037 - Religion is Not Real

Illegitimate Scholar

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Audio Podcast:

https://pod.link/1650280020

Twitter.com:

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Welcome to the Illegitimate Scholar podcast, the weekly cultural anthropology podcast that explores our senseless world through indigenous and historical examples, academic methods, and social science. In this episode, the host, Sam, delves into the Anthropology of Religion, seeking to understand the various perspectives on religion from an academic, indigenous, and historical standpoint.

Sam begins by clarifying that everyone worships something, and the only choice we have is what to worship. He dismisses atheism as a "fake" concept and declares his intention to approach the topic of religion without bias or offense. Sam shares his religious background, explaining that he was raised in a Catholic family, but has since been exposed to various religious beliefs, including Unitarianism, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. He expresses interest in understanding religion from a lens of eternal truth and cultural context.

The podcast then explores different definitions of religion provided by renowned anthropologists. Emile Durkheim defines religion as a unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things, forming a moral community. Clifford Geertz views religion as a system of symbols that shape powerful and long-lasting moods and motivations. Melford Spiro describes religion as an institution involving culturally patterned interactions with culturally postulated superhuman beings.

Sam emphasizes that religion is a cultural construct and becomes problematic when people attempt to rigidly define it or deny its existence. He argues that religion is an essential aspect of human life, whether it involves traditional faith or secular beliefs.

Throughout the series, Sam promises to explore various religious examples and cultural perspectives, using ethnographies and audience suggestions. He encourages listeners to join the conversation on the Discord platform and participate in enriching discussions.

Join Sam on the Illegitimate Scholar podcast to gain insights into the complex and diverse nature of religion across different cultures and historical contexts. (AI written for keywords)

Discord:

https://discord.gg/KhJgpMj6Jj

Audio Podcast:

https://pod.link/1650280020

Twitter.com:

https://twitter.com/ill_scholar

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Discord:
https://discord.gg/KhJgpMj6Jj
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IllegitimateScholar

Audio Podcast:
https://pod.link/1650280020

Twitter.com:
https://twitter.com/ill_scholar
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRH77S0fVLmAZU4xLnAxuvw