Karl Marx And Fazer Analysis

Many dances and ceremonies were performed in order to honor harvests (Keyworth 37). Along with honoring harvests, environmental concerns were the basis for the majority of ritualistic practices and dances (Hill 37). As for religious ceremonies, they were held in “circular…semi-underground buildings” (Burke 8). One tribe specific to California, the Chumas, praised wooden posts that represented a certain power or entity as mentioned in Through Indian Eyes (Walker 272).“[T]he Deer Dance” was another spiritual dance performed to emphasize power, birth, and the deer as an animal itself (Hill 38). “[T]he Brush Dance,” “the Jump Dance,” and “the Feather Dance” were also performed according to The Encyclopedia of North American Indians (Birchfield

For many tribes of Plains Indians whose bison-hunting culture flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, the sun dance was the major communal religious ceremony . . . the rite celebrates renewal - the spiritual rebirth of participants and their relatives as well as the regeneration of the living earth with all its components . . . The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication to insure harmony between all living beings, continues to be practiced by many contemporary native Americans. -Elizabeth Atwood LawrenceAs the most important ritual of the nomadic Plains Indians, the Sun Dance in itself presents many ideas, beliefs, and values of these cultures. Through its rich symbolism and complicated rituals we are able to catch a glimpse

The Lakota tribes environmental wisdom and spirituality grew to stabilize among years of conservation and concern for the earth. All animals were respected like humans and the rivers and trees were cared for because the nature was well alive like the humans that existed in it. The Lakota tribe lives on the Northern Plains of North America and are often referred to as Sioux. The Lakota tribe of the Great Plains is very much rooted to the earth and place a huge emphasis on it being their home. In their culture the world was not savage, nor were the animals wild because on earth all spirits resided in nature. They defined their culture and continue to strengthen their values like kinship, courage, and wisdom in their community through rites of renewal/passage, dance, and their style of clothes.

It is important to note that the majority of the academic sources concerning Sun Dance are written by anthropologists, primarily those who participated in cultural genocide in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are very few recorded accounts in existence of the intimate details of Sun Dance that are authored by the Indigenous people who actually practice and participate in it. There are no videotaped records available online. Before the criminalization of Native spiritual practices, rituals like the Sun Dance were mutually respected and therefore shared between Indigenous peoples. Settler violence forced these practices underground, and therefore they are still hidden and heavily protected from outsiders. In 2003, there was a gathering of Bundle Keepers and spiritual leaders of the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, Nakota, Dakota, and Lakota Nations to discuss the exploitation of sacred ceremonies. Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Lakota Nation, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, released a statement

The Blackfoot Indian tribes held a major tribal ceremony in the summer, for which all the bands came together. It was called the Sun Dance. By engaging in the Sun Dance, their prayers would be carried up to the Creator, who would bless them with well being and abundance of buffalo. Other than the winter, when a few bands might join together for shelter, this was the only time the entire tribe came

Of all the features upon the earth there are some ascribed with special significance. These features, whether caves, lakes, deserts, outcroppings, or something else entirely, hold tremendous relevance for the groups that dwell near them. Such beliefs in the worth and importance of such sites are entrusted from one passing generation to the next. These beliefs, and the physical objects they rest upon, become increasingly vital to that group’s identity as a people. One such group is the Teton Lakota of the Sioux Nation in South Dakota, an area that has been home to them for hundreds of years and, while their entire homeland is precious to them, of particular importance are the Black Hills, or Paha Sapa as they are called in Lakota.

The Lakota Indians, another name for the Western Sioux tribe, were true lovers of Nature and lived true to the land, believing it was sacred. The Lakota’s adamantly placed nature at the center of their religious beliefs, incorporating it throughout their life. They placed importance on nature seen as early as childhood education, which stayed with each individual until they joined with the soil once more at death. In an article on the Lakota’s religious traditions, it is explained that the tribe of Western Sioux Indians aligned their lives and religious traditions and ceremonies around nature (William 5295). In Standing Bear’s “Nature”, the meaning of the Lakota religion personifies nature and earth. Standing Bear’s literature speaks as if Mother Nature acted as a true maternal influence upon the lives of the Western Sioux tribe. Standing Bear writes, “Wherever the Lakota went, he was with Mother Earth. No matter where he roamed by day or slept by night, he was safe with her.” (Finch 327). Nature shaped the Lakota’s; the teachings that came forth from nature guided the tribe throughout life. They lived upon the soil, walked on the sacred earth, and were healed, soothed, strengthened, and cleansed by the power of Mother Nature. Luther Standing Bear personifies Earth, giving it life-giving forces and medicinal powers, very similar to that of an actual mother of flesh and blood. The Western Sioux tribe had nothing but respect and love for all things born from Mother Nature: animals, plants, even the wind, rain, and lightening. Standing Bear explains, “The character of the Indian’s emotion left little room in his heart for antagonism toward his fellow creatures, this attitude giving him what is sometimes

Althusser recognised that religion also plays a crucial role in communicating ruling class ideology to the masses. Relating back to Marx’s (1844) description of religion as ‘the opium of the people’. Acknowledging that the teachings of the church are imposed by the ruling class to allow for false consciousness as the church teaches the working-classes to comply with capitalism and provides measures to cope with hardship. Nonetheless, (Giddens, 1971. P: 7) claimed ‘the abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness’. However, ideology is necessary for social life. Regardless if a society has a class system the function of ideology allows for social cohesion (Rancière, 2011).

