Offers perhaps the clearest view of the relationship between myth and ritual through an examination of primal religion - the worldview of approximately 200 million people. Thomas Drift, a Native American from the Ojibwa nation, discusses the basic characteristics of primal religion, the features of a primal religious worldview, ritual techniques, and the relationship between ritual practices and spirituality in Native American cultures.
This series provides a comprehensive look at the nature and function of the religions and secular beliefs that comprise today’s major "world views". Established beliefs covered in the telecourse include Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Also included are belief systems outside the scope of mainstream religious institutions, such as "New Age" religion, neo-paganism, and "Civil Religion". These world views are explored in-depth using six dimensions of study: mythical, experiential, doctrinal, ritual, ethical and social. Viewers receive an introduction to diverse belief systems and gain a balanced perspective on how differing belief systems affect us on a global scale and in our own backyards.
