Basic elements of religion

Components of religion

1. Basic Elements of Religion Sufi initiates—known as “Whirling Dervishes” — performing the Sema ceremony

2. Basic Elements of Religion Myths/Doctrines Rituals Religious Specialists

3. Myths/Doctrine Myths/Doctrine Religious narratives/stories providing a framework for religious beliefs/practices Codify worldviews by providing: understanding of how the world works template for reality understanding the origin of humans

4. Myths Myths Usually oral tradition, often indirect messages Can change through time Recited or performed Common myths: Origin/creation Heroes Apocalypse Tricksters

5. Doctrine Direct statements about religious beliefs, formalized and written Associated with state-level religions May be subject to analysis May be more stable through time Translations a source of change Many have roots in oral traditions Bible: many translations Qur’an: no translations Literal meaning: “the recitation”

6. Rituals Ritual : a patterned, recurring sequence of events Situational Ritual Life-cycle rituals (Rites of Passage) E.g. birth, coming of age, marriage, death T hree phases: Separation, Transition, Reintegration

7. Rituals Periodic Ritual Pilgrimage E.g. the annual Hajj to Mecca Many others: Christian, Hindu, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. Daily Prayers (Islam)

8. Religious Specialists Degree of religious specialization linked with degree of social complexity Small-scale society: rituals performed by many or all adults Large-scale society: rituals performed by specialists Main types: Shaman vs. Priest Other types: Prophet, Diviner, Religious Healers, etc.

9. Shaman Religious specialist with direct association with supernaturals Receives power directly from the spirit world communication through altered states of consciousness Most associated with non-state societies, part-time “Called” to the profession

10. Priest Associated with states, full-time religious specialists Formal training, given authority by formal groups May come from priestly lineage Perform wider range of rituals Rituals reinforce belief systems, ethical codes Often associated with dedicated spaces

11. Diviners Answer questions or communicate with supernatural using rituals Ancient practice Many forms: Astrology Taromancy Extispicy Auspicy Scapulamancy Tasseography

12. Prophets Prophets A living mouthpiece of the gods communicate the will of the gods an intermediary between the community and the gods o ften have visions/dreams charismatic begin new religions