essay writing in rituals

Writing about Rituals, and Rituals That Help Us Write

Just going through the motions can be a rich source of inspiration

The power of ritual is what drew me back, more than anything, to practicing a traditional faith. I’d tried other ways of being spiritual and religious, but it wasn’t until I stepped back into a Catholic church where schoolchildren were walking the Way of the Cross that I felt I had entered a space where I could worship. Hearing all their young voices enunciating Scripture in unison, I felt something that I had long forgotten in my years outside of the Church, a feeling that was something like home and a little tribal. But it wasn’t only nostalgia.

Since then, I’ve written about the Way of the Cross many times—in many different essays—trying to understand my attraction to it and the strange comfort it gives me. What was it about that particular ritual that overpowered me? Why didn’t I find it morbid to see small children walking in the footsteps of a tortured man, imagining and inhabiting a death scene?

I participated in this ritual nearly every Friday during Lent as a child, and when I took it back up as an adult, I felt an overwhelming connectedness with the living and the dead, with all those who had walked this way before me and all those who will walk it long after I’m gone, and even with my former self, my childhood self. I wondered if the ritual had somehow taken root in my imagination, teaching me to see—through secular symbols and metaphors and poetry—a deeper meaning in suffering. It wasn’t merely the story of the crucifixion that conveyed the meaning to me; it was the rhythm of the words of the prayers, the heads dipping in unison, the rhythmic bending of knees, the tune of the hymn “Stabat Mater.” When you’re a kid, you easily tune out the story. But the rhythm, the images, the smells, stay with you, like faint traces of perfume in the folds of my clothes.

Those rhythms and images and smells return the story to me in unexpected ways—not just the story of the death of Jesus, but my story. Any time I practice this ritual, I’m entering both. It gives me access to memories of my former self that might otherwise remain buried. Joan Didion, sometimes described as a literary patron saint, describes the power of ritual in “On Keeping a Notebook:”

some morning when the world seems drained of wonder, some day when I am only going through the motions of doing what I am supposed to do . . . on that bankrupt morning I will simply open my notebook and there it will all be . . .

Didion’s ritual—the daily writing—is writerly rather than religious, but the end result seems to me to be similar. Yes, sometimes rituals feel empty, rote, or monotonous. But they can also be containers for deeper knowledge and sensory memory, and perhaps also for previous selves now otherwise lost. Meaning is found at the intersection of the ritual and the individual, in the space where our experience and creativity meets an established or “rote” form.

Conversely, experiencing a ritual for the first time may reveal something about ourselves we never realized before. As Didion helpfully puts it: 

However dutifully we record what we see around us, the common denominator of all we see is always, transparently, shamelessly, the implacable “I.”

But the first step is to dutifully record. Ask yourself the following questions when writing about ritual:

What is in front of you? Behind you? Look all around you and notice the specifics of the space you’re in. Why are you there? Who else is there? Who is leaving? Who is paying attention and who is not? Who is crying? Is this a familiar or unfamiliar place or event? Do you feel welcome or unwelcome? Do you feel like you belong?

When writing about a ritual from a tradition that is foreign to you, try not to make assumptions about the people who are practicing it. “Spiritual tourism” holds perils—assuming more knowledge of a culture than you really have, sentimentalizing the faith of others, or appropriating a ritual or practice that isn’t your own as if it were. I admit I’m a frequent spiritual tourist—I love going on pilgrimages and visiting the holy sites of many different faiths, and I love reading about others’ experiences as well. But I find the writing most compelling when the discomfort or revulsion or attraction or tension or even ignorance the writer feels tells me about who they are, what they believe, and what they’ve learned about themselves in this context, rather than assuming knowledge or judgment of those they encountered.

In his essay, “A Skull in Varanasi, A Head in Baghdad,” writer Todd Gitlin—who says he is not at all a religious person—wakes up to who he is and what he stands for while contemplating an unfamiliar religious ritual that involves the smashing of skulls in the Ganges River in India. When he returns home to New York to the news of the decapitation of a young American in Baghdad, his brain makes a connection between the two experiences and what they say about what it means to be human, to have a body with a skull and a brain that will meet an end.

“No doubt there is a great deal about these beliefs I don’t begin to get,” he writes of the Hindu ritual. “But these are the mind’s pastimes of an amateur, a curious dilettante.” Ritual, by definition, is always the same. But the experience of ritual, the internal story experienced, the knowledge gained, can vary vastly.

Writers can also use well-known rituals as a starting point to push against or render in unexpected ways. The very short essay “Ash Wednesday, 2000” from Susan Neville’s memoir, Iconography, grew out of a writerly experiment, a vow to write every day for the season of Lent. Neville, who is not Catholic, had never observed Lent, but she had a hunch that ritualizing her writing in this way might reveal a pattern or narrative in her life that she was otherwise unable to grasp. She’d never been to an Ash Wednesday Mass, and despite her commitment to exploring Lent, she doesn’t end up there this time either. Instead, she goes to the mall. This, she admits, is a ritual that grounds and comforts her, that speaks to her of who she is (though would rather not be)—a middle-aged, white American who finds a ritualistic comfort in shopping. And yet, by the end of the essay, she finds herself covered in ashes, at least metaphorically. She goes to the makeup counter and covers her hands in different shades of lipstick. When she writes about the experience in her Lenten journal, she arrives at the same destination as the Catholics—reminded of her own mortality—though in her own peculiar way.

