The practices arise from these ideas and include shamanism, sacrifice, oracles and divination, exorcism, funerals, and mythology. We will examine many of these practices, especially sacrifice, shamanism, and funerals, in specific cultural contexts to show how they can be used to arrive at the religious ideas of the culture, ideas which may be otherwise ill- or unarticulated. There will be two quizzes and the final exam, which will be comprehensive.
All assignments are due on or before the dates specified in the syllabus.
The paper must be turned in in class, not afterwards. Should you find that you cannot meet the deadlines because of a legitimate emergency, please let me know in advance if you possibly can. Class attendance . I will be discussing a great deal in lectures that is not covered in your assigned readings, and for which you will be responsible in your written work. Habitual absence from class will certainly result in a disappointing grade.