Espiritualidad, simbolismo y mitología en américa del surreligiosidad comparada de las culturas selk'nam y mapuche

Résumé

his thesis analyzes the religious elements in the Selk’nam and Mapuche cultures from a comparative perspective. The emphasis is placed on their history and cultural practices, as well as the geographical situation of the territories inhabited by both human groups. By using anthropological and historical approaches, analytical observations and reflections are made concerning spirituality in general and cosmovision in particular, examining myths, rituals, symbols and the most varied religious expressions that constitute a diverse corpus of beliefs. This work uses a methodology characteristic of ethnohistory, with a focus on the anthropology and history of religions. It includes the discussion on this discipline’s suitability for the study of indigenous peoples, considering both the methodological issues —such as religiocentrism— and the ethnocentric implications of previous works, as well as those derived from the processes of religious syncretism and evangelization. An emphasis is placed on the theoretical discussion about the concept of religion from an Americanist point of view, with the purpose of examining the idea of a supreme being or of supreme beings in the indigenous peoples, identifying the processes of cultural and religious domination, and analyzing the historical legacy of both cultures on the basis of documents by chroniclers, travelers, militaries and official authorities.