Primal Religions 2020

Throughout the discussion posts on literacy and orality, many people have spoke on the way that it seems with literacy we have moved away from the natural world. But do you think some religions incorporate the natural world and elements more than others? For example, I was thinking about Wicca and how in ritual the altar contains the elements earth, air, fire, etc. and how they call on directions and elements. Does this being incorporated in their beliefs allow them to remain closer to the natural world? or at least have a greater appreciation for the earthly elements? Or like in Rastafarianism how they believe in vegetarianism. Could this belief allow them to be closer to an appreciation for animals and nature?

In today's literate world, do we still rely on the natural landscape to guide us, specifically spiritually and religiously? David Abram writes, "In the Homeric songs the natural landscape itself bears omens and signs that instruct human beings in their endeavors; the gods speak through the patterns of clouds, waves, and the flight of birds" (102-103). Like written here, I think the natural landscape can instruct humans today still, but I also do think a lot of religions have come to rely more on texts as their way to communicate to a higher being. Rather than hearing the gods speak through clouds, waves, etc. many people talk to gods through written prayers or biblical stories. I believe this is significant in seeing that our literate cultures have pulled us away, maybe not completely though, from nature to find spirituality elsewhere.

Before researching this topic I had not known much about cannibalism but the topic interest me. I wanted to know what made the people participate in an act such as this. After reading about the  Korowai in New Guinea, I learned about their ways and how they justify cannibalism. The Korowai don’t live by the human laws of their country they live by there own laws and customs. They also have a huge belief in tradition and tribe loyalty. Their ways are similar to the Australian National Geographic video we watched in class about the Australian people and how they have lived off of their land for thousands of years. The way they were able to do this is because they have taken care of the resources because they have made their land sacred and they diminish the resources to nothing this is similar to the Korowai people because they have lived off the land for there time in the jungle as well. The people of these lands are also able to leave their mark on the land as well so that future g...

Throughout this class, we have learned about various forms of traditions and customs that I was not aware of before. With that being said I think that it is not right for humans to consume other humans under any circumstances. I am a firm believer in letting people do their own thing and not bother them when it comes to religion but there’s is a point where you have to draw the line and say enough is enough. I understand that if there are traditions for certain religions and groups of people where cannibalism has been practiced, but there are other ways to honor God. It is not my place to tell them what they are doing is morally wrong but something should be put in place to attempt to put an end to this. There have been many times throughout history where things have been carried on because it was seen as “normal,” but then as time has gone on changes were put into effect to stop it. The rates of cannibalism have decreased as history has gone on which is a good sign because as the data...

The history of the practice of cannibalism shifts from a dietary use to a medical practice around the 12th century. Beginning at around the 12th-century people would use human body parts and organs for medical needs. The dead would have their bodies donated whether they wanted to or not. They were often stolen fro the Egyptian tombs or taken from the Irish burial sites. The stolen remains were put together to make medicine for all kinds of treatments, one of them being the common headache. These practices were not around for very long and became less of a preferred option at the end of the 16th century, but still stuck around until the late 18th century. When the Age of Discovery came around it brought many people together that were not aware of each other’s religious practices. When the colonists came to America they were greeted by the Native American tribes. They soon found out that the Native Americans practiced cannibalism as a form of ritual that was used to strengthen the tribe ...

The other category of cannibalism that is around is called mortuary cannibalism. This kind of cannibalism is “the consumption of the dead during their funeral rites.” This was practiced through the 20th century in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea and the Brazilian and Peruvian Amazon. This type of cannibalism is not seen as morbid or displeasing to the people but instead, it shows love and affection towards the recently deceased and helps the people through the stages of grief.