THEORIES OF CULTURE AND RELIGION REL300

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Course Orientation: This course focuses on theories (both explicit and implicit) about how religion operates in culture. Although we will be looking at examples of the ways these theories have been applied to various cultures, our focus is on the critical understanding of these theories rather than on the description of the cultures.

Course Description: Despite the fact that the terms "culture" and "religion" emerge from the Western context, they can nonetheless be used as a general descriptions of social phenomena across cultures. Yet in order to understand how various cultures, both Western and non-Western conceive of "religion" we must rely on a more basic notion, that of "power." In other words, in many cultures which seem to have no parallel to the notions of "culture" or "religion" there is an agreed upon sense of "power" (sometimes characterized as "the sacred") found in particular social structures, persons, places, or realms. In the West, theories about what religion is are often an attempt to explain the experience of sacred power as religious or cultural phenomena. In certain highly developed non-western cultures there may also be theories or abstract descriptions about the nature of religion. But even where there are no formal theories, there may be stories, art and other kinds of materials from which, through reflection, we can infer concepts of "culture" and "religion" that are as rich and descriptive as the abstractions of the West.

This course is divided into four themes, each of which takes a different slant on the issues described above. Theme I, Culture and Religions: Visions and Revisions will focus on Western theories of "religion," that is, attempts to explain experiences of "(sacred) power" as "religion," "culture," or the religious dimension of culture. The work of theorists whose work is significant beyond the field in and beyond the field of religious studies will be examined, and will serve as reference points for the rest of the course. Theme II, The West Reflecting on the Non-West, will explore how these and other Western theories have been applied to very different cultures (with similar names): India (both ancient and modern) and Indians of North America (primarily the Woodland Indians, such as the Chippewa and Winnebago). An emphasized theme will be the ways these theories have colored our perceptions of these peoples.

Theme III, The Non-West Reflecting on the West, will look through the opposite side of the mirror, exploring how India and Woodland Indians have viewed Western theories of culture, religion, and power. Theme IV, Cultures Reflecting on Themselves will take as its case study the Chippewayan Indians' view of themselves, prompting us hopefully to rethink our categories of culture, religion and power.