In the essay “All of the Above,” writer Faith Adiele takes on the ritual of telling a story at a dinner party—even breaking it into helpful steps for the reader with a numbered list—while also considering the rituals of courtship and marriage in three different cultures: Nordic, American, and Nigerian. Again, we see that rituals serve to show us both who we are and who we aren’t—a consistent theme in the work of Adiele, who navigates all three heritages and ethnicities in her own life. She is a storyteller, but her story doesn’t quite fit into the container of standard tales of American courtship. She plays with that container, to comedic effect, in this piece. She begins:

In your new married life, You & O are invited to couples’ dinner parties where at some point the hostess turns to you and crows: “Tell the story of your marriage!” At fifty-something, this is your first marriage, so you wonder, is this what married people do? Or are you objects of speculation because you’re fifty-something first-time newlyweds? Or has someone told her that either the story or its telling is dinner-party-worthy? Still somewhat enamored of your own story, you’re happy to oblige, after the inevitable glance at each other (who’s got this?), the inevitable writerly pondering of what to include, where to begin.

Faced with telling their unconventional tale of cross-cultural, middle-aged romance, she relies on a standard form—a ritual—to give shape to what might otherwise seem shapeless.

Step one, according to Adiele: “Begin at a pivotal moment.”

From there, she makes the form her plaything; she is as digressive and poetic as she cares to be. That playfulness acknowledges her facility for crafting a crowd-pleasing narrative out of the most personal experience—a nod to the essayist’s gift and burden.

Research in neuroscience supports the conclusion that rituals—not just religious rituals, but also the secular kind, including list-making, daily journaling, and other writerly tools—really do work. At the very least, they work to ground us and to comfort us. Mourning rituals can lessen feelings of grief, for example. And I’d suggest that the weird rituals you need to perform before you write—most of us have them—may truly help you to focus your attention and prepare your brain for the experience. Some people feel guilty about procrastination, but I encourage my writing students to see it as part of the process. Build your particular mode of procrastination into your writing ritual, and you may begin to see it not as an evasion but as a necessary part of your practice—which it is.

For an artist and a writer, being uncomfortable with a ritual can be equally fruitful, a source of creative tension. Not everyone will agree with me that contemplating the death of Jesus is a comfort. People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder may be retraumatized by Lenten rituals and traditional Christian devotions. But just think how different an essay would look from each perspective, and how the same ritual might serve as a frame for the exploration of two vastly different experiences.

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Expository: Why Rituals Are Good

26 Writing a Personal Essay based on “Why Rituals are Good for your Health”

Writing a personal essay, introduction.

Reading Honarvar’s story may have reminded you of your own rituals.  Maybe your experience is the same as Honarvar’s because rituals or traditions have helped you survived difficult times. Or maybe your experience is completely the opposite.  Maybe rituals have created challenges for you or your family.  Or your experience could be a combination.

The first purpose of this assignment is to write a one-page essay that describes the benefits, challenges, or both of a ritual that you or your family observes (follows). Your essay will not include research, as Honarvar’s did.  It will be a description of your personal experience with a ritual.

The second purpose is to practice using different sentence structures (long sentences and short sentences) and using the power of three. To review the power of three, go back to the Academic Vocabulary exercise that you recently completed where you identified lists of three items in “Why Rituals are Good for Your Health.”

Instructions

• Think of a ritual or tradition to write about. If you can’t think of one, ask a family member for help (but write the paper yourself).
• Complete the paper planner in this chapter. The planner will help you (1) organize your paper; (2) remember the important information that a person reading your paper needs to know; and (3) create lists of three items so that your paper will use the power of three.
• Remember to use both long and short sentences in your writing
• Include at least two examples of the power of three.

Practicing Skills

You will practice the following skills to write this essay:

• Invention (thinking of an idea)
• Using your personal experience as a topic of writing
• Planning an essay
• Drafting an essay
• Revising an essay
• Varying sentence structure
• Using the power of three

Gaining Knowledge

You will learn that:

• Your personal experiences are valuable and should be written down.
• Writing is a process that involves multiple steps.
• Having a model essay (like Honarvar’s) can help you improve your own writing.
• Sentence length is an important tool that you can use to communicate effectively with your readers.

Please follow the suggestions below in your one-page essay:

• Use at least five of the following expressions:
• Check verbs. Use the Present Simple tense when making general statements. Use the Past Simple tense to describe past experiences. Use the Past Perfect tense to describe events that happened prior to other events in the past.
• Use the Power of Three (parallel structure) in lists.
• Use modal verbs (can, must, should, have to, etc.) to describe your attitude toward actions.
• Use a variety of sentence structures (simple sentences, prepositional phrases, adjective clauses, adverb clauses, noun clauses, reduced clauses, transitional expressions) to improve the flow of your writing.

Paper Planner

Introduction – Background 

• What is the significance of the ritual?
• Who participates?
• What  does the ritual involve?
• What is your role?

Body Paragraph 1

• How  does the ritual benefit you, your family, or others  who practice it?
• Power of Three sentence to help the reader understand the ritual or its benefits.
• Example:  My family eats lentils on New Years Day to bring happiness, guarantee good health, and encourage prosperity.

Body Paragraph 2

• How  does the ritual challenge you, your family, or others  who practice it?  Why can it be difficult?
• Power of Three sentence to help the reader understand the ritual or its challenges.
• Example: Fasting is challenging because it results in hunger, causes distractions, and lasts all day.
• Is the ritual mostly beneficial or mostly a challenge?
• Do you think you’ll continue to practice the ritual in your adult life?

Supporting English Language Learners in First-Year College Composition Copyright © by Breana Bayraktar is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Symbols and Rituals in Religion

Introduction, works cited.

The word symbol is derived from a Greek word which is related to the word compare whereas rituals can be defined as actions which have a deeper implication than what we perceive at first instant. Rituals can be as simple as a blinking of an eye or as complex as the opening of the inauguration ceremony of the American president.

There are various rituals and symbols found in the church; some carry similar meaning to those found in the world. For example, the initiation rituals performed in the church as well as in the world are meant to initiate the new member to the new environment in which he/she finds him/herself in.

In the Catholic Church, the three sacraments associated with initiation are the baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. These are necessary for new members as they serve to initiate them into the congregation and strength people faith and show their appreciation for the ransom sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ. Baptism signifies death and life; it means the person Baptist dies to all that is sinful and rise to live in Christ. The anointing with oil during confirmation signifies that the Holy Spirit has been imparted to the person in question whereas participating in the Eucharist means that one accepts Christ as his/her redeemer.

Initiation rites are important as they help us to adapt to the new environment. It thus becomes imperative for new members to participate in initiations rituals a way of learning how to behave in the new community, the church. It is impossible to proceed with our daily Christian practices without symbols and rituals. Rituals reinforce our spiritual common beliefs. Similarly as people go through the initiations rites as found in the world which may range from circumcision to removal of teeth, they are educated by their seniors on means and ways of lives which can help them survive in the world.

Sacrament is another mostly observed church ritual. Sacrament mostly denotes divine grace and so people believe that they receive grace by simply participating in it. The Eucharist is a public symbol. It is believed that the community develops a sense of inner peace and of public identity by participating in the Eucharist. The body of Christ is taken to signify the presence of Christ and that He is with his people all through. The bread represents Jesus’ body. The bread and wine are symbols which are a sign of Christ presence. Breaking of the loaf is a symbol of faith that we are in unity with Christ. The liturgical prayers offered during this period talk of sharing the bread and the cup of blood which is a symbol of our unity in the one Christ. And so the one bread is broken so that we can share it. The Eucharist also reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice to deliver us from sins.

The symbol of Mary, Jesus’ mother is of great importance to the Catholics. She is greatly honored and adored because of who she is, the mother of Jesus. As a result, she is mentioned in the opening prayers of most liturgies. She has been given the title ‘Mother of the Church’, which signifies that she is a mother to all. Mary is also considered as a model of faith to us as she believed in the angel message that she was going to get pregnant by means of the Holy Spirit and be the mother of Jesus who was going to be the messiah.

Rituals and symbols are fundamental to our everyday endeavors. They are not just mere symbols as some have tried to postulates but rather they are very powerful and effective in helping us to lead a good life. The symbol of faith helps us to continue believing in God promises even if we have never seen Him and also remain focused to our future live with God in heaven. The practice of sacrament is important especially for young people as it fosters the spirit of praying in them. Prayers are equally important as they encourage the youths to participate in liturgy. The ministry of prayer helps promote unity as it brings people of different ethnic groups together in worship.

Rituals are vital to almost all religions as they play an important role that of shaping one’s religiosity. Rituals as symbols help us to converse with God and fellow Christians. Their significance cannot be underplayed as they perform specific functions in the society. Sacramental symbols signify God’s manifestation of justice towards all. The sharing of wine, bread, water and the use of oil means that we are all equal in god’s eyes. Sacramental practices challenge us as individuals to be present to God’s presence. It also challenges the baptized to continue following the perfect example of our Model Jesus Christ.

Sacramental symbols seek to humanize and hence are more dangerous than the rituals. For example the symbol of grace requires us to scrutinize our perceptions and how we perceive others. Sacramental symbols suggest that we become new individuals committed to God’s kingdom. This is more serious because it involve seeking God’s kingdom first them the other things to follow which include material possession. It is becoming very difficult to live up to this principle in a world dominated by material possessions. Being a new creation we are supposed to interpret things differently from the others and from the humanness point of view, be able to respond to God’s presence. On the other hand, rituals deal with explaining our response: whether we want to benefit from the presence of Gods for example by going to church and participating in all the activities, and spreading the kingdom message.

Symbols and Rituals can be dangerous activities especially when extremely codified as they are reduced only to representative function and its expressive function is lost. This can result to imposition of abstract doctrines to Christians rather than reinforcing the religious truths emanating from such symbols. This can lead to ritualism, where symbols and rituals become objects of manipulation of an unfriendly authority. This can result to ‘obsessive-compulsive disorder’.

The relationship between the symbols and rituals of the world and the symbols and rituals of the church is that they both call for active participation from the members. As a country, we engage in rituals that strengthen our identity as citizen of that country.

Some culture and things of the world cannot help us to see the holy where as some culture reinforces the importance of being Christianity. A culture emphasizing on material wealth and property possession make it difficult for us to remain focused on the importance of seeking first the kingdom of God just as is a culture dominated by sorcery and witchcraft. A culture that rejects God does not offer us an opportunity to worship and glorify God. On the other hand, a culture that emphasizes on the importance of being honesty, loyalty, faithfulness, respect and generally being a good person will make it easier for us to conform to Christian values. A democratic country will provide us with a conducive environment to worship God.

In conclusion, rituals and symbols shape our everyday life and hence we cannot do without them. There are the only ways in which we can able to communicate with God and with our brother and sister in the church and world. There are fundamental parts of our life.

CHAUVET, Louis-Marie. Rituals and Sacrament Symbols. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1994.

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Hindu Traditions: Food and Purification Ashley LeBlanc Introduction to Eastern Religions Dr. Patricia Campbell November 16, 2010 LeBlanc 2 Hinduism is a religion that originated in India and is still practiced by most of the Natives as well as the people who have migrated from …

Ferry 1 Amy Ferry Professor Nocito Composition 1 20 September 2010 My Grandmother’s Funeral: In every culture on our planet Earth, death is a part of life. Whether loved ones and friends of the deceased choose burial through internment, or produce ashes in a crematory, …

Both countries use symbolic traditions in their beliefs of courting and weddings. The fact that both Afghan women and North American wear a white dress at the wedding proves that the countries believe in a certain set of values. The color white overall is a sign …

Bridging the Gap: Adolescent Rites of Passage General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, my audience will understand how cultures use adolescent rites of passage to help people mark the transition from childhood to adulthood. Central Idea: Adolescent rites of …

There is one thing that is certain in this lifetime that eventually we all must die. A belief in the cyclical reincarnation of the soul is one of the foundations of the Hindu religion. Death is viewed as a natural aspect of life, and there …

Every country has their own way of marrying two people that want to spend the rest of their life together. Each has their own unique ritual of how they go about a wedding ceremony. African and Chinese cultures both have very intriguing ways of how …

I can name the following types of ballroom dancing: Cha Cha: The Cha Cha is a lively, flirtatious ballroom dance full of passion and energy. The classic “Cuban motion” gives the Cha Cha its unique style. Partners work together to synchronize each movement in perfect …

The Roman Catholic Funeral Rite vs. the Jewish Funeral Rite Funeral services in the 1990’s are more complex that they have ever been before. The modern funeral director must not only be aware of and comply with their own state and local rules and regulations, …

IntroductionIn this essay I will be discoursing my personal experience of what Arnold Van Gennep ( 1909 ) has described as “rites de passage” , concentrating on the liminal stage. This essay will detail my experience of traveling from an all ‘coloured’ community to a …

Nacirema HR 582 Managing Global Diversity Patsy A. Shepherd March 22, 2012 In Body Ritual Among the Nacirema, Horace Miner writes about the strange rituals that people do in America. While reading the story I was almost fooled, but as read further I realized the …

Religion, Rituals, and Health Overview of Chapter Topics   Introduction: Religion, spirituality, and ritual   Religion in the U. S.   Religion and health behaviors – Effect of religion on health-related behaviors – Religion and health outcomes – Religion and medical decisions   Rituals in relation to health practices …

“Embalming is one of the richest jobs a man can have”-this is what other says to the funeral organizations, in the case that their services are never losing. Every second of a time many children are born, but every second of a time can be …

Itercresco Make-up. High heels. Driving. Shaving. Dating. These are most of the undertakings that accompany maturing and becoming a young adult in the western society. For some in the western culture, the coming of age ritual is the allowance of these freedoms. In other cases …

Many people think they know the true definition of Valentines Day. They seem to know the feelings involved within this holiday. Everyone act like they know all the right gestures that must be done on this holiday. The question is Why do they know all …

When a pet dies people do not know what to do with their remains, some choose to bury in the garden of the house, others choose to take them to a crematorium, others leave them in charge to the vet, and others unfortunately opt for …

The article of Gregory Zaro and Jon Lohse, “Agricultural Rhythms and Rituals: Ancient Maya Solar Observation in Hinterland Blue Creek,” mainly discusses the various and highly effective agricultural practices in Mesoamerica during times when sophisticated equipment and instruments were not yet available. (more…)

In the last few thousand years, various religions have made the choice to record their various stories and teachings, to eliminate the “Chinese Whispers” effect that alters the details of these important themes. These writings are often utilised by those who follow the religion as …

In both Macbeth and Romeo ND Juliet, the demise of the namesake protagonists is prelude in the early parts of the play. In Romeo and Juliet, the audience Is made aware that the two will die by the chorus In the prologue – the relationship …

Society has always looked for a way to honor its dead. This has been the case since the earliest of times. There are rituals in all populations that mark the various passages each travel through in life. For instance, we mark an individual’s accomplishments in …

The piano begins to play as family and friends of the dad stand to face the aisle where his casket is being carried. Along with the people standing is the lone woman in the back of the church. The pallbearers of the father are his …

In his story “The Things They Carried” O’Brien depicts casualties of Vietnam war through evolution of characters’ emotional and psychological state. Psychological pressure is caused by war, but O’Brien portrays it symbolically through material and emotional things the soldiers carry. He gives a detailed list …

Cody Guilday English 105 Prof. Wheat 10/22/12 The Senior Prom: A Rite of Passage The United States is known throughout the world to be a place in which there are many cultures and customs mixing and colliding. One thing that each culture has in abundance …

Weddings have been celebrated since the beginning of time. So have wedding day superstitions. It is traditionally believed that weddings are susceptible to evil spirits and bad luck. Over time, wedding traditions and customs have been preserved to promote a happy, long, fertile and wealthy …

To inform my audience about commonly practiced superstitions, their meaning, origins, and what affects they have on our lives and commonly practiced traditions. Hi! My name is Sarah & today I am going to talk to you about superstitions. According to blah blah superstition is …

Jetty Rats is a novel set in the sass’s, written by Phillip Gwynne on the 6th of February 2004. The story is primarily about three kids called Hunter, Storm and Jasmine that go through the rite of passage in which they are all confronted with …

For a very long time ago, the advance of technology and science were at very low rate, unlikely from nowadays. So, people started to believe in superstition. They have believed in things that are unseen and unknown – even up to now, although some people …

Superstition If you step on a crack, you will break your mamma back, keep cats away from babies because they suck the breath of the child, and cross my heart and hope to die, cut my throat if I tell a lie are examples of …

Believe it or not most of us are affected by some form of anxiety in our everyday life. Weather it is being shy when talking in front of a large audience or worrying about a big paper you have to write for your English class. …

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Raymond Cloosterman (2000–)

Raymond Cloosterman

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Ritual Cosmetic is a cosmetic company whose headquarters are in Amsterdam, Netherland. Their first store was in Amesterdam's Kalverstraat in 2000. They have set shop in major cities such as London, Madrid, Antwerp,Lisbon, Berlin, Stockholm and New York.

