Syllabus

Freud on Religion

INTRODUCTION: QUESTIONS

• Lexical definitions are often woefully inadequate when it comes to a systematic study of certain disciplines and terms in them. How would you define "religion"?
• List the arguments that H&W give for studying religion. Can you think of others they have not listed? Why, for instance, is James' definition (5) given short shrift?
• What does the anthropological/psychological investigation of the origins of religion tell you about the nature of religion and the veridicality of various religions?

Terms to Know:

Animism (anima), polytheism, monotheism, Frazer's recapitulationism, Comte's Positivism, (Feuerbach, Freud) wish-fulfilment thesis, Marxian thesis

CHAPTER ONE: QUESTIONS

• What are the limits of use of contemporary religions as a source for archaic religions? What are the limits of archeological investigation?
• What is animism and what benefits are there to "animating" nature or natural objects?
• What is the key difference between early magi and contemporary practitioners of religion? How do imitation and fetishism fit in?

Terms to Know:

Magi, imitative magic, fetish, divination, taboo, totem, ritual, sacrifice, mythos, rite of passage, ancestor worship

CHAPTER THREE: QUESTIONS

• What are the two stereotypes that have impacted perceptions of African culture? Are these applicable to Native Americans as well?
• What sort of generic structure do African polytheistic religions have concerning their gods? Are all deities interested in human affairs?
• What sorts of methods do people use to communicate or placate their gods? Are these always effective?
• What role do the dead play in African religions? What is the general attitude towards the dead? Do you think that climate and environment play a role?
• What is divination? What are main methods of diviners?

Terms to Know

libation, sacrifice, divination, spiritual curers, rites of passage,

Questions for Consideration:

• What does "Hindu" (Sanskrit) mean and, in general, what are the roots of the religion?
• What are the four main castes of Aryan society and how many castes are there today in Hindu culture?
• What were the key features of Aryan religion?
• How did understanind of the Vedas help regulate Hindu culture?
• What is the story of the descent of Manu supposed to explain?
• What is the Law of Manu? What is it essaying to explain? What aspects of this "ethical" system do you find appealing? ...unappealing?
• What are the Upanishads? What are some of the basic premises of their teaching? How do ignorance, the illusion of life, and escape from karma come into play?
• How is the Hindu view of life cyclical? Include Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Do good/ill actions impact this cyclicality or is it starky fixed?
• What is the Bhagavad Gita? Is its view of the human condition optimistic?
• How, in general, does the Post-Classical system differ from the Classical system of Hinduism?
• What is the relation of PC Hinduism to philosophy?
• In general, what would you say of the role of women in Hindu society (yesterday or today)? Do female deities suffer a better fate?

Key Terms: hindu, Aryan, raja, Vedas, Upanishads, Brahman (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva), karma, samsara, Bhagavad Gita, Krishna

CHAPTER TWO: QUESTIONS

• Is it fair to say that the general Native American attitude towards nature is one of greater respect for it? How does animism tie in?
• How important is song and dance in Native American religious ritual?
• What is the general Native American attitude towards death? ...towards the dead?
• What is totemism to Native Americans? How do visions sometimes lead to totemism?
• What do you think about the Native American uses of tobacco, peyote?
• Is Native American religion idiosyncratic or highly structured?
• What is your attitude towards the impact of Christian proselytes on Native American culture?
• What is the Native American attitude towards life after death?

Key Terms:

Monism, medicine man, bears and badgers

Questions for Consideration:

• Who was Mahavira and how was Jainism founded?
• Why would Mahavira be indifferent to fires beneath him, clothing,? If his way of life was indifference to things impacting the body, why then did he go out of his way to torment his body?
• What is the key problem of Jainism (as well as Hinduism). How does karma factor in? How is a holy man to find release?
• Explain thoroughly Jain dualism. How does it factor into the "key problem" of Jainism?
• To what extent do Jains rely on the gods? ..on themselves?
• Explain in detail the five vows of Jain monks and the justification of each?
• What is Jainism like today?
• Were you to adopt the Jain mode of living today (gender issues notwithstanding), what modifications would you make to your life?
• Bonus: Why do Jains regard truth as relative? What value then does it have in an ascete's life?

Key Terms: Mahavira, ahimsa, Agamas, Svetambara, Digambara,

Questions for Consideration:

• Who was Siddhartha and what are the origins of Buddhism? How did Siddhartha (Gautama) find enlightenment? How did tanha factor in? Was he a complete ascete?
• How, in general, has it migrated or changed (geographically) over the years? Explain how it migrated (mostly) from India.
• What are the five basic rules of moral conduct for Buddhists?
• Why did the Buddha reject the notion of a soul (might need additional sources here)?
• What is Theravada Buddhism? Why do Hopfe and Woodward call it the more conservative division? What two types of meditation do Theravadists use?
• What is Mahayana Buddhism? How did it go well beyond the principles of Siddhartha? What are the differences between the Jodo, Zen, Tendai, and Nichiren sects?
• Who is the Dalai Lama?
• In general, how does Tibetan Buddhism differ from other sorts?

Key Terms: tanha, karma, Nirvana, arhat, wat, Bodhisattvas, dhyana, tantras, lama, Bardo

Questions for Consideration:

• What is Sikhism? Explain thoroughly its origins.
• What was the message of Nanak?
• In what precise ways is Sikhism an admixture of Islamic and Hindu thought?
• What are the key principles of Sikhism?
• Who were the gurus? Why were there only 10?
• How did Sikhism develop from its pacifist roots to its current milarisms? Relate to Durga and reincarnation.
• What are the main divisions of Sikhism today?

