Approaches to Rituals THEORETICAL ANALYSIS Secular Ritual Deeper

Approaches to Rituals THEORETICAL ANALYSIS

Secular Ritual Deeper Meaning of Ritual Symbolic actions and objects Religious Ritual

The Need for Ritual Food – ritual killing of animals, hunting Eg. Ainu (Japan), North American Indian Tribe bear rituals • Warmth/Shelter – Bolivian Witches’ Market • Companionship – daily social rituals (movies) • Communication - Catholic Communion • Purification – Hindu Kumb Melha Festival • Pacification – Funeral / Burial Hindu Ceremony • Maintain Order – Initiation Ceremonies Indigenous Australians •

What kinds of rituals? Rites of passage: North American girls’ ‘Coming of Age’ Crisis Celebration Worship

Rites of Passage A ritual marking a time when the status of an individual changes: ritual dramas of birth, initiation, marriage and death: largely individual oriented Non-recurrent. Anticipated. Bar Mitzvah Graduation 21 st Birthday

Calendrical Rites Cyclical Organised by community Turning points of socio-economic seasons Eg. New Year ritual: Group oriented Recurrent – linking people with social world Anticipated with entrances and exits.

Diwali is certainly one of the biggest, brightest and most important festivals of India. While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights". The celebration of Diwali as the "victory of good over evil" refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance. While the story behind Diwali and the manner of celebration of the festival differ greatly depending on the region, the essence of the festival remains the same - the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

Crisis Rites Rituals performed at times of hardship (sickness, drought, flood, social anxiety)

Celebration Celebrates special events and dates (Christmas)

Worship Rituals that worship a God or Gods. Usually involves some kind of prayer.

Lovat Read pg. 27 – Beginning, Middle, End approach - 5 steps

Structure of Ritual: Terence Lovat Climax: Experience of a central highpoint Preparation: Preparatory rite/activity Entry: Leave the ordinary world and enter the ritual Celebration: Joins in a celebration of the ritual Return: Leaves the ritual and returns to ordinary world

Structure of Haka (during a football match) The performing of the Haka Get into formation Walk onto field The crowd and the team celebrate Find positions for kick off

Task Think of a secular ritual and a religious ritual. Complete Lovat’s pyramid for the two rituals

Arnold van Gennep: Read Pg 26 Text Mainly for rites of passage rituals (a ritual where someone transitions from one stage of life to another) Pre-liminal: Separating from the previous life Liminal: Transitioning from one stage to another Post-liminal: A new status or state of life

Gennep Example for a surgical operation:

Task Break down the crocodile skin ritual into the three phases. Pre-liminal: Separating from the previous life Liminal: Transitioning from one stage to another Post-liminal: A new status or state of life

Task Break down this transition into the following three phases. Going from Primary school to High school

Victor Turner Text p. 26 3 Meanings: 1. Exegetical (subjective) – explained by person performing the ritual 2. Operational (objective) – observable by the outsider; purpose of the ritual in society 3. Positional – symbols used & relationships between them.

Liminality: Looks at what different people experience in the liminal phase

Rituals in World Religions 1. 2. 3. Questions: Why do you think there have been attempts throughout history to deny a role for ritual in religion? Why do you think religion invests so much energy into ritual? Define in your own words the following group rituals and give examples: 1. Totemic 2. Calendrical 3. Ceremonial 4. Rites of Passage 5. Crisis Rites