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Ritual's estimated annual revenue is currently $30.1M per year.

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Rituals Essays (Examples)

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Ritual Magic

Ritual Magic Rituals and Magic of 'Deep Play' of Past and Present Eras It is common in our present location and age, perhaps except for those minority religious subcultures or communities who identify themselves as part of iccan or Goddess worship organizations, to view ritual magic as a legitimate practice only of the far past. Though millions read their horoscopes daily, and wear lucky talismans, there is a common intellectual currency amongst both scholars and the public at large to see rather than a system of belief structure that still has echoes in our present modalities of belief and being. This is one reason why the anthropological works of Catherine Allen regarding the Runa, upon its publication in the 1980's, initially struck its readers with such force. The Runa are a small group of townspeople who adhere to customs of ancient Incan and colonial Spanish civilization. The book's most recent forward demonstrates that…...

mla Works Cited Allen, Catherine. The Hold Life Has: Coca and Cultural Identity in an Andean Community (Smithsonian Series in Ethnographic Inquiry, No 12. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press: 1988. New Afterward 2002. Gmelch, George. "Baseball Magic." Retrieved on March 24, 2004 on http://students.faulkner.edu/depts/sbs/readings/an1301/baseball.htm Geertz, Clifford. "Deep Play: Note on the Balinese Cockfight." Accessed on March 24, 2004 on   http://webhome.idirect.com/~boweevil/BaliCockGeertz.html

Ritual Knowledge Is Transmitted in

Furthermore, under most circumstances, these variations in Muslim belief do not have a negative impact on how Muslims interact; instead, they manage to live peacefully side-by-side in most settings. This may have to do with the idea that all Muslims believe that the Quran (Qur'an, Koran) is the holy text for Muslims. They believe that the Quran reflects the word of God. "For Muslims, the text of the Koran is entirely the work and word of God. It is possible for a Muslim to hold that the Koran uses symbolic language and is describing the essence of things, not their technical form, but it is difficult to hold that the Koran reflects the views of our more distant ancestors" (Sedgewick 2006, p. 40). Mohammed plays a central role in Islam. He is the most important prophet and many facets of modern day Islam are based, not simply on the Quran,…...

mla References Hassan, R 2008, Exploring Islamic consciousness, Inside Muslim minds, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic, pp. 24-61. Jupp, J 2009, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders in the Encyclopedia of religion in Australia, Cambridge University Press, Port Melbourne, pp.69-118. McBrien, R 1982, the nature and use of power in the church, Proceedings of the annual convention, 37, CTSA Editorial Offices, Yonkers, NY, pp.38-49.

Ritual in Native American Traditions

For example in her essay on "Pagans, Converts, and Backsliders" Mary Young argues that a dialogue did occur between white and native culture, not simply in terms of a trade of goods and land, but also of religious worldviews. According to Young, to view 'the native mindset' as a monolith is an error. Natives took a multifaceted view of their own religion, often creating a synchronistic faith of Christianity and traditional native movements and there is no "single metaphysical outlook" that can be characterized as Indian (Young 79). This sense of cultural dialogue stands in profound contrast to Martin, who refers to what he calls "the scythe of Christianity" cutting out Native American religion entirely from the history books as well as history itself (Martin 218). Additionally, Vine Deloria's essay, also included in the collection, on "Revision and Reversion" cautions against Martin's view of Native American thinking as impenetrable, arguing…...

mla Works Cited Fixico, Donald Lee. The American Indian Mind. New York: Routledge, 2003. Martin, Calvin, editor. The American Indian and the Problem of History. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986.

Ritual Magic of Rites of

Neither of the above rites of passages, though both are important and definitely bound by rules of magic, are especially ritualistic in a participatory sense. In this regard, the many layers of security that Harry and his friends must get through in order to arrive at the Sorcerer's Stone is the most clear example in the book. Each trial on the way to the room that contains the Stone tests some of the skills and knowledge that Harry, Ron, and Hermione have begun to acquire on their journey through adolescence and to adulthood, making the journey past each obstacle a very literal interpretation of a rite of passage. Each of these obstacles ends up requiring some literal form of the world's magic, usually in the form of a spell, in order to be overcome, tying magic to the rites of passage in a manner that is at once quite explicit…...

Participant Observation the Ritual Activity

Being a Muslim is an overriding cultural feature that cuts across a large number of races and nationalities, but many have the same common traits of gender segregation, emphasis on cleanliness and the same schedule of life. My Interpretation During the ritual I observed at the mosque, I was able to notice how the ritual impacts society. The first distinction is that there was a clear line created between those who are members of the in-group and those who are not. While I was welcome to be there, I was clearly in the latter group. I was welcome to observe, but not to participate in, the rituals. The performance of the rituals allows on to become a member of the society. It was interesting to see that elements of modern life have crept into the rituals, however. One example is that I observed younger members of the mosque texting outside of the…...

