday candles? These are secular rituals. Religious rituals work similarly but connect participants to a sacred or supernatural order.

Examples

  • Shamanism: A practice where a practitioner alters their consciousness to interact with the spirit world for healing or divination.
  • Totemism: A belief system where a group has a spiritual connection to a specific animal or plant.
  • Witchcraft: Used in some societies (like the Azande) to explain misfortune and manage social tensions.

Common Misconceptions

  • “Rituals are empty habits.” (They are deeply meaningful and functional for participants.)
  • “Magic is just fake science.” (Malinowski showed that magic is used to manage anxiety in uncontrollable situations, like deep-sea fishing.)
  • Liminality: The “betwixt and between” state during a rite of passage.
  • Syncretism: The blending of different religious beliefs.
  • Animism: The belief that non-human entities (plants, animals, objects) possess a spiritual essence.

Applications

  • Conflict Resolution: Understanding the religious dimensions of political conflicts.
  • Healthcare: Navigating religious objections to medical treatments.
  • Organizational Culture: Analyzing corporate rituals and myths.

Criticism / Limitations

Functionalist explanations can sometimes ignore how religion can also be a source of conflict, oppression, or social change, not just stability.

Further Reading

  • Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
  • Turner, The Ritual Process
  • Evans-Pritchard, Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande