...Vodun is practiced by the Ewe people of eastern and southern Ghana, and southern and central Togo; and the Kabye people, Mina people, and Fon people of southern and central Togo, southern and central Benin. It is also practiced by some Gun people of Lagos and Ogun in southwest Nigeria. It is distinct from the various African traditional religions in the interiors of these countries and is the main source of religions with similar names found among the African Diaspora in the New World such as Haitian Vodou; Puerto Rican Vodú; Cuban Vodú; Dominican Vudú; Brazilian Vodum; and Louisiana Voodoo. All of these closely related faiths are syncretized with Christianity to various degrees and with the traditional beliefs of the Kongo people and Indigenous American traditions. Theology and practice Vodun cosmology centers around the vodun spirits and other elements of divine essence that govern the Earth, a hierarchy that range in power from major deities governing the forces of nature and human society to the spirits of individual streams, trees, and rocks, as well as dozens of ethnic vodun, defenders of a certain clan, tribe, or nation. The vodun are the center of religious life, similar in many ways to doctrines such as the intercession of saints and angels that made Vodun appear compatible with Christianity, especially Catholicism, and produced syncretic religions such as Haitian Vodou. Adherents also emphasize ancestor worship and hold that the spirits of the dead live side by...
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...Cultural Syncretism and its Impact Joanna Abele, Cassandra Drapeau, Amanda Lawson, Brandon Nelson, and Crystal Wooten American Intercontinental University – Online March 3, 2013 Abstract In gaining an understanding of how early civilizations lived, we can see what impact they have had as they migrated to the New World. By examining what they left behind we can also see the impact they have had on many diverse cultures and societies today. Cultural Syncretism and its Impact Introduction Cultural syncretism occurs when two opposite cultures mix and blend their cultural beliefs, whether they be political or religious, to produce or to start a new culture or religion. Historically, syncretism has been seen as an attempt to reconcile disparities between various cultures. Africa and the Americas both had help with other factors like weapons, religion, and technological advancements. When it came to cultural beliefs, China and India’s values were very different. They would operate from outside of the traditional beliefs, which made them much more resistant to syncretism. Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. When different aspects of cultural philosophies or religions blend together and disparities are compromised, cultural syncretism occurs. According to the 1830 American census 2.3 million people were of African descent and there was only...
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...Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. What cultural factors caused the differences in outcomes? What legacies have the differences in types of encounters and degrees of cultural change left today? Had syncretism not occurred in the Americas, how might modern culture be different? If cultural syncretism had taken root during early encounters in China or India, how might they be different today? The quest for wealth and power brought Europeans to Indian shores in 1498 when Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese voyager, arrived in Calicut (modern Kozhikode, Kerala) on the west coast. In their search for spices and Christian converts, the Portuguese challenged Arab supremacy in the Indian Ocean, and, with their galleons fitted with powerful cannons, set up a network of strategic trading posts along the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. In 1510 the Portuguese took over the enclave of Goa, which became the center of their commercial and political power in India and which they controlled for nearly four and a half centuries. Economic competition among the European nations led to the founding of commercial companies in England (the East India Company, founded in 1600) and in the Netherlands (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie--the United East India Company, founded in 1602), whose primary aim was to capture the spice trade by breaking the Portuguese monopoly in Asia...
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...world today and what are the legacies of cultural change. You could almost call this the evolution of societies and cultures through cultural encounters. The first step of globalization actually began with the encounters of cultures. In the last few weeks leading to this week’s assignment is we discussed how early civilization influenced each other we seen how the Roman and Greek civilizations had an impact on each other to some degree. We are now exploring how specific countries have all seen and dealt with the topic of cultural syncretism. Cultural Syncretism Still Waiting on First Question From Trya….. What cultural factors caused the differences in outcomes? Some of the cultural factors that caused the different outcomes that the Westerners encountered in both China and India are that they each had very different beliefs. Each culture had its own power, control or dominance (Sayre, 2010). In China, the Chinese would have rather stayed isolated that to be influenced by the Mongolians. In the Song dynasty prospered with their production of iron and therefore their government ended up being controlled by the merchants, they were extremely wealthy. They also had intelligent citizens due to the fact that they had an advance on their printing. They were able to print books and these books helped them get ready for their exams. The Chinese culture became very strong and was very dominate and did not accept change. Their religious beliefs were different as well...
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...Intercontinental University Social Structure HUMA 215 – Topics in Cultural Studies 9/8/12 Abstract Cultural syncretism has transformed and shaped our world today; because of encounters years and centuries before our time we have religion and even art. Our modern culture was contributed to by the happenings of yesterday. Social Structure Introduction The legacies of cultural syncretism in the Americas and Africa can be compared and contrasted with the resistance to cultural change that westerners experienced in China and India. These encounters have left many legacies of change and differences in the culture today. Had syncretism not occurred or if syncretism had taken root during earlier encounters in China or India the world today would be different. Various cultural factors in would affect the outcome of syncretism tremendously. Compare/ Contrast Cultural Syncretism Cultural syncretism was active in some societies but not in all; syncretism was not affective in more cultures because some cultures were simply more developed. With the expansion of cultural syncretism, it was easier for Africa and the Americas to adapt than China and India Westerners. Africa and the Americas separated into different tribes which caused them to be weaker than China, India, and the Westerners who created a nation (Sayre, 2013). An example of this cultural syncretism is the Aztec tribe, which was a fairly large tribe; the Aztecs had so many neighboring enemies because of war. As...
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...behind we can also see the impact they have had on many diverse cultures and societies today. Cultural Syncretism and its Impact Introduction Cultural syncretism occurs when two opposite cultures mix and blend their cultural beliefs, whether they be political or religious, to produce or to start a new culture or religion. Historically, syncretism has been seen as an attempt to reconcile disparities between various cultures. Africa and the Americas both had help with other factors like weapons, religion, and technological advancements. When it came to cultural beliefs, China and India’s values were very different. They would operate from outside of the traditional beliefs, which made them much more resistant to syncretism. Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. When different aspects of cultural philosophies or religions blend together and disparities are compromised, cultural syncretism occurs. According to the 1830 American census 2.3 million people were of African descent and there was only 12.8 million in the country (Joyner, 2003). Also of that 12.8 million 2.44% were free Africans, 15.56% were enslaved Africans and 82% were free white people (Joyner, 2003). Within the United States, the large number of Africans along with their culture greatly contributed to the culture and history of...
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...We have previously discussed syncretism and its definition and meaning. However, what legacies have the differences in types of encounters and degrees of cultural change left today? If we consider syncretism within the arenas of philosophy and religion, we can see that the melding of earlier cultures has had a lasting effect, even today. As cultures recombine with one another, they often create a new blend of teaching and belief systems from the two different cultures. However, some western religious syncretism occurred in China during the mid-late 1800s, its hybrid form not only refashioned a new belief system but also coauthored a massive rebellion known as the Taiping rebellion. While Hung Hsiu-ch'üan and his cousin baptized themselves in a well and Hung Hsiu-ch'üan called himself the other son of God, they called upon (Hooker, 1996) gender equality and sobriety, absolutism in the government and hierarchy established and even in worship during the Opium wars and rebelled not only against the foreigners and the despots then arising in opposition to foreign extraterritoriality but also to the Manchu rulers they blamed for the burgeoning group of people in the poorest class. More importantly, perhaps, this syncretism combined with the numerous cultural forces and western religions in the land, became militarized and regrettably eventually took between 30-50 million lives (Hooker, 1996). Syncretism is a fascinating amalgam of different cultures that exist at various times. We...
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...Migration of Cultures Tracey Percifield, Penny Rogers, Cheryl Halford, Nate Conley and Amber Wirth American Intercontinental University Abstract In knowing how people of the past decades lived we must examine the past and study many things they left behind. By understanding how they lived and what impact they had as they migrated to the New World, it is then we understand how they lived and understand what the environment was like. Looking at the impact that immigrants had and brought to the New World we see what cultures and food dishes they brought to our civilization. The Migration of Cultures By 1830 the United States consisted of 2.3 million out of 12.8 million were of African descent and upon them settling after being brought here from Africa they brought many traditions and impacted the culture today. When they came to the United States they brought scientific and technological systems from the West and Central Africa as well as many food dishes such as; gumbo and rice, millet, sorghum, watermelon and black-eyed peas. They also brought tradition with them regarding funerals, celebration festivals, arts, music, dugout canoes, the banjo and language which also had an effect on the European culture as well and this is known as Africanism (Nps.gov, n.d.). Africanism is directly related to African American and Creolization which asks the question when you stop and give to the American or European culture. They point out that the African culture has direct...
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...A life-long immersion into another culture requires first of all treating other people with respect and accepting them for who they are. It also requires being open to new ideas and different perspectives. A strong sense of identity will keep one anchored when adapting to a vastly different culture and not lose oneself by simply conforming to the new society. Integrating psychology and theology is similar in these respects. Both disciplines offer valuable perspectives and have much to contribute. Maintaining a Christian worldview can keep one anchored when attempting to interpret the different perspectives. Respecting both and being open to their unique perspectives can offer a more complete and accurate understanding, not only of human nature,...
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...travelers can spend the night .” Although this is only one example that does not necessarily fit into the larger picture of the presence of Sufis in Europe, it does show from a primary source that tekkes were located within short distances of important locations. In Asia Minor, mystical orders contributed to the religious syncretism in Anatolia due to the relatable practices between religions, like the veneration of saints and practices that were transferable . With the popularized notion of religious practices that did not follow the strict orders of the religion, lay people could...
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...Create-a-Culture Assignment Instructions Objective: In this course, we have discussed numerous aspects of culture that anthropologists study. As we have seen, these aspects of culture are related, and anthropologists often study multiple cultural elements simultaneously to gain a true holistic perspective. In this assignment, you will apply what you have learned about the aspects of culture (and their relationships to one another) to create your own hypothetical culture. Directions: Your paper should be between five and six pages, double-spaced (around 1000 – 1250 words total). You must use either Arial or Times New Roman font in size 12. Your margins should be 1 inch on all sides. If you have questions about how to set these settings, please ask your instructor. The Paper is due via Moodle to me by 11:55 PM on May 2, 2016. It is worth 10% of your course grade. You will submit your paper, to Moodle, prior to or by the stated deadline. The attachment should be one of the following formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf or .pages No other file types will be accepted. Papers submitted after the deadline will be penalized according to the policy outlined in the course syllabus. For this assignment, you will create your own culture. You will design the culture’s history, environment, subsistence approach, political system, and other aspects of social life. The aim of the project is to enable you to think creatively while demonstrating your knowledge of anthropological concepts...
