Magic and the Supernatural in the Ancient World

Discussion Questions

Jan. 27: An Anthropological Perspective on Magicians and Shamans

• Zachary Harrelson : zharrel@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • Shamans are distinguished from other mediums by their ability to master the supernatural forces thay are in contact with. But if shamans use special learned tricks and techniques to create the sensations of magic, how can one pretend to master or not master the spirits whose presence they are creating?
  • It is interesting to note that the success of a shaman's magic depends on the shaman's performance, the patient's acceptance of this performance and the audience's reaction. Does the patient's behavior create the audience's reaction or does the audience's reaction create the patient's behavior? Maybe both?
  • Why are shamans afraid of the curses of other shamans when they all share knowledge of how to create and fake the presence of supernatural forces? If they are all faking and they all know it why are they scared of each other? Do they still believe in the supernatural powers but just do not know how to contact them? Why are they shamans then if they do not know how to make this contact? Is it because the people/audience is really convinced or is there another reason?

• Kate Bolin: kbolin@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • Is religious ecstasy a necessary part of being a shaman?
  • Is there a difference between priest/shaman/magician/etc.?
  • The Anton LaVey article was a fun read. But it is also six years out of date. With the growing media hype about "satanic worship" (through such bands as Marilyn Manson), is LaVey still the cheerfully misanthropic out-of-the-spotlight leader of the Church of Satan that he was back in 1991?

• "Christina Wilson": cwilson2@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • Catholicism is considered a religion. The arrticle by Turner refered to a west african cult...what defines a religion and what defines a cult? Is it sociatal?
  • What is the difference between a shaman and a witch?
  • Is the sorcerer in the article by Levi Strause the same as the shaman in the article by Brown? Are the terms interchangable? And also in the article by Levi Strause, he mentions the necessity of belief in magic for it to happen...how does that conflict with what we talked about in the second class, and is belief integral to the pratice of magic?

• Caroline Maya Schiffman: cschiff@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • How do you differentiate between a priest/shaman/prophet?
  • Explain charisma
  • How does one achieve the priest level...does something have to happen to them that is publicly recognized at an early age...and who decides who is and isn't a magician?

• Derek Pepiak: dpepiak@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • C. Von Furer-Haimendorf says priests act when all is well and ask for protection when danger has not yet arisen. How accurate is this description in light of the fact that Catholic priests perform rites such as exorcism, etc?
  • Later in the article, C. Von Furer-Haimendorf says the relationship between men and deities is looked upon as one of bargaining and of give and take. How is this similar and/or different from the idea of do ut des (I give so that you may give), one of the basic concepts of paganism?
  • Do you agree or disagree with Cannon's belief that the social personality has a direct influence on physical integrity? Why?

• Nicholas Backer: nbacker@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • In reference to V. Turner's essay, he quotes Max Weber as stating that priests serve in "regularly organized and permanent enterprises." I question this description's ability to distinguish between the ceremonial leader of a popular religion, and that of an established cult that has maintained more than a generation of followers.
  • Does M. Brown's analysis of the downsides shamanism contain parallel the past when priests actively hunted for withches, which took place on the same continent?

• Nicholas Katsaounis: nkatsao@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • What is the difference between a priest, a prophet, and a shaman? Under what circumstances do these figures appear throughout history?
  • Discuss why social, political, and economic development differentiated the kind of religious specialist each region would have?
  • Give thoughts on the levels of ecstasy obtained by the shamans. What is their purpose?

• Jason Lapkin: LovestarSI@aol.com
  • What is the difference (if any) between a Shaman, a priest, and a sorceror?
  • Ethically: is magic a power that should be at the disposal of an individual?
  • Can a "religion" which is based on the foundations of opposing another "religion" be deemed a true "religion" (though this question is somewhat muddled, I believe you can comprehend what I am trying to say)?

• Michelle D Arens : marens@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • What seems to be the basic roles of the preist, the shaman, and the prophet?
  • How much of the dramatization (e.g. wild costumes or bizaare rituals) is neccessary for shamanistic, priestly, or prophetic duties, and how much is commercial?
  • What sort of people are called to each religious profession, and what kind of communities neccessitate each? Why?

• Thomas Brabham: tbrabha@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • Could a shaman who practiced mainly in white magic (or mainly in black magic, but for the question I will just use white) be just as effective trying to perform black magic or would his powers be less effective?
  • Von Furer-Haimendorf talked about how priests and magicians overlap in some ways. He said that,". . . preists are generally expected to influence the gods through prayer and ritual performances . . ." I think this is incorrect. I believe priests ask gods and the gods perform what they ask through their own will. Could I be correct?
  • Out of curiosity, why in some of the religons we talk about there could multiple gods of higher and lesser order, but we have only one true Devil. Why?

• Alexandra Kogler: akogler@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • What are the differneces between prophets and priests?
  • If shamans can often be violent why are they still so trusted?
  • Lehmann mentions prophets, priests, and sorcerers and "other intermediaries." What other intermediaries are there? Are shamans considered intermediaries?

• Bradley Laye: blaye@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • It is only briefly mentioned, but I want a clearer picture of the political power of the religious leader in the tribes-- we certainly all know how powerful they are today!
  • I'd like to discuss the differences between priest, prophet, magician, and shamans. There are too many overlaps and nuances for me to clearly understand all the differences from the readings.
  • As far as Satanism goes, it seems that LaVey believes that G-d, the devil, and nature are one in the same. Usually the devil is thought of (in a Christian sense) as the antithesis of G-d? What's the deal?

• Jay Munsch : wmunsch@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
  • What are the important differences between shamans and priests?
  • Is shamanism unacceptable religion?
  • If food-gathering groups tend to have shamans, then why are there greek and roman magicians? What differentiates between the magicians of these cultures and the shamans oof other cultures?