This course examines phenomena often viewed as irrational and superstitious to see how they can be understood in cultural terms. All societies have some beliefs in another world, yet beliefs vary widely between societies. The course will examine traditional anthropological topics such as magic, traditional healing, divination, fengshui, witchcraft, and ghosts as well as more recent issues such as ESP, psychokinesis, qigong, vampires, zombies, monsters, UFO and alien abduction. the role of myth in modern society and the cultural creation of reality will be highlighted. The power of cultural in explaining the supernatural and limits of what science can explain will also be discussed. (Not for students who have taken UGC296U.)