totemism

is the practice of naming clans and exogamous groups according to an animal or vegetal species (as revered ancestor).

MacLennan defined totemism as the practice, reported not only in North America but also in Australia, of naming clans and exogamous groups according to an animal or a vegetal species. He showed that this practice was accompanied by the belief in a special, intimate relationship between the members of each clan and their totem, some times reinforced by the idea they all descend from it. Members of each clan are thus said to treat their totem with the respect due to an ancestor: they must not kill it if it is an animal, cut it or gather it if it is a plant, and they must not eat (Bryant encyclopedia of death and dynit.' ([Clifton D. Bryant, Dr. Dennis L. Peck] Encycloped

John Mclellan

Authors(0)

John MclellanThinkers

John Mclellan