Indigenous Religions, Part 2

Question 1: Describe the general characteristics of Aztec religion.

Answer 1: Aztecs believed in the concept of teotl, a fundamental unity connecting all things, both positive and negative. More than 100 deities personified various aspects of Aztec religion, but Aztec priests accepted them as all part of the same ultimate unity.Huitzilopochtli was the main god in the Aztec system of belief. He personified the sun and war, though prior to the Aztec empire he was associated with hunting; regardless, he remained at the center of Aztec social life. Other important deities included Quetzalcoatl (the god of civilization) and Tlaloc (the god of rain). All gods required constant appeasement.There were three parts to the Aztec universe: the mortal world, an underworld, and a celestial world. Sacred places such as caves represented places of access from one plane to another. Aztecs envisioned time as cyclical and believed in human reincarnation. As with other Mesoamerican religions, Aztec religion associated gods with particular aspects of life, with directions, and with colors.Aztec religious ritual involved ritual human sacrifice and the recreation of mythological events.

There are lots of good resources about Religions that you can find available.

Question 2: Discuss the native West African religious relationship with death and the dead.

Answer 2: In West African traditions, the line between the living and the dead is not clear-cut. In some cultures, death is always seen as an unnatural event that must have been caused by an external force. The dead are often greatly feared. Once dead, people become sacred and powerful ancestors who must be appeased by the living. Bodies are eased into the next life with objects designed to make the next world more comfortable. Part of the purpose is to ensure that the dead do go on to the next life and do not haunt the living.Ancestors are powerful spirits in West African religions. Like the High God, they are spirits, but unlike the High God, they affect daily life and are often malevolent. They may be sacrificed to, because African ancestors are not only revered but also feared for their ability to do unpredictable harm.

Question 3: Discuss the role of major and minor gods in native West African religion.

Answer 3: Although it is difficult to generalize about all West African religions, most do share some major characteristics. For instance, in most West African societies, there is a High God, who is a creator god in the deist sense of the word: he created the world and then withdrew, and his influence is no longer directly felt, though at times of crisis he may be prayed to.In addition to the High God, there are often lesser deities. Most African religions are animistic: that is, practitioners believe that the natural world is full of spirits, both harmful and helpful. Believers can pray to these spirits to seek protection and favor. Often societies have elaborate rituals for contacting ancestors. These rituals include dances, masks made in sacred spaces, and ritual art objects.

Previous: Indigenous Religions, Part 1 - Next: Individual Processes and Characteristics, Part 1

Flashcard Secrets provides test preparation products for a variety of examinations - all trademarks are property of their respective trademark owners.

3827 Phelan #179

Beaumont, TX 77707