ANTH 3851/5851: Religion, Culture, and Society
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer M. Trunzo
Email: jtrunzo@gru.edu
Office Hours: T/R 830-9:30 am, 12- 2 pm
Office: Allgood E-217
Course Description, Goals, Prerequisites: This course will introduce key concepts of religion as identified the
field of anthropological study. This course will concentrate on examining how religion structures social relations
through creating definitions of morals, ethics, and legitimating power as well as how it acts as an explanatory device
that makes people feel they can control the unknown by manipulating the universe through interacting with spirits
gods. Examples will be drawn from traditional, modern, and prehistoric cultural contexts. The goals of this course
include: 1) demonstrating religious diversity in the past and present; 2) demonstrating that religions have history
and social functions. ANTHRO 1102 and/or ANTHRO 2011 are pre-requisites for this course since they lay the
foundations for appreciating cultural diversity and understanding politics, economy, and gender. Teaching
Methods: Lectures, discussion, videos.
Learning objectives: By the end of this course, students will be able to
1) Compare and contrast belief systems in various societies
2) Critically analyze how religion functions in society
3) Critically analyze the history of religions and how doctrines and beliefs change over time
4) Compare pop-cultural conceptions of various religions with the actual dogmas and practices of those religions
5) Understand major concepts such as ritual, taboo, magic, witchcraft, and shamanism
Required books and readings:
Fiona Bowie (2006) The Anthropology of Religion. Blackwell.
Carol F. Karlsen. (1987) The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. WW Norton.
Wade Davis. (1988) Passage of Darkness. University of North Carolina Press.
Darren Oldridge (2012) The Devil: A Very short Introduction. Oxford.
All other REQUIRED readings on D2L
Assignments, Due dates, and Grading:
Two take-home essay exams: 50% (25% each)
Discussion participation/Attendance: 25%
Paper Prospectus: 5%
8-10 pp term paper: 20% (See description on last two pages of syllabus)
Expectations, Academic Honor, Special Needs, and Learning Support (also known as THE RULES):
1) Attendance . Seven absences and you fail the course automatically--even if you stay in the course, do all the work and have an A
average. To get any absence excused and discounted, you must provide an excuse from a doctor, lawyer, employer, coach, or advisor. An
email from you does not count as an excuse. The excuse must come from one of the sources listed above or another credible individual.
Please see me if you know now that you will need to miss classes for athletic, conferences, auditions, performances, or other activities.
Coaches and advisors can send a list of names and/or a schedule instead of providing written excuses. The penalties for absences are outlined
in the “Value of Assignments” section above. Skipping discussion days counts as two absences.
2) D2L Readings are required. You will need to use them on your exams.
3) Late take-home exams and papers will not be accepted for full credit without an OFFICIAL excuse from a doctor, lawyer, dean,
employer, or coach. Athletes, artists, musicians, activists, conference-goers, soldiers, etc, must hand-in assignments either before you leave
or the first morning after you return from your trip.
4) Completing assignments is required unless very dire extenuating circumstances arise that can be substantiated by written excuses from a
doctor, lawyer, dean employer, or coach. If extenuating circumstances exist, an incomplete will be awarded for the course. Failure to
complete an assignment without proof of extenuating circumstances will result in failing the course. It is unfair to pass somebody who does
not do all the work when somebody else did.
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5) Essays are due on the due date listed on the syllabus in class. NO EXTENSIONS—unless you can produce a documented reason with an
excuse. There is a full letter grade per WEEKDAY deduction for each day the assignment is late. Days are days, not class meetings.
Weekends do not count as days. Example: Paper is due on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the maximum grade is a B. On Thursday, the maximum
grade is a C. On Friday, the maximum grade is a D. By the following Monday, your paper will be given an automatic ZERO. In this course,
you have an entire semester to writetwo 3-page essays. There should be FEW reasons to be late with this assignment.
6) Written assignments will not be accepted on cd’s, floppies, or through email submissions without prior arrangements and a written
excuse from a doctor, lawyer, employer, or coach. When prior arrangements are made, assignments can be submitted via email and must be
in Microsoft Word. All hard copies of written assignments (including extra credits) must be typed or done on a computer, double-spaced in
12 point font.
7) Academic Honesty.
a) Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you use any resource—books, journal articles, internet or otherwise—they must be properly
cited. If I catch anything cut and pasted directly from the internet, you will automatically fail the assignment. If you repeat the
offense, you will fail the entire course. See the writing center for help with citations, if you need it.
b) If you buy a term paper or are caught attempting to buy a term paper, you will automatically fail the course. You do not have to actually
take possession of the paper in order to have committed an infraction. Simply attempting to buy a term paper is equivalent to the crime of
solicitation, which is the attempt to purchase illegal services or merchandise from another party.
