Kiaya Nickens

Mr. Sanchez – p.8

Christian in the World

January 23, 2013

Homework:

Primal Religious Traditions Questions

 

1. Why are some forms of religions called primal? Characteristics of Primal Religion.

Some religions are referred to as “primal” because these religions were formed before the traditional religions that are practiced today. Characteristics include mythic and ritual traditions. Myths of primal individuals are an orientation of their life. Primal religion is the religion of non-literate people, which means they don’t depend on scriptures of written text similar to other religions. Also is usually a group of small tribal people.

 

2. What elements of the natural and human world did the Ancestors create or establish in the period of Dreaming?

Some elements that the Ancestors created/established were that the Earth was formless. The Ancestors gave shape to the landscape. As well as created forms of life, including the first human beings. They organized humans into tribes, and after the Aborigines formed tribes they departed from the Earth and left behind symbols, in the forms of landmarks.

3. What survives in the symbols left behind by the Ancestors?

In the sites that the symbols are left behind is believed to be charged with sacred power, where only certain individuals are allowed to visit. As well as sites being charged with sacred power it is believed that the sites that are notable, the geography within has a religious significance.

4. Totem and Taboo

Totem: the natural form of in which an ancestor appeared in Dreaming

Taboo: The rule that dictates certain things and activities, which recognizes their sacred nature.

5. Why is ritual essential if Aboriginal life is to have meaning?

Rituals are essential because it awakens people to their spiritual identity, as well as define their social identity with their tribe. In addition it also prepares the rebirth into spiritual adulthood.

6. How did the Aboriginal rituals originate?

The aboriginal rituals originated from the Ancestors.

7. What purposes are served by the Aboriginal initiation rites?

The purposes of it awakens people to their spiritual identity, as well as define their social identity with their tribe. In addition it also prepares the rebirth into spiritual adulthood.

8. Identify two acts of Dieri imitation symbols that symbolize death?

- The two lower teeth of a boy on his 9^th birthday are knocked out and buried in the ground

- Circumcision – removal of the foreskin of the penis

9. What part of Africa do the Yoruba live?

The Yoruba’s live in Nigeria, Benin and Togo.

10. Why has the city of Ife been the center of Yoruba religion?

The city of Ife has been the center of Yoruba religion because it is where the Yoruba’s god Orishna-nla first began to create the world.

11. Yoruba understanding of cosmos.

The Yorubas depict the world as two separate divisions: heaven and earth. Heaven being the invisible homes of the Ancestors and Earth being the visible experience of human beings. The entire purpose is to maintain balance in the world.

12. Who is Olorun, and what role does he play in the Yoruba religion?

Olorun is the supreme god of the Yoruba tribe, his role is to inhabit heaven.

13.What are the orishas? Explain its significance.

The orishas are the lesser dieties, compared to the Supreme god Olorum. But still have significant meaning because they still have sacred power, as well the orishas can either help or harm people.

14. Name and describe two orishas.

Ogun- the god of Iron, as well as war. He was the king of the city Ife.

Esu- contain both good and evil properties. Esu mediates between heaven and Earth.

15. What is a trickster figure?

A trickster figure is a sort of mischievous supernatural being.

16. Two types of Yoruba ancestors.

- Heavenly ancestors are deceased humans that have acquired supernatural powers. Ex.Orishnas

- Family – gain supernatural status by good reputation

- Ddefied – worshipped by many people.

17. Describe the role of the Yoruba ritual practitioner .

The ritual practitioner mediate the role between the gods and ancestors in heaven.

18 . Divination- essential?

Priests practice divination in which ones future can be predicted.. It is essential to the Yoruba tribe because it will determine how to proceed with ones life.

19.  How do scholars believe  humans came to North America?

-The humans migrated from Asia, possibly crossing over the Bering Strait.

20. Why is the religion of the Plains Indians vital, to North America?

-The religion of the Plains is vital to North America because the tribes speak more than seven different languages.

21.  Wakan Tanka?

Wakan Tanka is the name given by the Lakota that means supreme reality.

22. Inktomi?

He is the god that mediates the supernatural world and human world. *Name means spider*

23. Lakota belief of death and afterlife.

The Lakota believe that four souls depart from a person at death. The soul meets an old woman , who determines whether or not the soul is to live in the world of ancestors or back to earth as a ghost.

24. What do individuals try to gain access during vision quests.

Individuals attempt to gain spiritual power for more success during hunting.

25.  Structure/Function of Sweat Lodge.

Structure- dark, and airtight hut composed of animal skin, the structure has the intention of representing the universe.

Function- Heated stones are placed in the middle, and the medicine man or woman sprinkles water over the individuals.

26. Typical vision of a vision quest.

A typical vision of a person that experiences a vision quest is the following: Usually occurs at the end of the day, arrives in the form of an animal, and a message is communicated through the vision that is seen. And then proceeds by having the medicine man/woman interpret the vision.

 

27.  Who proceed the sun dance in the Blackfeet tribe?

A sacred leader proceeds the sun dance, usually a medicine man.

28.  Axis Mundi in general, what is it in the sun dance?

The axis mundi is the center of the universe in the form of a carved tree, in the sun dance specifically the axis mundi is the sun.

29.  Why do some dance until their flesh tears?

Some do this because they believe their bodies are the only thing they truly own, and the dances regard the body mutilation as the only sacrifice they can give.

30. What ways does the Aztec defy the primal religion? What ways are they similar?

The Aztec religion defy primal religion because instead of small groups of people, the Aztec

were a highly developed civilization, with a large population. Most Aztec were urban, while

primal religion is rural. But the Aztecs and primal religion are similar because both show aspects

of an interconnection of myths and rituals.

31. Where was Mesoamerica located?

Mesoamerica was located in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

32. What god created and ordered the world? What ancient city did this happen in?

The Toltec god named Quetzalcoatl created order in the world. This occurred in the ancient city of Tenochtitlan.

33. Who was  Topiltzin  Quetzalcoatl?

-Was the ruler during the golden age of brilliance.

34. What did the Aztecs call their present age?

The Aztecs called their present age – the golden age of cultural brilliance. The Aztecs hoped for an ideal civilization.

35. Aztecs and Spatial world?

The Aztecs understood the spatial world as having four quadrants, extending outward from the universe.

36. Each human as an axis mundi?

The Aztecs regarded each human as an axis mundi because it connected earthly realm.

37.Secial capabilities of Aztecs knowers of things.

The special capabilities of the Aztec knowers of things were that they were able to understand the human body in terms of their religion.

38. What historical coincidence contributed to the fall of Tenochtitlan?

The veneration of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

39. Day of the day show survival?

The Day of the Dead shows survival because it embraces the ancestors of the Aztec civilization which in fact symbolizes  life by recognizing the ancestors.

 

40. What three themes are shared in this chapter?

Three themes include the following:

1.Communication

2. all-encompassing nature of religion

3. Desire to acquire knowledge.