Religion – more, perhaps, than any other institution – helps to express, uphold, and reinforce the cultural
configuration and its dominant values. – Annemarie de Waal Malefijt (1968)
Anthropology of Religion (RELI/ANTH 4640/6640)
Instructor: Dr. Chris A. Joseph cjoseph@uga.edu
Office: Baldwin Hall 105 I
Office Hours: Wednesday 11:00 AM -12:00 PM or by appointment
TA: Heather Gallivan hgalliv@uga.edu - Contact for attendance and group chapter contribution
Course Materials (Available UGA bookstore and library reserve)
• Bowie, Fiona (FB) 2006. The anthropology of religion: an introduction. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell
Publishers.
• Lambek, Michael (ML) 2002 / 2008. A reader in the anthropology of religion. Malden, MA:
Blackwell Publishers. (Note: Chapters may vary in the 2 editions: schedule will show it as Ch. 8/9 ML.)
• 2 Examination booklets for class work (Green (blue) book 8.5 x 11)
Course Description and Objective
Religions, rituals and belief systems are universals that demonstrate remarkable commonalities and key
variations. This course is an introduction to the anthropological canon on religion: the foundational thinkers and
their original works, key concepts, and some debates within the field. A cross-cultural approach will expose
students to ethnographic particularities and illustrate the anthropological perspective, i.e. recognizing the familiar
in the strange and the strange in the familiar while avoiding ethnocentric biases. All religious activities are viewed
as forms of social and cultural expression.
The objective of this course is to understand the theoretical, methodological and ethnographic aspects of the
anthropological study of religion.
Course Requirements
1. Attendance is required. Any more than 5 unexcused absences will impact your grade (.5 point
deduction per day). See schedule for the mandatory attendance days (1 point deduction per day).
Turn in documentation for excused absences to the TA.
2. Participation in class discussions and group work is graded. You need to demonstrate that you have
completed the reading for the day through: (i) an active role in class discussions or (ii) by class work.
3. Group chapter contribution based on the readings – (i) give a PowerPoint presentation on the
assigned chapter (5 points) and (ii) upload a copy of your presentation with slide attributions (i.e.
which group member contributed which slide) on WebCT (5 points). Points (5) deduction for not
presenting with your group on the day you are signed up for.
4. Two Exams based on the class readings and lectures.
5. Individual ethnographic project and final report: This project includes: (i) a topic outline (1 page)
(ii) an observation (2 pages) (iii) an interview to be presented in class (please meet with me if you are
not comfortable with public speaking) and (iv) a final report (minimum of 5 pages; graduate students
10 pages). Further instructions forthcoming.
Course Evaluations:
1. Attendance
20 points
2. Participation
20 points
3. Group chapter contribution
10 points
4. Exam 1 & 2
20 points
5. Ethnographic Project
i. Topic outline
5 points
ii. Observation
10 points
iii. Interview presentation
5 points
iv. Final report
10 points
Total
100 points
Grading: A=>95, A- = 90-94.5, B+ = 87-89.5, B = 84-86.5, B- = 80-83.5, C+ = 77-79.5, C = 74-76.5, C- = 70-73.5 D = 60.00-69.5, F = 59.5 and below
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary and will be announced to the class by the instructor. All academic work must
meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” All students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards.
Absolutely NO laptop, cell phone use is allowed in class. Even the suspicion of texting will result in automatic deductions.
If you require an exception to the laptop policy, please contact me after the first class.
Joseph Fall 2011
1
ANTH 4640
Week
1.
Aug 15
Monday
2.
22 Ch.
Wednesday
Overview of course
Friday
17
Intro to anthropology
19 Group
1 FB &
General Intro ML
24
Ch. 1 ML (Tylor)
26 Ch.
3.
29 Ch.
31
4.
5
5.
12
Ch. 2 FB The Body
14 Ch.
6.
19
Ch. 3 FB Boundaries
21 
7.
26 Ch.
8.
Oct 3 Ch.
9.
10
Ch. 6 FB Ritual
12
10.
17
Ch. 8 FB Witchcraft
19 Ch.
11.
24 Ch.
7 FB Shamanism
26
12.
31 Ch.
10 FB Myth
Nov 2
13.
7 Project Observation
3 ML (Weber)
Labor Day
Sept 2 Ch.
Project discussion
9 Exam 1
28
5 FB Environment
5
15/16 ML (Douglas)
The Romany Trail
Ch. 28/30 ML (Boddy)
Ch. 6 ML (Stanner)
Ch. 25/26 ML (Turner)
19/20 ML (Kelly)
Ch. 22/23 ML (Castro)
Ch.13/14 ML
(Malinowski)
Due
2 ML (Durkheim)
Ch. 4 ML (Geertz)
 Bali-Isle of temples
7
4 FB Gender
Sign-ups
(bring Lambek to class)
9
Ch. 9 FB Pilgrimage
8/9 ML (Asad)
16 Ch.
27/29 ML
(Obeyesekere)
23 Project Outline Due
30
7
Ch. 12/13 ML (Wolf)
 Going Tribal
14 Ch.
21
30/32 ML (Bloch)
Ch. 24/25 ML (Tambiah)
28 Fall
Break
4 Ch.16/17
ML (Levi-Strauss)
11 Exam 2
Presentation Discussion
14.
14
Project Presentation PP*
16 PP*
Thanksgiving Break
18 PP*
November 21 – 25
2011
15.
28 PP*
30 PP*
Dec 2 PP*
16.
5 PP*
6 ** Conclusion
2 participation points for online
completion of end of the semester
anthropology class evaluations
Last day of class
Final Paper Due
 Film screening
ML Michael Lambek Book
PP*Attendance mandatory
** Dec 6 Friday schedule in effect
Joseph Fall 2011
2
FB Fiona Bowie Book
ANTH 4640