8) Exam conflicts. I will make accommodations if you have more than two exams on the same day. Final Exams will be rescheduled only in
the event of conflict with another course. You must prove that any exam conflict is real by showing me the syllabi for the courses
involved. I will not move exams because of plane tickets, concert tickets, or other personal needs. If I discover another professor is not
following the final exam schedule, I will report it to the dean. In short, exams are not given at your convenience or at the convenience of
other faculty. They are given as scheduled unless there is a real, proven conflict. Do not come to me on the day in question or after the
exam and ask for rescheduling. Skipping an exam without demonstrated reason will result in failing it. Papers are due regardless of exam
schedules.
9) Missed exams will be made up within in one week of the scheduled exam date, or you FAIL the exam.
10) If you have a learning disability, please let me know as soon as possible so we can make arrangements for your individual needs. Please
contact the Office of Testing and Disability Services (706-737-1469) so necessary documentation forwarded to me.
11) These rules apply to everybody equally.
12) I reserve the right to bend the rules as needed because each case is different and special circumstances arise. Please talk to me
about any conflicts you may have and come to me well in advance of any anticipated conflicts. In the event of unexpected
catastrophe, illness, mental or emotional breakdown, or family issues, I will do my best to find ways to work around them. Please talk to me
if something is going on so I can take actions that will help you complete this course successfully. However, for average daily
life issues and the workload for your other courses, you are expected to manage your time wisely. If you often feel overwhelmed by
the pressures of school and daily life, please contact the Counseling Center (706-737-1471).
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Course Schedule: Can change at anytime due to unforeseen circumstances
Jan 7: Class 1: Course introduction and class introduction
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Jan 9: NO CLASS: PROFESSOR IN QUEBEC FOR CONFERENCE
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Jan 14: Class 2: Theories on the Origins of Religion
Readings:
Text book: Bowie Ch 1
D2L:
*Edward Burnett Tylor (2002 [1871] Religion in Primitive Culture. In Reader in the Anthropology of
Religion, Michael Lambek, ed., pp. 21-34. Blackwell; Malden, MA.
*Emile Durkheim (2002 [1912])The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. In Reader in the
Anthropology of Religion, Michael Lambek, ed., pp. 34-50. Blackwell; Malden, MA.
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Jan 16: Class 3: VIDEO: The History of God
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Jan 21: Class 4: Finish History of God
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Jan 23: Class 5: Symbols and Rituals: Creating Meaning, Defining Roles, and Setting Rules in Society
Readings:
Text book: Bowie Ch 6 (all)
D2L:
*Stanley J. Tambiah (1995) A Performative Approach to Ritual. In Readings in Ritual Studies,
R.L. Grimes, ed., pp. 495-511. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.
* Victor Turner (2009 [1964]) Betwixt and between: The Liminal Period in Rites de Passage. In
Magic, Witchcraft and Religion, P. Moro et al, ed., pp. 91-101. McGraw Hill: Boston.
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Jan 28: Class 6: Rituals Video
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Jan 30: Class 7: Funeral Rituals and Honoring the Dead
Readings:
D2L:
*Conklin, Beth (1995) "Thus Are Our Bodies, Thus Was Our Custom": Mortuary Cannibalism in an
Amazonian Society American Ethnologist 22: 75-101.
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Feb 4: Class 8: National Geographic’s Taboo: Death
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Feb 6: Class 9: Taboos: Threats of Spiritual Punishment as Behavior Controls and Protections
Readings:
D2L:
*Mary Douglas. (2008) Taboo. In Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion, P. Moro et. al., eds., pp.76-80.
McGraw-Hill: Boston, MA.
* Mary Douglas (2008) Land Animals: Pure and Impure. In Reader in the Anthropology of
Religion, Michael Lambek, ed., pp. 21-34. Blackwell; Malden, MA.
*James Frazer (1922) The Golden Bough. Penguin Books: New York, NY. Excerpts.
