Reflection

Compose your response to these question based on what you’ve read, discussed, and discovered in each module in which the assignment appears (approximately 300 words for each question).

Heres a guideline for your responses: What have you found to be especially meaningful? Or, is there something that you disagreed with? Was there an issue or a controversy that you became aware of in conjunction with this unit’s focus? Reflect on this. Remember, reflections are to reflect your own thoughts – no extra research is required, but it should include our course material in those reflections.

Specific Instructions for Reflection #1

Question #1

In the article posted about Gobekli Tepe (see below), a new theory of cultural/anthropological/sociological development is presented that turns our current understanding of the development of human civilization on its head. What is this new theory, and how is it different from older theories? What does it say about the importance of religion to homo sapiens (and our other ancestors)? Make sure to use at least 1-2 quote/citations from the article to support your answer.

Question #2

What comes to mind when you think about the concepts underlying the idea of “animism” in religions (especially in the earliest form(s) of religion, as described in the “Introduction to Basic Religions” article)? Why, in your opinion, has there been a renewed interest in these type of religions in recent years (e.g., revival of Wiccan traditions, Shamanism, Spiritualism, Gaia theory, etc.)? Make sure to use at least 1-2 quote/citations from the article to support your answer.