MYTH, MAGIC, AND RELIGION
Spring 2001
Anthropology 4170/5170 Dr. Marjorie M. Snipes
Class: Pafford Hall, Rm. 106 Office: Martha Munro #204
Time: M/W 2:00-3:15 pm Office Hrs: M/W 8am-10am
Phone: (770) 838-3153 and M/W 11am-2pm
e-mail: msnipes@westga.edu and by appointment
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Bolin, Inge. 1998. Rituals of Respect: The Secret of Survival in the High Peruvian Andes. Austin: Univ. of Texas Press.
Lehmann, Arthur C. and James E. Myers. 2001. Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural. London: Mayfield Publishing Co.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS/GRADING:
Attendance is REQUIRED for each class, as discussion is integral to the course. An excess of 3 absences will constitute a lowering of the final grade.
- written discussions on required readings (25%)
- daily grades/class participation (10%)
- student interview/presentation (20%)
- mid-term examination (20%)
- final examination (25%)
Course Grading Scale: Class Policy:
90 – 100 A 1. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are not tolerated and
80 – 89 B will result in automatic class failure. No exceptions.
70 – 79 C 2. Students who leave class early will be removed from the day's
60 – 69 D attendance roll unless the student is sick or has prior per-
below 60 F mission of the professor. Class interruption is not tolerated.
3. Any changes deemed necessary in this syllabus will be announced in
class by the professor.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK 1 (Jan.8/10): THE SCIENCE OF THE SACRED
Readings:
Fernández, J.: "Foreword," pp. vii-viii
WEEK 2 (Jan.17): THE EMERGENCE AND EVOLUTION OF THE SUPERNATURAL
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 1, pp. 1-34
WEEK 3 (Jan.22/24): IDENTIFYING SACRED COMPONENTS
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 2, pp. 35-85
WEEK 4 (Jan.29/31): THE PRACTITIONERS OF BELIEF
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 3, pp. 86-119
WEEK 5 (Feb.5/7): ALTERED STATES OF CONSTRUCTED REALITIES
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 4, pp. 120-149
WEEK 6 (Feb.12/14): MID-TERM EXAMINATION Wednesday, February 14
Monday, Feb. 12: No Class - Reading Day
Wednesday, Feb. 14: Mid-Term Examination
WEEK 7 (Feb.19/21): SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 5, pp. 150-203
WEEK 8 (Feb.26/28): WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 6, pp. 204-248
WEEK 9 (March 5/7): TRANSGRESSION, POSSESSION, AND AUGURY
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 7, pp. 249-299
WEEK 10 (March 12/14): LIFE PASSAGES AND STATES OF BEING
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapter 8, pp. 300-343
<SPRING BREAK MARCH 19-23>
WEEK 11 (March 26/28): RELIGION AND CULTURE AS SYMBIOSIS
Readings:
Lehmann/Myers: Chapters 9-10, pp. 344-410
WEEK 12 (April 2/4): RELIGION IN THE US (Part 1)
Readings:
Bolin: pp. xi-72
WEEK 13 (April 9/11): RELIGION IN THE US (Part 2)
Readings:
Bolin: pp. 73-111
WEEK 14 (April 16/18): RELIGION ON THE GROUND
Readings:
Bolin: pp. 112-198
WEEK 15 (April 23/25): ANDEAN RITUALS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Readings:
Bolin: pp. 199-232
WEEK 16 (April 30): HOW THE SACRED TRANSFORMS THE SCIENCE
No Readings Due
FINAL EXAMINATION ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2:00-4:00 PM