From Ritual to Record by Allen Guttmann

itual to ecord is not the first attempt of Allen Guttmann at sports analysis and writing. He has written three books and many articles on a variety of topics but mostly connected with history and literature. His passion for history probably propelled him in the direction of sports writing in this book where he studies the growth of sports in various cultures and focuses on the concept of modern sports. The author has done a great job at studying the phenomenon called modern sports in the broader context of cultural change and modern America culture. The thesis of the book revolves around modern sports and what makes it distinct and unique. The author argues that since sports have existed since time immemorial, the one thing that sets modern sports apart from ancient and pre-modern games is the "is the scientific world-view." Guttmann maintains that while sports existed in every…...

mla REFERENCE 1) Guttmann, Allen. From Ritual to Record: The Nature of Modern Sports. New York: Columbia University Press, 1978.

Religious Ritual Practices Regardless of

This ritual takes place on the eighth day after birth and the ceremony itself involves both religious and surgical elements and may be performed by a surgeon of a specially-trained Mohel who has both surgical and religious knowledge. After the circumcision is performed, a festive meal almost always follows as a symbol of thanks to God and to the prophet Abraham. One of the most complicated religious rituals of Judaism is the ar Mitzvah for boys and less frequently, the at Mitzvah for girls. These words mean "the son or the daughter of the commandment and mark the coming of age of a male or female child" (Harvey, 325) who is then seen as an adult and is responsible for observing the commandments set down by Moses and to fill adult roles in the congregation of the synagogue. This ritual traditionally occurs on the Sabbath following the child's thirteenth birthday…...

mla Bibliography Grissom, Harold J. "Ritual Practice in American Religious Sects." The Journal of Religion. (April 2006): 239-48. Hall, Manley P. The Psychology of Religious Ritual. Los Angeles: Philosophical Research Society, 2003. Harvey, Graham. Ritual and Religious Belief. UK: Equinox Publishing, Ltd., 2005.

Food Ritual Observance - A

Take trail mix... It is an energetic, "idealized" snack food. This comes primarily from the target populations the manufacturer focuses it is marketing. Other channels for influence include consumers looking for "quick" fixes, such as families looking for fast and fun food. It would be interesting to explore the link marketing of "fast" snack products such as this have on families with young children, and compare this with the influence the product had on the political and behavioral habits and beliefs of the college students consuming it. Lastly, symbolic systems help us better understand how products are systematically introduced and marketed to consumers. This helps shapes attitudes and beliefs. Also important to note however, as learned in class, is whether societies tend to accept or reject certain items even if marketed well. For example, oark (2007) noted that in many cultures certain foods or animals are taboo. Consider for a…...

mla References Chex Mix Peanut Lovers" Taquitos.Net (2007), Reviewed 7, June, 2007:   http://www.taquitos.net/snacks.php?snack_code=1759 . Coen Flynn, Karen. Food, Culture, and Survival in an African City, New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan, 2005.

Relationship Myth Ritual Using Myth Demeter Persephone

relationship myth ritual Using myth Demeter Persephone the relationship a myth a ritual important understand. The myth Demeter Persephone relationship. Myths read context actual ritual. Myths created explain orgination specific activities ancient culture. There is a strong relationship between myths and rituals, as some of history's oldest cultures have devised myths with the purpose of describing events that are part of rituals. In order to have a complex understanding of a myth, one needs to focus on looking at the respective legend in an association with the ritual that it is meant to refer to. The Homeric hymn describing the life of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, is intended to provide a mythical account concerning seasons and about why vegetation experiences a state of decay for several months each year. The myth of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, involves the latter being kidnapped by Hades, the god of the Underworld, as…...

Sacred Art Ritual the 1992

Communion with nature can come in the form of visual art and craft; in the form of storytelling; or in the form of dance. Each of these modes of creative expression invokes the unknown, powerful forces that underlie creation. Even though science can measure, explain, and manipulate nature it cannot answer the ultimate questions of why and how nature -- or human beings -- exist in the first place. Religious rituals offer human beings a way to seek answers to life's biggest questions through direct experience. Different cultures have approached nature differently but traditional cultures share in common a reverence for the natural world that is all but absent in modern, industrialized societies. The religions that have sprouted up in modern nations parallel the worldview that human beings should triumph over nature rather than work with nature. In Baraka, devastating footage of death and destruction show what human beings are…...

Relationship of Food and Ritual in India

Saving the Cows, Starving the Children" by Sonia Faleirojune and the article entitled "Food Price Inflation in India: Causes and Cures" by Pradeep Agrawal and Durairaj Kumaraswamy in the Indian Economic Review available from JSTOR both address food issues in India. These articles appealed to me because I find India to be a fascinating country where there is so much potential for greatness yet so much inherent contradictory actions and agendas that frustrate the country's advances. Faleirojune focuses on the contradiction at the heart of India's policy towards banning beef: cows are literally everywhere in India and could be used to help feed the nation's poor and malnourished, but the government won't allow the sale of beef in many states -- neither will it permit state schools to offer eggs to school children as part of a meal plan. Even though eggs would be a good solution to the problem…...