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...Subject: * Domain of experience from the spiritual realm ( the lord ) that needs to be clarified Metaphorical Predicate: * Familiar domain of experience of everyday life that is used to clarify the subject Key Metaphor: * Can Serve as the foundations of a worldview Societal Metaphor: * World-View metaphor whose model for the world is the social order Organic Metaphor: * Applies the image of the body to social structures and institutions. Comparing a living body with parts to the functioning of society Huichol Religious Thought * Deer, Maize and Peyote are all important and interconnected Syncretism * Synthesis of old and new religious practices introduced from outside, often by force Revitalization Movements * Ghost Dance was conscious, deliberate, and organized attempt to create a more satisfying culture in a time of crisis Secularism * Refers to the separation of religion and state including a notion of individual agency of citizens. Secularism is always understood within the idea of the modern national state operating within a capitalist economy Symbols * Represent a whole semantic domain and invite us to consider the various elements within it ( ex: Canadian Flag) Worldviews * Encompassing picture of Reality created by members of society. Attempts to Bring “Order, Regularity and Predictibility” to daily life and all aspects associated with it Domination * Hegemony * A system of leadership in which...
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...Lecture 1: Introducing Culture and Globalization Globalization: the increasing interconnectedness of the world (interconnectivity) Culture: shared ways of understanding and doing things (conceptual lense) and is socially constructed, hence changeable Culture Core question of course: does increasing globalization lead to the spread of new global cultures (more cultural sameness) or to more cultural differences? Globalization increases cultural similarities and differences the four main characteristics of globalization ~ Cochrane and Pain 1. stretched social relations, 2. intensification of flows, 3. increasing interpenetration of cultures, 4. an development of global infrastructure Globalization is driven by modern science, capitalism, and industrialism The four power players in globalization (‘nation states’, ‘military’, ‘division of labour’, and ‘capitalism’) ~Giddens Two main forms of culture contact: hybridization and differentiation Globalization involves reflexivity, i.e. ‘old certainties’ disappear Reflexivity is the idea that both individuals and society are defined not just by themselves, but also in relation to each other. Therefore they must both continually redefine themselves in reaction to others and to new information Lecture 2: Is There a Global Culture? • • • Power relations: having the ‘right’ to define what things are (Giddes, lecture 1) ‘Us – them’ distinctions The power relations of four groups in society: Majorities and elites are dominant...
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...CULTURAL SYNCRETISM Everybody has heard and knows from the earliest human history that the people who populated this earth five-thousand years ago happened during the Bantu migration; now moving forward to more current times of African people displaced by political oppressions, famine, economic factors, and conflicts. The slave trade encompassed four continents: Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. When slaves were forced to North America had not only brought people but different cultures within North America, too. Aside from African’s forced to North America, to understand cultural syncretism, one must take into account Asia and the Indian Ocean that took place a couple of hundred years earlier. The coerced labor from 1500 (Asia and the Indian Ocean) was an earlier account of cultural syncretism but Europeans found it more difficult to mingle two different beliefs into one. Over-time the different cultures in North America would not be so much forced syncretism, but would rather create a melting pot of beliefs (Lindenfield, 2008). Cultural Mergence Looking at the two different worlds that were oceans apart in some aspects may have been only miles apart. Thinking of what causes two different cultures to merge is usually simply religion. When settlers found the New World, had settled it in the image of Christianity. Everybody who lived on the New World’s land was expected to take in the ideology of Christianity, just like the Pilgrims did to the Native Americans...
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...8 Creolization in Anthropological Theory and in Mauritius Thomas Hylland Eriksen A great amount of intellectual energy has been invested in cultural mixing during the last decades. Reacting against an idea of boundedness, internal homogeneity, and stability that has been associated with mainstream twentieth-century anthropology, hundreds—possibly thousands—of anthropologists have tried to redefine, reform, revolutionize, or even relinquish that abhorred “C” word—”culture.” The range of engagement is suggested in the apparent congruence between postmodernist American anthropologists (for example, Clifford & Marcus 1986) and their now classic critique of the Geertzian notion of cultural integration, and the older European critique of the structural-functionalist idea of social integration, which was led by people such as Barth (1966), whose rationalism and naturalism is everything but postmodernist. In both cases, presuppositions of integrated wholes, cultures or social structures, have been debunked. From being a discipline concentrating its efforts on understanding nonliterate societies, often implicitly positing the uncontaminated aborigine as its hero, anthropology increasingly studies cultural impurity and hybridity, and the dominant normative discourse in the field has shifted from defending the cultural rights of small peoples to combating essentialism and reifying identity politics. While this development has been important and necessary for a variety of reasons,...
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