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Academic Year 2000/2001
Magic, Science, and Religion
RELI 390 SP
How does magic differ from religion? Does the increasing rationalization of the world render magic and religion obsolete? Do anthropologists' usages of these terms reflect indigenous categories or those of their own
culture? We will examine the
classical anthropological writings of Frazer, Weber, Durkheim, Levy-Bruhl, and Malinowski concerning magic, religion, and science and then use insights from these thinkers and our readings of them to read critically a
number of ethnographies concerned wit
h religiosity and rationality in both traditional and contemporary industrialized societies.
MAJOR READINGS
Frazer: THE GOLDEN BOUGH (selections)
Malinowski: MAGIC, SCIENCE & RELIGION
Durkheim: THE ELEMENTARY FORMS OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE (selections)
Foucault: THE ORDER OF THINGS (selections)
Evans-Pritchard: WITCHCRAFT, ORACLES & MAGIC
AMONG THE AZANDE
Luhrmann: PERSUASIONS OF THE WITCH'S CRAFT: RITUAL MAGIC IN CONTEMPORARY ENGLAND
Godbeer, THE DEVIL'S DOMINION
Davis, DOJO: MAGIC & EXORCISM IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN
Steven, A'AISA'S
GIFTS
plus reading packet
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Two class presentations. Active class participation. Weekly reading summary. Midterm paper. Final paper.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
This course fulfills a "Religion in Society" departmental requirement.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed
Drop/Add form to the Registrar's
Office.
COURSE FORMAT:
Discussion
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level:
UGRD
Credit:
1
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI
Grading Mode:
Graded
Prerequisites:
NONE
SECTION 01
- Instructor(s): Smyers,Karen A.
- Times: ...W... 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: RSCSEM
- Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 16)
- SR. major: 5 Jr. major: 5
- SR. non-major: 2 Jr. non-major: 2 SO: 2 FR: X
Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-26-2001
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459