The Lakota tribe was very humane and had fairly strong familial bonds. It wasn't easy to be accepted by their tribe at first but once you were accepted then you were considered to be one of the family. In the film, Jon Dunbar tries to make friends with the Lakota Indians but is unsuccessful at first. Being a very persistent and kind hearted man he slowly gains the acceptance of the tribe. The first witness of this is when some tribesmen pay a visit to Jon Dunbar's soldier's fort. To welcome them and to show them that he wanted to get to know them, he introduces them to coffee and sugar and even lets the tribe take some home. In return, an Indian named Kicking Bird, gives Jon some buffalo hides as a gift. This exchange of gifts showed that the Indians did have a sense of manners and trust. Also the

Similar to the Navajo, the Lakota are a matriarchal society. The Lakota people practice similar traditions to the Navajo in that direction matters. Whether is be East or West the direction is important to their religion the same way east is important to the Navajo's belief of the rising sun. To the Lakota people directions have a unique color associated with it and certain characteristics as well. North is white and is portrayed as cold, South is yellow and known for its full-days, East is red for its sunrise, and West is black as that is where the sky becomes dark. However, there are two additional directions, up and down, up is blue because of the sky, and down is green because of the earth. This is the backbone of the Lakota people. Another tradition in which the Lakota people are unique to is the Sun Dance. During the hottest day of the year, men, and men only, pierce their chest with a hook tied to a rope and connect to a pole to dance. This is done as a vision quest for the individual dancing as they do so until they collapse or the day is done. One last tradition that both Hopi and Navajo people can relate to are sweat lodges. However, in Lakota people they are referred to as Rock Lodges or Inipi. The reason for this is because it is for their ancestors (the rocks) who are being focused on, not the individuals within. The rock lodge is seen as the womb of the earth. This is why

The Lakota are a sub-nation from the Sioux of South Dakota, however, they are originally from near the great lakes of Minnesota. According to the South Dakota State Historical Society Education Kit the story of their migration to the plains goes a such, “one day a man appeared, and told them to travel northward. The Lakota obeyed, and began the journey north. On their way they got cold, and the sun was too weak to cook their food. Two young men had a vision, and following its instructions, they gathered dry grasses and struck two flint stones together, creating a spark and making fire. There were seven groups of relatives traveling together. Each group took some of the fire, and used it to build their own fire, around which they would gather.” From that moment on, they were known as the Seven Council Fires, or Oceti Sakowin.

A cultural event that I have attended in the past that has had a memorable affect on my life was a Native American Powwow. This event takes place every year, Thanksgiving weekend in Tucson, AZ. I arrived in the late afternoon, as the sun was going down. I remember seeing many different types of people, from tourists to the different Native American performers. The physical setting of this particular celebration was outside, and based around, one main circle. Drums were beating so loud, you could feel the pound inside your chest. Different activities were going on all around, such as dancers, vendors, and a huge variety of foods to choose from. The circular dancing arena is known as the arbor, this area is blessed before any of the events

In this essay I will be looking at the theories of Edward Burnett Tylor and Émile Durkheim, and comparing them to see which theory I think gives a better explanation about what religion is, or whether religion is actually definable. On the one hand we have Tylor’s theory that tells us that religion is belief in spiritual beings and that religion is just a step on the way to reaching full evolutionary potential. Durkheim’s theory, however, says that religion is very much a social aspect of life, and something can only be religious or “sacred” if it is something public (Durkheim 1965:52). Ultimately these theories do not give us an outright explanation about what ‘religion’ is, but there are aspects of the theory that can be used to gain an understanding or idea.

The Problem of Definition of Religion The study of religion is problematic. There are so many dimensions to religion (belief, practice, experience, knowledge and consequences) that it is impossible to provide a conclusive definition. Most sociologists do not believe in God. Functionalist views on Religion -------------------------------

A religion can be seen as a unified system of beliefs and practices which are relative to sacred things and beliefs (Giddens 1972, p.224). It can shape ones thoughts and feelings and gives people a sense of hope and something to believe in. All three main sociologist writers Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offer different perspectives on religion and how important it is to society. Some of the theorists chose to have a positive view whilst others argue the unimportance of religion. This essay attempts to discover which theorist has the most accurate perspective of religion in modern times. This is done by firstly explaining the basic ideas regarding to religion put forward by Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Then both Marx's and