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| Image Copyright: Robin Day, print available here |
Courteney Hedicke, Anth 101
Culture
is a widely varying factor in society. The way cultures meet and identify each
other, either as equal or inferior, sets the behavior for how the two cultures
interact. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are two terms used to classify
different viewpoints. Either term could be used to interpret any culture. One
culture that is often judged is witchcraft. The founders of Reno Magick Store
are individuals who practice witchcraft rituals from many different cultures.
One of their more controversial practices is the blood offerings of small
animals, such as rabbits and chickens (Fisher 2014). This practice viewed in either the lens of
ethnocentrism or cultural relativism defines how it is distinguished and
connected with by those of another culture.
One
way to view cultures is through an ethnocentric lens. Ethnocentrism is defined
as “the tendency to view one’s own culture as superior and to apply one’s own
cultural values in judging the behavior and beliefs of people raised in other
cultures” (Gezan and Kottak 30). Ethnocentrism uses the values of one culture
to judge the values in other cultures, effectively comparing the cultures. With
an ethnocentric standpoint one’s own culture always ends up as superior to the
other culture. Tolerance is not an aspect considered in this viewpoint. An
ethnocentric view reinforces the belief that one’s own culture is the only
correct culture and can, in the most extreme circumstances, create the
persecution of other belief systems. Ethnocentrism can lead to the belief that
other cultural practices are morally wrong. In most cases, however, ethnocentrism leads to pride in one’s
cultural values and norms. Ethnocentrism is a viewpoint that creates a
hierarchy and judges cultures by how they measure up to standards from one
culture.
From
an ethnocentric standpoint, these people are killing innocent animals for
ceremony, which is considered morally wrong from an American Christian standpoint.
In America, most religious practices do not consist of the ceremonial
slaughtering of animals for worship. This practice carries with it the
connotations of “devil worship” and ritualistic behavior, which in mainstream
American society is considered to be
disconcerting. With an ethnocentric
view, of course, the slaughter of
animals for a ritual would be considered a disgusting act with no purpose.
A
viewpoint that is distinctly contrasted with ethnocentrism is cultural
relativism.Cultural relativism is the belief that “behavior in one culture
should not be judged by the standards of another culture” (Gezan and Kottak
30). This idea argues that every culture should be considered equal. No culture
nor any moral or ethical compass is
better, or more right, than any other. This belief system, while allowing for
more equality, also allows for the complete acceptance of cultural and societal
practices that are detrimental to society as a whole. Cultural relativism is a
viewpoint that accepts both the positive and negative aspects of a culture no
matter the cost to the greater good.
From
a culturally relativistic viewpoint, every culture is equal, including
witchcraft, despite the ceremonial killing of innocent animals. One cannot judge this ritualistic practice by
the cultural standards most Americans hold.
The blood sacrifice of animals must be considered as valid and morally
correct as drinking wine and eating a communion wafer in church on Sunday. The sacrifice is ameliorated with prayer and
the act of killing the animal painlessly. From the standpoint of cultural
relativism, ritualistic killings of human beings could also be justified.
Cultural relativism is the argument that every culture and its practices, no
matter what they may be, are a valid and acceptable behavior.
My
standpoint lies between the standpoints of cultural relativism and
ethnocentrism. Logically and morally, I believe that all cultures should be
accepted, even ones that do not fall within the lines of my culture, but as a
vegetarian who would never harm an animal, I find it difficult to condone the
behavior practiced at Reno Magick Shop. From my slightly ethnocentric viewpoint
I find this practice to be abhorrent and ethically wrong, but from my slightly
culturally relativistic point of view I understand that animal sacrifice is
normal and accepted in their subculture.
Both
ethnocentrism and cultural relativism express valid viewpoints. The danger is when either view is expressed
in an extreme way. Considering
witchcraft in through the lens of both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism
provides two contrasting views of the culture. On one side witchcraft is wrong
and on the other it is completely valid. Ethnocentrism, a critical viewpoint,
and cultural relativism, an accepting viewpoint, are two way to view the
differences between cultures.
Works Cited
Fisher, G..
"Witches of the West - Arts & Culture - Arts&Culture - November
27, 2014." Reno News & Review.
Chico Community Publishing, 27 Nov. 2014. Web.
Accessed 12 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.newsreview.com/reno/witches-of-the-west/content?oid=15716407>.
Gezon, Lisa, and Conrad Kottak. Culture. Truckee Meadows Community
College ed. New York: McGraw Hill
Education, 2014. Print.
