Anthropology 180
Magic, Witchcraft and Religion
Lori Slicton, Instructor
Anthropology Club Advisor
Women In Transition Coordinator
Ph. 738-4157; Office 2-2313
Office Hours:
MW 8:30-9; 12-2
T-TR 7:30-8
Fri 8:30-9
Or by appt.
Magic, Witchcraft and Religion: A cross-cultural exploration of supernatural belief
systems focusing on non-literate, tribal, and ethnic cultures; history and methods of the
anthropological approach to religion; the dynamics of myth, magic, totem, taboo, and
cults. Transfer: UC/CSU (D3)
Required texts:
1. The Anthropology of Religion, Magic and Witchcraft, by Stein and Stein.
2. Magic, Witchcraft and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural,
(6th edition), Lehmann and Myers.
Additional reading may be assigned.
Grading Standard:
There are five hundred points available for this course.
Tests: There will be three exams each worth 100 points.
Paper: There will be a paper worth 100 points. A description of this assignment
will be handed out in class. Topics must be approved by the instructor.
Reflections: Ten one-FULL page reflections of your thoughts/ideas pertaining to
the material in this course—reading, films, discussions, etc. These papers are ungraded
but are worth 10 points each. Due dates for reflections are posted in the syllabus.
Students should number their reflections and keep a record of all work. Reflection topics
may be assigned by the instructor.
Grading Scale:
Grade
Total Semester Points
A
=450-500
B
=400-449
C
=350-399
D
=300-349
F
=299 and fewer
%
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
Class Attendance and Grading: Attendance will be taken ONCE at the beginning of
each class session. Students who come to class after their name has been called will be
marked absent. Repeated tardiness is the equivalent of poor attendance. Likewise,
students who routinely leave class early will be considered absent. Students with poor
attendance may be dropped from the course. CELL PHONES and PAGERS or any
electronic equipment should NOT BE SEEN in CLASS and their uses will not be
tolerated unless it is a valid emergency. Out of courtesy to your classmates, instructor
and to promote the best learning environment possible, cell phones and pagers must
be kept inaudible during class. Thank you.
Lectures, class discussions and the videos are as much a part of the course content as are
the assigned readings and will be included in the exam questions. Regular, punctual
attendance is of vital importance since there is no way of making the discussion or
materials covered in class. Contact me is you miss a class due to illness, etc.
Assignments: Students must submit their own (original), college level work.
Assignments must be typed, double-spaced and checked for spelling. Work submitted
that does not meet these criteria will not be accepted for credit.
Exams: On exam dates, students are expected to come to class prepared. This means
that students, when required, need sharpened pencils (and sharpened spares), blank sheets
of paper, scantron sheets, etc. Electronic dictionaries or any electronic devices will not
be permitted during exam situations. Students found using such items during exam
situations will face serious consequences. Students must pay attention to all instructions
given in class by the instructor. Students who arrive unprepared for an exam are NOT
PERMITTED TO DISRUPT THE EXAM FOR ANY REASON. This includes but is not
limited to asking the instructor, classmates or others for test-taking materials or arriving
late for an exam.
Exam dates and format are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Making Up Missed Exams: Students are expected to take exams in class on scheduled
exam dates. Make-up exams are only given in the case of a valid and documented
emergency and must be made up the following week of their return to classes during my
office hours. DO NOT schedule vacations, routine appointments or errands, etc. on exam
dates. It is each student’s responsibility to arrange a make-up with the instructor.
Students who wait longer than one wee after their return to classes will not be permitted
to take the test and will receive a zero for that assignment. Extra credit is not accepted
from students who have missed exams or any assignment.
Dropping the Course:
It is each student’s responsibility to drop this course if they so choose.
Cheating and Plagiarism: While most students are honest and have great integrity, I
unfortunately catch students cheating in some form each semester. Please, for your own
good do not do this. Plagiarism and or cheating are taken very seriously by your
professor and Skyline College and will NOT be tolerated. All students should read the
Student Handbook so that each of you is aware of your rights and responsibilities while
attending Skyline College.
Course Calendar
August 16-18
Introduce Course
Ch. 1 Stein “The Anthropological Study of Religion”
Lehmann, Myers, Moro (articles): “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema,” p.140
Reflections Due
Aug. 21-25
Ch. 1 Continued
Article: “Darwin’s Rib,” p.33
Reflections due
Aug. 28-Sept. 1
Ch 2 Stein: “The Nature of Myths”
Article: Steel Axes For Stoneage Australians,” p. 44
Reflections Due
Sept 4 Labor Day
Sept.6-8
Article: “Serpent Handling as a Sacrament”, p.77
Reflections Due
Sept. 11-15
Ch. 3 Stein “Religious Symbols”
Article: “Yellow Ribbons and Seasonal Flags: The Folk Assemblages of War,”
p. 83
Reflections Due
Sept. 18-22
Review for exam #1
Exam#1 Friday Sept. 22
Reflections #1-4 due in class on Fri. Students need to # their reflections
Reflections Due
Sept. 25-29
Ch. 4 Stein “Ritual”
Discuss Rites of Passage
Articles: “Female Circumcision in Egypt and Sudan: A Controversial Rite of
Passage,” p. 106
“Reflections After Waco: Millenialists and the State,” p 172
Reflections Due
October 2-6
Ch. 4 continued
Reflections Due
Oct. 9-13
Ch. 5 Stein, “Altered States of Consciousness”
Articles: “Drugs,” p. 182
“Ritual Enemas,” p 191
Reflections Due
Oct. 16-20
Ch. contnued”
Reflections Due
Oct. 23-27
Ch 6 Stein “Magic and Divination”
Article: “Mothering and the Practice of ‘Balm’ in Jamaica,” p 225
Reflections Due
Oct. 30-Nov. 3
Continue Ch. 6
Review for exam #2
Exam #2
Exam #2 Fri. Nov. 3
Reflections 5-8 due in class at exam time
Reflections Due
Nov. 6-8
Ch 7 Stein “Souls, Ghosts and Death”
Articles: “The Real Vampire,” p. 311
“Spontaneous Memorialization: Violent Death and Emerging Mourning Ritual,”
p.333
Reflections Due
Nov. 13-17
Ch. 8 Stein “Gods and Spirits”
Research Papers Due and Last Day to turn in any reflections or outstanding work.
All work is due IN CLASS TODAY. NO Exceptions!
Nov. 20-22
Ch. 9 Stein “Witchcraft”
Articles: “An Anthropological Perspective on the Witchcraze,” p 258
Nov. 27-Dec. 1
Ch 10 Stein “Syncretism and Religious Movements”
Articles: “The Global Rise of religious Nationalism,” p 453
“Homer the Heretic and Charlie Church: Parody, Piety, and Pluralism
in The Simpsons,” p 477
Dec 4-8
Continue Ch. 10
Review for exam #3
Exam #3