ANT 340 - Culture and Belief (3 cr.)

This course combines features of a traditional anthropology of religion course with that of science studies, and examines how human beings come to construct their characteristic view of the world. It will examine the role of language and mind in the construction of belief systems, discuss the role of ritual, magic and myth in reinforcing world views. It will examine how belief systems are maintained in spite of apparent contradictions and ambiguities and outline the role of patterns of social relationships in the construction of belief. Examples of belief systems will be drawn from non-Western systems of thought, major world religions, and the history of science.
Liberal arts
Prerequisite(s): ANT102 or POI.
Semester(s) Offered: Spring