Natural SymbolsFirst printed in 1970, Natural Symbols is Douglas' most controversial work. It represents a work of anthropology in its widest sense, exploring themes such as the social meaning of natural symbols and the image of the body in society. This work focuses on the ways in which cultures select natural symbols from the body and how every natural symbol carries a social meaning. She also introduces her grid/group theory, which she sees as a way of keeping together what the social sciences divide and separate. Bringing anthropology in to the realm of religion, Douglas enters into the ongoing debate in religious circles surrounding meaning and ritual. The book not only provides a clear explanation to four distinct attitudes to religion, but also defends hierarchical forms of religious organization and attempts to retain a balanced judgement between fundamentalism and established religion. Douglas has since extensively refined the grid/group theory and has applied it to consumer behaviour, labour movements and political parties. |
Contents
Away from Ritual | 1 |
To Inner Experience | 19 |
The Bog Irish | 37 |
A Rule of Method | 54 |
The Two Bodies | 65 |
A Test Case | 82 |
Sin and Society | 99 |
The Problem of Evil | 107 |
Impersonal Rules | 125 |
Control of Symbols | 140 |
Out of the Cave | 156 |
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Common terms and phrases
action acts analysis appear attitudes become behaviour beliefs bodily body boundaries child Christian close communication concerned cosmology cult culture dangerous described developed Diagram Dinka distinct doctrine effect elaborated evil example expect experience expression external feel flesh formal forms Friday function give given grid grid and group human idea individual institutions interest internal kind less lives London magical material matter means mind moral move movement nature Nuer organisation particular pattern political positional possession possible present primitive principles problem pygmies question range recognise rejection relations religion religious response restricted code ritual roles rules sacramental seems sense situation social structure society speech spirit strong success suggest symbolic tend things tion turn universe weak witch witchcraft