Religion and Magic

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the contrast that exists between the worlds of religion and magic. It begins by defining several types of religions and then discusses two types of magic that exist. The paper then discusses cultural change, as it can apply to an individual, a group or an organization. The paper concludes that revolution still occurs today and will continue happening in the future because people have different beliefs and practices.

From the Paper:

""Acculturation is a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group" (Rice University, 2006). There are cultural groups that have the power to convince other people and this is the reason why minorities are easy to encourage. Although, cultural groups can convince others, they can also assimilate some of the cultural beliefs of the minorities. According to the Website of Rice University, "assimilation of one cultural group into another may be evidenced by changes in language preference, adoption of common attitudes and values, member's hip in common social groups and institutions, and loss of separate political or ethnic identification (2006)." This is also a process where two cultures are combined together to harmoniously unify."
"One example of acculturation is when the Spaniards introduced to the Mayans the Christianity as religion. The Mayans are believers of gods that can help them in farming. When the Spaniards came, the Mayans were able to gradually adopt the Christian beliefs although they continue to believe on their traditional faith. O'Neil stated that "as a result, their indigenous religious belief system was essentially only added to and modified; the overt religious practices seemed to be Christian to the Spanish authorities but they retained dual meanings for the Maya (2006).""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bespoke (Accessed: 2006) "Cultural Diffusion" [Online] Available at: <http://enzo.gen.nz/jonfrum/gloss.html>
• Biella, P. (Accessed: 2006) "Lecture on Religion - Ferraro Chapter 14" [Online] Available at: <http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~biella/religion.html>
• Keel, R. (2006) "Social Institutions: Religion" [Online] Available at: <http://www.umsl.edu/~rkeel/010/religion.html>
• Murphy, M. (2001) "Diffusionism and Acculturation" [Online] Available at: <http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/diffusion.htm>
• O'Neil, D. (2006) "Anthropology" [Online] Available at: <http://anthro.palomar.edu>

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