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The Influence of Folklore on the
History of religionE. O. James (Oxford)
E. O. James (Oxford)
AnthropologistProfessor
19th – Scientific Investigation of Popular Tradition
“the term ‘folklore’ was first used casually by W. J. Thorns in 1846”
Oral Tradition
Oran Tradition
Folk Stories
Folk Institutions
Cult Practices
The Peasant Mystery and Rhythm of Life Climate and Environments Perplexing and Hazardous
Situations
“The Peasant resorted to Ritual Techniques Devised”
Touching the Deepest Needs and Desires
of the Human Spirit…”
Lore – • gives a Sense of
Assurance amid all the chances and changes of every day experiences.
• gives Stability to normal Routine.
Repetition in Act and Word gives Confidence
Right Order
Regulated
Behavior of Nature Human Order in
Stress
Seasons Health Fertility Well-
being
Control
Society
Strengthen
Human Emotions
“only one part (the literary part) of a
Folktales Myths Legends
Folk's lore.”
Folk Tale
Paul Bunyan Three Billy Goats Gruff
Ritual Combat Cycle
Theme: Good and EvilHero
“Bringing Good out of Evil”
Hero – “Semi-Divine Being”
Myth is not the
fantasy,
It is to confirm the accepted belief,
institutions, and sanctionsand to assure for the effectiveness of the
Cultus.
poetry, philosophy, and psychology etc.
A legend is a story
often believed to be true and in which the characters are usually considered historical.
Q. Why Performed Ritual?
Ritual
Visual (art)
Dramatic Expressi
on
“To Live or to Meet
Essential Human Needs”
“In Peasant Cultures, the Beliefs, Rituals and Customs Associated with the Basic Human Needs…”
Belief
RitesSymbol
sR
elig
ion
“dromenon – the Things
Done”the Words Spoken”
“muthos –
Dance
The Feast of the NativityCandlemass
The Babylonian Origins of Easter (Ishtar)
“Thus, Folklore was as Influential at a Crucial Turning Point in the History of
Religion…”
Peasant – Feast/Fasts
“Provide Needs in All Aspects as a Community”
FOLKLORE AND RELIGION:1. Religions (higher) by incorporating folk
material into its own faith and practice has given a new vigor, meaning, significance and function to popular beliefs and customs, and so enabled them to acquire a fresh survival value.
2. The basic themes and cultic patterns in oral tradition, documentary texts, tales and legends, myth and ritual, sacred drama and dance, have been preserved, evaluated and carried on from age to age, culture to culture, religion to religion.