Anthropology of Religion

The anthropology of religion studies religious beliefs, rituals, and symbols across cultures and their role in social life.

Scope

It covers ritual and symbolism, magic and witchcraft, myth, and the social functions and meanings of religion cross-culturally.

Core questions

• What are the social functions of religion?
• How do ritual and symbol work?
• How do societies understand magic and misfortune?
• How does religion vary across cultures?

Key concepts

• The sacred
• Ritual
• Liminality
• Magic and witchcraft
• Symbolism
• Communitas

Key theories

Religion and the sacred

Durkheim analysed religion as collective representation reinforcing social solidarity.

The rationality of belief

Evans-Pritchard showed Azande witchcraft beliefs form a coherent system explaining misfortune.

Ritual and liminality

Turner analysed ritual process, liminality, and 'communitas'.

History

From Durkheim's sociology of religion and Evans-Pritchard's classic study of Azande witchcraft to Turner's symbolic analysis of ritual, the field interprets religion as meaningful social practice.

Debates

Are 'magical' beliefs irrational?

Evans-Pritchard's work showed such beliefs are rational within their own systems of thought.

Key figures

• Émile Durkheim
• E. E. Evans-Pritchard
• Victor Turner

Seminal works

• durkheim-1912
• evans-pritchard-1937
• turner-1969

Frequently asked questions

What is liminality?

Turner's term for the ambiguous, 'in-between' phase of a ritual, when normal social structure is suspended.