Religion: Clifford Geertz And Talal Asad

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Many of us have different ways to describe what religion is made up of as well as its purpose to serve humans because we are all part of different cultures. In this reflection paper I will discuss how anthropologist Clifford Geertz and Talal Asad view the use and importance of symbolism in religion in society. I will then discuss how Clifford Geertz and Talal Asad would each respond to the story “Voodoo in Brooklyn” by Patrick Bellegarde Smith. Religion is a system of symbols according to Clifford Geertz , he believes that it is essential that humans use symbols in our everyday lives to make sense of what is going on around us. He shows this in the text when he says, “to build a dam a beaver needs only an appropriate site and the proper materials-his

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