On Humans What Can Shamans Teach Us About Religion? | Many Minds with Manvir Singh
Jan 21, 2026
Manvir Singh, an anthropologist at UC Davis and author of 'Shamanism: The Timeless Religion', dives into the fascinating world of shamanism. He explores how varied practices evolve and intertwine with modern life, breaking down exotic perceptions versus scholarly definitions. Discussions include the transformative power of trances, the cultural markers that define shamans, and the intriguing connections between shamanism and major religions, even pondering if figures like Jesus had shamanic traits. Singh argues for the persistent relevance of shamanic practices in today's spiritual landscape.
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Shamanism Requires Demographic Support
- Shamanism is not strictly universal but emerges reliably given typical human cognition and social size.
- Small isolated groups can lose shamanism after cultural bottlenecks, but it redevelops in appropriate contexts.
Altered States Make Claims Credible
- Altered states perform "performances of otherness" that make claims of supernatural contact credible.
- Both long-term marks (initiations, self-denial) and in-the-moment dissociation persuade communities of practitioners' special powers.
Initiation Transforms The Shaman's Body
- Among the Mentawai, shaman initiation transforms the eyes with magical treatments so shamans can 'see' spirits.
- New vocabulary marks the transition: regular people are 'uncooked' while shamans become different beings.
