Mini-paper on Tribal and Ancient Religions by Evelin Viera

Evelin Viera
02/12/07
Tribal vs. Ancient Religions


To be able to understand the concept of weighing the pros and cons among tribal and ancient religions, we must first understand the terms individually, as this will allow for broader understanding historically. Let’s begin, for instance, with the more primitive term of the two, tribal, which implies a form of “social organization/group,” directly associated with prehistoric human existence (C & B 27). Primitive, secondary to the preliterate historical era of life as we know it today, however, evidence has validated that indeed religion can be traced as far back to our tribal ancestors. Thought to be uncivilized in behaviors, but rationale they were, and such remains as cave paintings and rock incisions lead us to conclude that they were thoroughly absorbed in making religious sense in their condition (C & B, 27). It’s almost as though religion, to our primates, was a form of civilization during their existence, as we know it today, an Old World that couldn’t even conceive of the term and its significance to modern day humanity.
Some common tribal religion traits that existed prehistorically continue to exist in today’s day and age. To be sacred, or things that are holy, is a theme I myself can relate to, as I perceive my church’s infrastructure to be sacred. Another is profanity, which depicts things that are not sacred; example would be things that are not perceived as holy whether human or inanimate. I have had the opportunity to surround myself with different beliefs and doctrines, but similarly I have found that animism continues to live amid the various denominations. For me, both humans and animals have souls, but inanimate objects were not among those present on the day that God granted souls. Magic, exorcism, and healing, are among other themes that that are very familiar to current Western civilization. Many make a profit off of the three, promising to provide a solution or cure to those that resort to them for answers. As a clinician myself, alternative medicine is practiced throughout my work place, and many patients swear they are better off as a result, so needless to say seeing I’m a believer. Culturally, a birth, a first birthday, a presentation onto God, a sweet 15, a high school graduation, a marriage, and a death is considered a rite of passage. Similarly, other cultures today practice their own, though tailored to their religious beliefs, race, upbringing, or geographic location. Sacrifices and shamans, among the Ainu, Aborigines, Indians, and Eskimo’s was and still is, being practice today, as this holds true to their commitment towards their deities/doctrines. A sacrifice can be as simple as fasting, a new year’s resolution, or a promise to not endanger one’s health, which is much less brutal than that of the extreme sacrificing of animals and humans, primitively. The same holds true for the remaining themes, divination, totemism, high god, ancestors, tricksters, and megaliths (Egyptians and Aztecs).
Features of some specific tribal traditions, such as their leaders, shamans, and their doctrines and myths example; high god, Dreamtime, taboo, and afterlife, have persisted in hopes of keeping their religions still alive today. Tribal religions, therefore, serve as a representation for the collected wisdom, history, and beliefs of that tribe (i.e. Melanesians). Their religion depicts for them why they are there and what place they have in the world surrounding them.
Additionally, religions of ancient or early civilization, otherwise know as, the agriculturalist/literate, also come to play. In comparison to the tribal religions, things that made the ancient civilization more favorable to that of the tribal religions, in my view, included their ability to herd, produce agriculture, create pottery, fabricate metals, carry out trading, as well as conquest, and of coarse, their writing skills. Conversely, in light of having many deities, ancient civilizations also had many myths as a basis of their religion/civilization. With polytheism, came syncretism, and the new revolution of religion was born. One form of syncretism involves incorporating a symbol, myth, ritual, or ethical principle from one tradition into another (C & B 61). An example of this is Halloween, Christmas, and Easter practiced by the Teutonic and the Celtics (C &B 61). Additionally, another marker of ancient religion was the extreme concern with the afterlife. Furthermore, in order to avoid being barred or condemned from the afterlife, one not only had to worship the ancient deities, but also live by “codes of law,” as this would be held against you after you had passed on to the other side. Consequently, mummification was embedded into some of the ancient religions as a reassurance of being prepared for the afterlife. Retrospectively, a system of values was important for social order, just as it is today, thus primitively and anciently one had to abide by their religion to comply with social norms and standards as means to maintain a virtuous life, hence the term Hellenistic.
Given the opportunity to live in both of the eras depicted, I can definitely see myself and my family following the doctrines and the disciplines associated with the social standards, however, thankfully for the Eastern and later the Western civilization we no longer are obliged to practice in any specific faith or belief. Moreover, religion, whether tribal or ancient in nature, in my view, provides the foundation for every “virtuous” human character in our present day society.