Myth Ritual Language the Relationships

The Chistmas tadition, be it the length of time of its evolution o the desie by each subsequent cultue to make it an accepted eality, is not so open and obviously evolving, unless one eally looks at it, as Hutton has done. Lastly, afte looking at Hutton's epesentation of the histoical undepinnings of the vaious aspect of the myth, itual and language of Chistmas one might look at how it continues to evolve in the pesent. The pesent meaning, moden day, with its myth, itual and language suounded by pomp, cicumstance and especially the gift giving (and eceiving) pat suounding what most people and especially Chistians believe Chistmas to eally be in thei histoy. I might add hee, that thee is a moden tend among Chistians to take Chistmas back to its histoical undepinning, o the believed histoical undepinnings of the holiday. What is inteesting about this is that when…...

mla references. (Coman, 2009, p. 3) Then one could say to a large degree because in many ways the present accepted myth, ritual and language are accepted as not only historically accurate but fundamentally immutable the media tends to represent it as it is. Yet, Christmas is evolving, it is continually becoming more and more secularized, in the sense that it is becoming a modern representation of the consumer society in which most modern Christians reside or as a time for those who have more seek to aide those who have less, all modern media adaptations of Christmas as a cultural tradition. Christmas is therefore, like all other cultural artifacts created by each generation anew, through language, myth and ritual that better reflect the society we currently live in. Resources Coman, M. (2009). Media and Ritual: A Challenge for the Anthropological Thought. Conference Papers -- International Communication Association, 1-23. Retrieved from Communication & Mass Media Complete database. Higgins, J., & McAllaster, C. (2004). If You Want Strategic Change, Don't Forget to Change Your Cultural Artifacts. Journal of Change Management, 4(1), 63-73. doi:10.1080/1469701032000154926.

A Wedding Ritual From a Durkheim Perspective

collective ideals, religion is reinforced through ceremonies and rituals," (Calhoun, et al., 2012, p. 199). One of the most important ceremonies that reinforces cultural norms and institutions is the wedding ceremony. I had the opportunity to attend a wedding at a church recently, providing an opportunity to analyze Durkheim's sociological theories and apply them to daily life. I selected this ritual because I do not attend many other rituals that have a religious context like this one, and because I have attended two other weddings and none of the three were from the same religious tradition. Therefore, my observations highlight some of Durkheim's core theories about the ways social bonds are reinforced through ritual, regardless of the technical manifestations of those rituals. My observations also show how even in modern, secular societies, the concept of the "sacred" remains salient for individuals and their communities. The wedding I attended took place…...

mla References Calhoun, C. et al. (2012). Classical Sociological Theory. 3rd edition. Oxford: Blackwell. Greenwald, D.E. (1973). Durkheim on society, thought, and ritual. Sociological Analysis 34(3): 157-168. Lynch, G. (2012). Emile Durkheim: religion, the very idea. The Guardian. Dec 24, 2012. Retrieved online:   http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/24/emile-durkheim-religion-ritual-ancient-modern

Religion Sacred Ritual an Important

I think this baptism also has changed my relationships and the way I look at my sister and brother-in-law. Before, we never really talked about religion, and I did not realize how important it was to them, and how they wanted to raise their children in the Church. It just did not seem to mean that much to me. However, after I saw the baptism, I would not say that I got more spiritual, but I did understand my family better and their goals for their children. I saw it was important to have goals and ideas about how you want to raise your children, and I saw that it made me feel closer to my sister, her husband, and my nephew. Now, I have ideas and goals about my own family, when I have one. I also try to spend as much time as I can with my nephew.…...

Religious Ritual and Cooperation Testing for a

Religious Ritual and Cooperation: Testing for a Relationship on Israeli Religious and Secular Kibbutzim," authors Richard Sosis and Bradley J. Ruffle investigate the link between religious ritual and group solidarity among a sample of kibbutzim in Israel. Sosis is a faculty member of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut at Storrs. Ruffle, on the other hand, is an economist with the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva, Israel. Ruffle's contacts and familiarity with Israeli kibbutzim were invaluable in facilitating this research. The theoretical basis of this research was Emile Durkheim's pronouncement that religious rituals functioned to promote group solidarity. Durkheim argued that religious rituals help to maintain social cohesion and to promote social stability within their community. Though this idea is widely-accepted in social science circles, few empirical studies have actually been conducted to test this theory. Furthermore, no empirical studies have been conducted to see how religious…...

mla Works Cited Sosis, Richard and Bradley J. Ruffle. 2003. "Religious ritual and cooperation: Testing for a relationship on Israeli religious and secular kibbutzim." Current Anthropology. December. 44(5): 713-722.

How the 16th and 17th century Church\'s relates to Church experience and today\'s world?

There is no understating the importance that the Church and the development of Christianity and alternative churches have in the history of the world and the creation of modern culture.  Christianity and the Church were a driving factor behind the colonial development of the world, which required incorporating foreign aspects into worship, and led to the creation of the modern worship experience.

  It is important to look at how the Age of Discovery, when the Catholic Church expanded around the globe by establishing missions in conquered or colonized countries with indigenous populations of people who....

Could you suggest some essay topics related to plants?

1. The Role of Plants in the Earth's Ecosystem Discuss the significance of plants in producing oxygen through photosynthesis and absorbing carbon dioxide, thus maintaining the balance of atmospheric gases. Explore the role of plants in nutrient cycling, soil conservation, and providing habitat and food for wildlife. Analyze the impact of human activities, such as deforestation and pollution, on plant communities and ecosystem health. 2. Plant Adaptations to Diverse Environments Describe the various adaptations that plants have evolved to survive in different habitats, including deserts, rainforests, and aquatic environments. Discuss how plant structures, such as leaf morphology, root systems, and reproductive....

I need a spark of inspiration! Can you share some captivating essay topics related to Something we consider typical may be different and unusual for others.?

Title: Unveiling the Tapestry of Cultural Diversity: Exploring How the Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary Introduction: In the intricate tapestry of human existence, there lies a kaleidoscope of cultures, each with its unique customs, beliefs, and practices. What may seem ordinary and mundane to one individual can be extraordinary and fascinating to another. This essay delves into the captivating realm of cultural diversity, examining how the typical and familiar can transform into the different and unusual when viewed through the lens of contrasting cultural perspectives. By exploring real-life examples and insightful anecdotes, we will uncover the beauty and significance of embracing cultural differences and....

