Naricema Culture

Naricema Culture

Introduction

In the article, Body Ritual Among Naricema, Horace Miner talks in detail about the magical practices and beliefs of the Naricemans, a group of people North Americans who have lived in the territories between Tarahumare of Mexico and Creel the Yaqui of Canada. Even though not much has been established about their origins, traditions strongly indicate that the people of Naricema came from the east.

Discussion

People of the Naricema tribe devote most of their times to economic pursuits. However, a major portion of the day and fruits of labor are spent in body rituals which are primarily focused on the human body. The foundational belief of the body rituals of Naricema revolves around the ugliness of the human body and its tendency to disease and debility. The belief expands on this concept, stating how entrapped in such a vulnerable body, the humans can only hope for salvation and aversion from these malicious characteristic by devoting themselves to the healing effects of ceremonies and rituals.

According to the Nariceman ritual, it is imperative for all households to have a shrine in their homes which is specifically built to serve as a place for worships and rituals. Moreover, a single household may even have more than one shrine which refers to its opulence and is also an indication of power and influence in society. The author also provides an in-depth insight into the actual rituals and ceremonies that are performed by the people of Naricema in the shrine. Upon reading the book thoroughly, it is evident that the content relates strongly to core concepts of sociology. Some of these core concepts are discussed below:

Cultural relativism

In the vast study of sociology, the concept of cultural relativism iterates the opinion that all cultures are equal and none is superior to another in terms of politics, ...