*Marvin Harris (1979) Cultural Materialism. Vintage: New York, NY. pp. 190-197
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Feb 11: Class 10: Devils and Demons: Spiritual Threats as Control for Individual Behavior
Readings: Start: The Devil: A Very short introduction
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Feb 13: Class 11: Film: TBA
Readings: Finish: The Devil: A Very short Introduction
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Feb 18: Class 12: Film: TBA
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Feb 20: Class 13: Discussion: The Devil a Very Short Introduction (Whole Book)
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Feb 25: Class 14: Myths and World Views: Situating humans in the universe
Readings:
Text book: Bowie Ch. 5, 118-137 only
D2L:
*David Carrasco (1998) Religions of Mesoamerica, pp. 45-91. Waveland Press: Prospect Hieghts, IL
*Bronislaw Malinowski: (2002 [1926])Myth in Primitive Psychology. In Reader in the
Anthropology of Religion, Michael Lambek, ed., pp. 176-184. Blackwell; Malden, MA.
Feb 27: Class 15: Religion, Ritual, and Politics: Aztec Ceremonial Landscapes
Readings:
D2L:
*David Carrasco(1999) City of Sacrifice, Ch 2. Beacon press; Boston, MA.
*Mircea Eliade. (1995) Ritual and Myth. In Readings in Ritual Studies, R.L. Grimes, ed.,
pp.194-201. Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.
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Mar 4: Class 16: Video: Aztecs: Inside the Hidden Empire (approx 1 hr)
Readings:
D2L:
*Arnold, Philip. (1991) Eating Landscape: Human Sacrifice and Sustenance in Aztec Mexico. In Aztec Ceremonial
Landscapes, edited by David Carrasco, pp. 219-233. Univ of Colorado Press: Niwot, CO.
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Mar 6: Class 17: Haitian Voodoo: Politics, Social Control, and Social Welfare
Readings: Begin book: A Passage through Darkness
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Mar 11: Class 18: Voodoo Video
Readings: Continue Reading: A Passage Through Darkness
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Mar 13: Class 19: Discussion: A Passage through Darkness (First half)
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Mar 18: Class 20: Discussion: A Passage through Darkness (Second half)
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Mar 20: Class 21: Magic, Science, and Religion: Controlling the Unknown
Readings:
D2L:
*Bronislaw Malinowski: Coral Gardens and Their Magic: pp. 62-83
*George Gmelch: Baseball Magic (5 pages)
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Mar 25: Class 22: Shamanism
Readings:
Text book: Bowie, Ch. 7
D2L:
*Heyne, Georg F. (1999) The Social Significance of the Shaman among the ChineseReindeer-Evenki
Asian Folklore Studies 58 (2): 377-395
*Laderman, Carol (1997) The Limits of Magic. American Anthropologist 99 (2):333-341
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Mar 27: Class 23: Shamanism videos
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Apr 1: Class 24: Traditional Witchcraft: Explaining the Unknown and Diffusing Social Tensions
Readings:
Text book: Bowie Ch 8, 219-235 only
D2L:
*E.E. Evans-Pritchard (1976) Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic among the Azande. Oxford University Press:
Oxford, UK. Chapter 2 only, pp 18-33
*Clyde Kluckhohn (1944) excerpts from Navaho Witchcraft. Beacon Press: Boston, MA
pp. 81-86, 95-103, 110-121
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Apr 3: Class 25: Salem Witch Crisis: Social Tensions in Colonial Massachusetts
Readings: Start Book: Carol F. Karlsen: Devil in the Shape of a Woman
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APR 8, 10 NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
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Apr 15: Class 26: Unsolved History: The Salem Witch Trials
Readings: Finish: Devil in the Shape of a Woman.
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Apr 17, 22: Classes 27, 28: Discussion: Devil in the Shape of a Woman (First half)
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Apr 24: Class 29: Goddess Worship: Past and Present (includes Modern Wicca)
Readings: TBA
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Term Paper Instructions: DUE NOV. 14
Choose a topic related to religion and anthropology. You must discuss how this topic either affects society or how it
is affected by society. You may want to discuss the controversy surrounding a particular topic or the reasons an
individual entered a religious order or why they were deemed worthy of sainthood. This discussion must be based on
scholarly sources including journal articles, books, newspapers, news magazines, etc.
Length: 8-10 pages, NOT INCLUDING images, bibliography, footnotes/endnotes, or title page.
Margins and Fonts: Margins must be one inch and the line spacing must be double-spaced or 1.5 spaced.
Paper must be written in 11 or 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font. Larger fonts or margins and line
spacing above double-spaced will receive a full letter grade deduction.
Citations are required. Use whatever style is considered appropriate in your major field; footnotes, endnotes,
or in-line parenthetical references are all accepted. If you do not know how to do citations, buy a copy of the
MLA term paper style guide handbook and use it. Improper citations or under-use of citations (i.e. citing only
direct quotes) will result in a full letter grade deduction. No citations results in automatic F.
