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This book provides a general introduction to the biological and
evolutionary bases of religion and is suitable for introductory
level courses in the anthropology and psychology of religion and
comparative religion. Why did human ancestors everywhere adopt
religious beliefs and customs? The presence and persistence of many
religious features across the globe and time suggests that it is
natural for humans to believe in the supernatural. In this new
text, the authors explore both the biological and cultural
dimensions of religion and the evolutionary origins of religious
features.
"Supernatural as Natural "examines ways in which our religious
beliefs and experiences are products of our biological make-up.
This book takes as its fundamental starting point the insight that
humans are animals whose primary means of adapting to the world is
culture, including religion.
Bikers converge at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C. Thousands flock to a Nevada desert to burn a towering effigy.
And the hopeless but hopeful ill journey to Lourdes as they have
for centuries. Although pilgrimage may seem an antiquated religious
ritual, it remains a vibrant activity in the modern world as
pilgrims combine traditional motives-such as seeking a cure for
physical or spiritual problems-with contemporary searches for
identity or interpersonal connection. That pilgrimage continues to
exercise such a strong attraction is testimony to the power it
continues to hold for those who undertake these sacred journeys.
This volume brings together anthropological and interdisciplinary
perspectives on these persistent forms of popular religion to
expand our understanding of the role of the traditional practice of
pilgrimage in what many believe to be an increasingly secular
world. Focusing on the healing dimensions of pilgrimage, the
authors present case studies grounded in specific cultures and
pilgrimage traditions to help readers understand the many
therapeutic resources pilgrimage provides for people around the
world. The chapters examine a variety of pilgrimage forms, both
religious and non-religious, from Nepalese and Huichol shamanism
pilgrimage to Catholic journeys to shrines and feast days to
Nevada's Burning Man festival. These diverse cases suggest a range
of meanings embodied in the concept of healing itself, from curing
physical ailments and redefining the self to redressing social
suffering and healing the wounds of the past. Collectively and
individually, the chapters raise important questions about the
nature of ritual in general, and healing through pilgrimage in
particular, and seek to illuminate why so many participants find
pilgrimage a compelling way to address the problem of suffering.
They also illustrate how pilgrimage exerts its social and political
influence at the personal, local, and national levels, as well as
providing symbols and processes that link people across social and
spiritual boundaries. By examining the persistence of pilgrimage as
a significant source of personal engagement with spirituality,
Pilgrimage and Healing shows that the power of pilgrimage lies in
its broad transformative powers. As our world increasingly adopts a
secular and atheistic perspective in many domains of experience, it
reminds us that, for many, spiritual quest remains a potent force.
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