More on Magic

For Monday, please discuss one of the following questions:

1) Bronislaw Malinowski, in his classic essay Magic, Science and Religion, claimed that each of these was a viable mode of cognition and that most societies exhibit all of them in variable proportions.

In what ways does magical thinking persist in contemporary North America?

In what ways does magical thinking persist in your lives at Columbia?

Is it likely to persist in the future?

2) Religious rituals are religion in action. Describe what in fact is accomplished by religious rituals?

3) You can discuss this BBC article in the context of your readings for the week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7699066.stm