Byrd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sansahansan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The change from Shamanism to a
> religion/belief
> > system is viewed as different by scienctists
> > (anthro & paleosocio & archae -
> ologists)
>
> Not really. A religion has a formal structure and
> formal hierarchy of priests with someone at the
> top (prophet, pope, high priest, or a group with
> those functions), telling them what the
> deity/deities say. Priests are often intercessors
> or intermediaries between the people and the
> deity.
>
> Shamanism/animism is where individuals are
> "inspired/possessed by/directed by spirits (and
> possibly deities)" and there are tales about these
> deities but they are not codified into a strict
> hierarchy with rules and rites. Shamans take
> apprentices, but there can be 3-4 (or more)
> shamans in a tribe and all of them saying
> different things.
>
> Priests act collectively and are in agreement with
> the main tenants of their religion. Shamans... are
> like herding cats. For example, the Tlingit
> practices are shamanism. They have formal
> (strict) rituals and practices that they follow,
> but there was no "high priest of the nation of the
> Tlingit" and anyone could call up spirits and seek
> advice from deities. Some of the Native Americans
> did have a true religion... The Mississippian
> Caddoans had organized temples and temple mounds
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddo_Indians#Archae
> ology )
>
> > I am seriously considering going back to
> school
> > for a comparative mythology degree, but I'm
> trying
> > to decide if it's a hokum degree or something
> with
> > actual granite roots in reality?
>
> Might depend on the school and the professors.
>
>
> -- Byrd
> Moderator, Hall of Ma'at
>
>
>
> Edited 1 times. Last edit at 10/21/10 07:07PM by
> Byrd.

But...amongst the Tlingit the Shamans place IS well defined within the overall 'tribal' Heirarchy. I don't think one can so easily separate their version of the church and the State. But awareness of the role their beliefs played in their daily lives is the direct result of one seeing how easily they went along with the Dictates of Missionary Policy. They had no concept of a Holy Man NOT having their best interests at heart.

That is a common theme amongst the devout no matter what the belief system.


Warwick

" I have always found that the main obstacle to free
association on these boards is the broad
misconception that what we do not know is more
significant than what we do know."

Warwick L Nixon, March 8, 2019