Key Terms: guru, Adi Granth, Singhs, Udasis, Takht

General Questions:

• What are yin and yang? How do these work toward harmony in the universe?
• How did the Chou rebellion in c. 800 B.C. over the Shang pave the way for religious reforms? What were these reforms?
• Who were the Legalists? What were their basic beliefs?
• Who were the Mohists? What were their basic beliefs?

Questions on Taoism:

• What do we know about the life of Lao-tzu? What does the name "Lao-tzu" tell us about the general ancient Chinese attitude toward the elderly?
• What is Tao?
• What are some of the basic tenets of Taoism?
• Why might Taoism be called "paradoxicalism"?
• What was the "Immortalist" strand of Taoism?
• Why was and is Taoism a religious doctrine with limited appeal?

Questions on Confucianism:

• What do we know about the life of Kung-fu-tzu?
• What are some of the basic tenets of Confucianism?
• What is li? --jen?
• What is the "Inverse Golden Rule" of Confucians?
• Why did Kung-fu-tzu believe that there ought to be no rewards for good behavior?
• What limited the expansion of Confucianist religion after the death of Kung-fu-tzu?
• Who was Mencious? --Hsu-tzu? Why is the latter atypical for a Confucianist?

Key Terms: Shen, Kuei, yin, yang, tortoise shells and grain stalks, Shang Ti, li, jen,

Questions for Consideration:

• What are the orgins of Shinto? How was it firmly established?
• What is Kami (try to go beyond book here)? Is it meant to be a fairly elastic (indefinite) term or is it just misunderstood by scholars today?
• Why is Amaterasu a key deity in Shinto?
• What are some aspects of Japanese culture that have been admixed to Shinto?
• What was the fourfold Japanese reaction to Buddhism?
• Who are the samurai? Are these, in any way, related to Shinto?
• What are the three forms of Shinto?
• Can you fully describe the emergence of State Shinto and its impact in WW II?
• Can you bring in a kami-dana from your home and explain its "religious" significance or, more loosely, its meaning for you and your family?

Key Terms? Kami, Kojiki, Ameterasu, samurai, torii, kami-dana

Questions for Consideration:

• Who were the main gods of the Aryans?
• Who was Zoroaster and how did he found Zoroastrianism? What sorts of obstacles did he encounter along the way?
• What was the principle doctrine of Zoroasta?
• How does Ahura Mazda reveal himself to mortals?
• Why are the Amesha-Spenta considered "aspects" of Ahura Mazda? What other "lesser deities" are there?
• Is it correct to consider Zoroastrianism "monotheistic"?
• How does Zoroastrianism deal with the problem of evil? Does this solution make Zoroastrianism "dualistic"?
• What is the nature of human beings according to Zoroastrianism? How does it differ from other religions we've hitherto seen?
• Why does Zoroastrianism consider the elements (fire, air, water, and earth) to be sacred?
• Why is Zoroastrianism considered also to be a way of life or an ethics?
• What sorts of rituals have been practiced in Zoroastrianism?
• What do Zoroastrianists think about death and the possibility of life after it?

Key Terms: Gathas, daevas, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), Saoshyants, Zarathustra (camel-owner), kusti, Amesha-Spenta, Spenta Mainyu and Angra Mainyu;  Humata, Hukhta, and Hvarshta; sadre and kusti,

Questions for Consideration:

• Can you trace out the story of the beginnings of Judaism in the Old Testament from Abraham and Moses to David, Solomon, and the prophets?
• Who were the prophets and how were they responsible for the entrenchment of Judaism?
• What is the Judaic Diaspora and why did it take place? Be sure to include the Babylonian and Jerusalemian movements.
• What is the Judaic view of the messiah?
• What is the Mishnah? --the Talmud? --the Gemara?
• What caused the split between Judaism and Christianity?
• What was the impact of the creation of Islam by Mohammed on Judaism?
• What were the Crusades? To what extent were Jews victims?
• What are some cultic or animistic features of Judaism?
• What effect did the Protestant Reformation have on Judaism? Include reference to the Counter-Reformation.
• What is Zionism and how has its development and emergence impacted current global affairs? Include current developments.
• Why have Jews incurred such seeming global opposition and hatred over the centuries? Include the Nazi movement of the 20th century.
• What are the current variations of Judaism? How do these relate to the Diaspora?

Key Terms: El, YHWY, 10 Commandments, Ark of Covenant, Tent of Meeting, Diaspora, synagoge, rabbi, Mishnah, Talmud, Gemara, Kabbalah (Zohar), Zionism

Questions/Exercises for Consideration:

• Explain how Baha'i originated and trace out its development. Be sure to include in your analysis its link with Shi'itism.
• Why is Baha'i only loosely related to Islam, though it has its roots in it?
• Why has it grown so rapidly? Why are Iranians intent on wiping out it?
• What are the most fundamental principles of Baha'i? List and give some of the key lesser principles. How are the latter linked with the former?
• What is the significance of the number "nine" in Baha'i?
• What are the three "obligatory prayers" of Baha'i? How important is prayer to a Baha'i?
• What is the three-level of hierarchy to a Baha'i community? How does it function? Does a Baha'i community have global responsibilities?
• What aspects of Baha'i are religious? --are not so religious? Why?

Key Terms: imam, Bab-ud-Din, Book of Bayan