Some Examples
of Revitalization Movements Revitalization Movements:Religious
movements which arise out of people’s attempts to construct a more satisfying
culture.
Note that these movements typically arise
in dramatically adverse circumstances and blend distinct cultures, worldviews,
and/or religious perspectives.They
often have visionary leaders.
Ghost Dance (in your textbook)
·Sioux
·19th
century
·led
by Wovoka
·Blended
Euro-American cultural elements and indigenous Sioux elements
·Was
a movement of an oppressed, colonized people
·Looked
toward an end to white colonialism
Shakers
(in your textbook) ·British/American ·18th
century ·led
Mother Ann Lee ·Blended
Christianity with Mother Ann Lee’s own personal vision ·Was
a movement in the midst of industrialization, poverty, and population upheaval ·Looked
to create a just, theocratic society (including gender equality)—and a
separatist one Lumpa
movement (my example) ·Zambia
(Africa) ·1950s—just
before and after Zambian independence ·led
by Alice Lenshina ·Blended
Christian and indigenous (Bemba) elements ·Was
a movement in the midst of colonialism and its aftermath, poverty, population
upheaval ·Looked
to create a theocratic, separatist society which would cleanse the country
of people believed to harm others through sorcery Alice Lenshina’s
‘Lumpa’ Movement: The Numbers 1958: Her movement had gathered a following
of about 65,000
1958: The Lumpa Cathedral was built
at the height of the movement—one of the largest church buildings in Africa
1959: The Lumpa movement erupted into
violent clashes with police
1964: By this time the Lumpa movement
was in violent conflict with the newly formed Zambian state
1964: Alice Lenshina was captured and
imprisoned
1975: Alice Lenshina was released in
December
Casualties:It
is estimated that 1,500 people were killed and 20,000 became refugees as
a result of the violence between the movement and the Zambian government.
Possible Explanations for the Zambian Government’s violent response
to Lenshina’s movement We might suggest that
the movement posed a threat to the newly forming Zambian independent state
because:
1.It
was a separatist movement which was resisting capitalism—which the state
did not think was in its best interests
2.It
was resisting cooperation and inclusion in the state
3.It
was attempting to secure land rights in the process
4.As
a movement with clear political, economic, AND religious components, it
exerted a moral power that the state had difficulty exerting for itself
Understanding Religious Movements Framing Point:Religious
movements are also social movements.They
arise in particular political, economic, social, as well as religious contexts.
Questions to Ask: 1. What is the context?Is
the social order threatened?
2. Who is joining the movement?Is
it people who are marginalized somehow—people facing great adversity?
3. What questions does the movement answer
for people?Does it give them hope,
answers to the ‘why me’ questions?
4. What is the movement claiming as its goal—and
how do we understand that in the overall context?
5. Are there other questions concerning belief
or personal satisfaction we should open ourselves to consider? 6. How do the beliefs and principles of the
movement make sense for a particular community of people?--How
do they make sense in terms of the community’s key metaphors?