Marvin Harris on Religion

Anthropologist Marvin Harris explains that dreams, trances, and drug experiences contribute to the concept of the soul.

Video source: http://www.cultural-materialism.org/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• marvin
• harris
• anthropology
• cultural
• materialism
• religion
• soul
• social
• science

[richardsabogal]

Marvin Harris was a scientist, maybe the last real anthropologist, now the new anthropologists are writers or fakes or artists.

[Gukkor]

I like the fact that he was capable of clearly explaining his ideas on the roots of religious and spiritual thought without putting down the beliefs themselves or coming off as disdainful. Divisive as the world is lately, you don't often see that kind of objectivity anymore when discussing such topics.

[Liminalplace1]

Marvin Harris contributed to the scientific project of anthropology for a while and he will be remembered for what he attempted. Unfortunately his theoretical contribution, Cultural Materialism, will pass by the way side as just an attempt. See Tim O 'Meara on his contributions

[TheyCallMeGroucho]

Certainly miss not having Marvin Harris present and writing. No anthropologist has filled the gap yet. His approach really helped to understand connections.

Larry, Taiwan

[Ramshobraja]

Very true. With all the talk of god, everyone forgets that the concept of a soul is even more central to religion.

[inferno0020]

Exactly! I completely agree with you. I am an anthropology student who loves my major as science, but dislikes those "creative writers" in my field.