In each of your answers be sure to make good use of relevant specific information, from both Pals’ book and handouts, or from the handouts by Hennelly, Gutierrez, and Johnson. The information can offer both clarification and illustration of other things you say.
1. Mircea Eliade defends religiousness – a sense of the sacred. Explain what he means by the sacred and what his defense is, including where he finds this religiousness, in what various forms, and how and why it has weakened.
2. Edward E. Evans-Pritchard also defends the religious beliefs of the Zande and the Nuer, arguing that both of them have beliefs and practices that are sophisticated in their own way. Describe enough of the beliefs and practices of these two tribal groups, as E-P sees them, to show how he tries to justify his defense.
3. Clifford Geertz turns attention away from the kinds of analyses of religions that treats some as inferior or superstitious, by recommending a different way of studying cultures. Explain what this different way is, and evaluate whether he seems to succeed in this.
4. Elizabeth Johnson represents a feminist form of liberation theology. State in general how Hennelly and Gutierrez portray liberation theologies. Then present a good description of the deficiencies that Johnson perceives with much traditional Christian language, and the harm she thinks it has done.
