What is a Shaman - Essay Example

Shaman Shamans referred to people who had the ability to move between the layers of the cosmos and connect the material world with the spiritual world. Shamans referred to people who were believed to will their spirit to leave their bodies and travel to upper or underworlds (Robinson 10). They had the ability to shape world views by communicating what came from the supernatural world to the world of the living. They served as God-kings who got tasked with making the world work in a harmonious way.

Through their intervention, they kept the link between humans and the supernatural world in balance. They were believed to have the knowledge about how the world worked. The study on shamans provides one with a world-view on the use of religion in different human societies. The study of religion in anthropology transcends all human phenomena that include historical, biological, linguistics, or culture. The study on shamans is vital in understanding the intersection between human beings and culture (Morris 29).

To understand humanity, it is vital to have an understanding of the concepts of religion and culture. Culture forms the entire social heritage of man while religion is a system of beliefs, behavior, and values acquired by human beings as members of a society. Shamanic beliefs do not form a single religion or doctrinal entity. Shamans represented religion through people’s belief in supernatural forces that provided meaning to life. Works CitedMorris, Brian. Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.Robinson, Kim Stanley. Shaman. New York: Orbit, 2013.