What you're talking about in point 1 is what anthropologists mean by "cultural relativism" (as opposed to what people think anthropologists mean by the term). Although the etic (outside, in this case modern) view can be useful, you can't just dismiss the emic (inside, local/historical) paradigm that was actually informing the participants' behavior. You have to do your cognitive best to understand what these things meant to them. Godbeer's apparent tone-deafness on that point would probably make me throw the book across the room.
(Having taken a class on spirit possession, I'm also fascinated by that possible connection, and would love to read a book that handles it well.)
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momijizukamori
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Date: 2011-01-29 10:00 pm (UTC)(Having taken a class on spirit possession, I'm also fascinated by that possible connection, and would love to read a book that handles it well.)