POST5: RELIGIOUS BELIEF IN CULTURES

                                                                             Compare and Contrast  

                   Throughout my project, I talked about religious beliefs-cosmology 772 spirit and gods 776-in three different cultures which are Yurok, Yoruba and Tongans. These cultures have some differences and similarities. First, Yoruba believe in spirits and gods as their religious system have a pantheon of deities who underpin an extensive system of cults (Barnes). Mystical power of a positive nature is associated with ancestors, the earth, deities place, medicine and charm (Barnes). Also, the Tongans believe in a multi deity world including Tangoloa, who pulled up certain island from the sea. There were traditional gods of various trades and gods of various HA'A ( Urbanowicz and Beierle ). However, the Yuroks don't believe in spirits and gods but in myth. For instance, Yurok believe that dancing express their belief and also maintain and repair the world ( Hester ). In contrast, Yurok sorcerers caused various evil occurrences and Women usually functioned as doctors or shamans. But the Yoruba's priest and priestesses were responsible for curing, maintaining peace and harmony ( Barnes ). This shows that the Yoruba's priest and priestesses used their powers for good cause unlike the Yuroks. 
                  


                   My culture-Yoruba- really believed in spirit and gods and myth during the precolonial era. However, the coming of Christianity and Islam brought in civilization especially in the western part of Nigeria. This really changed people's perspectives on religion. Nowadays, People still perform rituals and festivals as the system of government-democracy- accommodates it.                                                                           








                    
Hester, Thomas R. 2011. “Culture Summary: Yurok.” New Haven, Conn.: Human Relations Area Files. https://ehrafworldcultures-yale-edu.northernkentuckyuniversity.idm.oclc.org/document?id=ns31-000.
  
Barnes, Sandra T. 2009. “Culture Summary: Yoruba.” New Haven, Conn.: Human Relations Area Files. https://ehrafworldcultures-yale-edu.northernkentuckyuniversity.idm.oclc.org/document?id=ff62-000.

Urbanowitz, Charles Francis. 2006. “Culture Summary: Tongans.” New Haven, Conn.: HRAF. https://ehrafworldcultures-yale-edu.northernkentuckyuniversity.idm.oclc.org/document?id=ou09-000.

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