Examples:
In-line parenthetical citations: Marginalized old women were commonly accused of witchcraft in Salem
(Karlsen 1987: 156)
Websites: You must cite websites, though websites cannot be used as your only sources. Websites cannot
substitute for real books and articles. List websites in a separate section of your bibliography and number them.
Citing Websites: Wiccans and other pagans really worship nature (Website 1).
A bibliography is also required. Again, use the style considered appropriate to your major field or the MLA
handbook. You must provide full bibliographic information for all works cited, including journal articles even if
you find them via JSTOR, EBESCO or another ejournal provider. Web links are not acceptable as bibliographic
entries for ejournal articles. Lack of a bibliography will result in a two letter grade deduction. An improperly
done bibliography will result in a one letter grade deduction.
A minimum of EIGHT scholarly sources are required. These include books, book chapters, and journal
articles by real archaeologists. Websites can be used to supplement scholarly sources but not as a substitute.
Warnings:
1) Feedback on your paper proposal may direct you to sources that are better than the ones you found
originally. If you insist on using substandard sources, your paper will be judged accordingly and may receive a
grade of F.
2) You must cite all internet sources. Use of wikipedia is forbidden. Plagiarizing a sentence or paragraph from a
website will result in an automatic F on the paper. If entire passages from any known print or electronic source
are plagiarized, you will fail the course. Internet sources supplement real scholarly sources; they do not
substitute for them.
3) You will probably need to use interlibrary loan to get books. Order them early because it can take several
weeks for them to arrive. You will not be given an extension because your interlibrary loan books did not
come in.
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4) Your paper must have a thesis statement that tells me what your paper is trying to do. Absence of a clear
thesis statement or divergence too far from the thesis statement will result in a full letter grade deduction.
Proofread your paper several times to make sure your thesis is clear and that your evidence supports a consistent
argument. Lack of consistency will result in a full letter grade deduction. Consult the writing center if you are
concerned about this issue.
5) Opinions are optional. You must use scholarly sources to back up opinions. Improperly researched and
unsupported opinions will result in a full letter grade deduction. Opinions must be fact-based and critically
evaluated using real archaeological data, not invented, blindly adopted, or based on fake science, religion, or
fiction. I recommend that you do not write opinion-based papers.
6) Papers are due in class on November 19. Beginning after class, a full letter grade per week day is deducted.
By Friday Nov 23, your paper is worth a D. Late papers must be put in my department mailbox. If you wait to
hand it in after Thanksgiving, the paper is worth a ZERO. Emailing papers without prior permission will
result in a full letter grade deduction.
Recommendations: Start working on your paper several months before it is due to get your sources together
and your thesis developed. Read before you write so you can use the sources effectively. Papers written the
night before they are due often reveal the haste with which they were researched and composed.
Possible paper topics include but are not limited to:
Paganism
Harry Potter Controversy/ Religious critics
Superstition
Female subjugation and religion
Cults
Ritual abuse
Voodoo
Orcales
Archaeology of Noah’s Ark
Sports and religion
Fundamentalism
Religious asceticism
Mysticism and the Occult
Knights Templar
Gnostics/Gnosticism
Islam: Radical vs. Mainstream
Homosexuality (Hijra, Berdache)
Golden Compass/Religious Criticism
Evangelicalism
Abortion vs. Pro-Choice
Joan of Arc
Satanism/Church of Satan
Jesus: Prophet, Messiah, or Magician?
Chronicles of Narnia and Christian Values
Henry VIII and Anglicanism
Goddess Cults
Gay Marriage
Hero myths (comparisons)
Religion and the State
Celebrity and religion
Homosexuality and Christianity
Exorcism: Reality or Fiction
Demonic Possession
Shamanic Healing
Celibacy Debate in Catholic Church
Christianity and the DaVinci Code
Rites of passage
Santeria
Revitalization Movements
Islamic militancy and Jihad
Karma Sutra/Tantra
Prayer in Schools
Kabbalah
Psychics, Divination, and Religion
Religious Right in America
Shroud of Turin
Alchemy: Magic, Science, or both?
Wicca
Church of Scientology Controversies
Unitarian Universalists
Nostradamus
Galileo
Intelligent Design vs. Evolution
Divination
Sacrificial Rituals
Spanish Inquisition
Death Rites
Church Schisms
Origin myths (comparisons)
Mary Magdalene Controversy
“The Force” as a Religion
Deism and Religious Freedom in the US
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