ANTH 13 - Anthropology of Religion, Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing

    Recent Professors
    B. Wengerd
    Recent Semesters
    Fall 2026
    Class Size
    35 students
    Credits
    3
    Fall 2026 Sections
    View Fall 2026 sections of ANTH 13
    Transfers To
    CSU
    Description
    This course explores religious beliefs and practices using the anthropological perspective. Students will learn the various ways religion is lived and practiced in diverse cultures, the relationship between religious behavior and other domains of culture, and the role of religious beliefs in human experiences of health and healing. Anthropological theories of religion will be covered using specific forms, functions, and expressions of belief systems and ritual within their cultural contexts. With an emphasis on small-scale societies and communities, this course uses local perspectives as well as cross-cultural understandings to explore the variations of religious rituals and beliefs, immeasurable beings and powers, sacred stories and symbols, religious roles and practitioners, religious healing and medical systems, concepts of the body, birth, death, and religious change. (A, CSU, UC, Cal-GETC)
    Usually Held
    Tue Thu 12:30pm–1:45pm