Can you help me with a thesis statement on an essay about end of life?

These statements can serve as a foundation for essays that explore various dimensions of end-of-life care, including ethical considerations, the impact of technology, the importance of palliative care, and the role of family and caregivers. Each thesis sets the stage for a detailed discussion on its respective topic, allowing for a deep dive into the complexities and nuances involved in end-of-life care and decision-making.

"The implementation of advanced care planning significantly improves end-of-life care by ensuring that individuals' preferences and values are respected, highlighting the need for more widespread adoption of these practices in healthcare settings."

"While technological advancements in medicine have....

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Good Religious Studies: Rituals Essay Example

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Ritual , Family , Rituals , Tea , Order , Death , God , China

Words: 1500

Published: 03/08/2023

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In this paperwork, I am going to discuss the rituals practiced by religions of the East: India, Japan, as well as China. A ritual consists of a series of actions involving expressions, objects, and gestures. Rituals are performed according to a set of progression and in appropriate place. In most cases, rituals are prearranged by the traditions of a society, as well as a religious society. Rituals play a very influential task in the behavior of any fastidious religion; for example, in the life of Indian people pursing Hindu religion, rituals play domineering task in determining their lives in a finicky style. In India, religious rituals are performed more often at the temple than at home- the Indians priests are, also, invited at their home so as to perform a special ritual for their family members. Puja is a common method of worship practiced by Indians- performed on a daily basis or during some important religious ritual or purpose. It can be either an effortless ritual devotion or a very complex one, depending upon the mode it is carried out. The puja ritual can be performed before taking a meal or when wishing someone success- success in his or her studies. A ritual performed before taking a meal can be categorized as a simple ritual that does not require the help of an expert. The complicated pujas requires the help of an expert while the simple pujas can be performed at home. In this ritual, puja, the Indians offer flowers and water to God along with narration of His names. Puja is, also, depicted as having a spiritual power that awakens the indwelling force in us. According to the Indians beliefs, it is depicted that this ritual makes the deity to become alive- the deity is normally a static statue without life. The statue is brought to existence outwardly through the repetition of mantras or particular invocations or through the presentation of prana pratishta. The devotee’s genuineness, attentiveness, divine grace, and attachment which are emblematically signified as the blessing from above, also, play a significant role in awakening the indwelling force. The Indians have adopted various ways of performing pujas, but the most ordinary form entails a definite succession of proceedings (Dudrah 8). When conducting the ritual; the initial step entails incantation of God through summons to a definite mark on earth, which is signified with the guidelines, plan of time and place name- achieved through the repetition of mantras or uncomplicated prayers. After the initial stage is complete and the Indians, totally, believe that deity has come, a seat for the deity is presented with decisive esteem. Water is then given to him and his feet are washed with ceremonial water. This ritual ends with the offering of aarati or holy burns to the deity and sharing of prasadam. In order for this ritual to take place, there must be an image or other sign of the gods. These images or sign of the gods serves as a way of gaining access to the divine when conducting this ritual- puja. According to this ritual, it is more religionist than reductionist since the ritual is, mostly, performed in sacred places. The complex rituals are spearheaded by religious leaders. Japanese has numerous rituals, but I am going to shift my focus to Chanoyu- a Japanese tea ritual. Chanoyu can be translated to mean hot water for tea. It is a choreographic ritual of making and giving green tea mutually with customary Japanese sweets to poise with the tart flavor of the tea. During the performance of this ritual, making tea means driving one’s concentration into the predefined activities. The process of preparing tea is depicted as not being of significance, but this ritual is all about aesthetics, whereby, the bowl of tea is primed from one’s compassion. The host of the ritual is expected to identify and reply to any movement or gesture made by the guests. The host must, also, consider how the guests handle the tea utensils. The objective of this ritual, Japanese tea ceremony, is to construct a comfortable communication involving the host and his guests. The ritual is based in component on the decorum of serving tea (Temae), but it also comprises of the friendly associations with structural design, background gardening, paintings, exceptional tea utensils, flower display, inscription, and all other rudiments that coexist in pleasant connection with the ritual. The ultimate goal of practicing this ritual is the achievement of profound spiritual fulfillment through the intake of tea- observing the course of silent deliberation. The host is, therefore, required to be totally alert so as not to miss any movement or gesture depicted by the guests. This ritual establishes good liaison involving the host and guests- the friendship ties are strengthened as result of the presentation of this ritual, whereby, the host is mandated to take the act of making tea and serving it to all the guests (Anderson 6). Funeral rituals: these rituals are depicted as significant part of Chinese communal being. According to the Chinese beliefs, a continuous connection exists among the breathing and the departed, since demise does not mark the last part of a person- it is a progression of conversion. This conception of communal interdependence underpins the significance of the family unit as a communal component, with ancestors offering, social, touching and economic safety for the offspring. With the intervention of the intimates, the family unit is not depicted as an entity unit, but a component of an extended scale of plunge. Presentation of this ritual can be seen as a count of Chinese communal beliefs. They think that all divisions of the universe belong to one natural whole. It is vital to maintain order and concord in one individual’s consciousness, in all facet of communal life. Death is depicted as causing a commotion of this stability and order; therefore, death rituals must be performed in order to restore order and stability in the society. This ritual, funeral, is categorized as an oral custom without a permanent set of principles, creed, or an influential priesthood. The rituals are drawn from many spiritual backgrounds; for example, Taoism, Confucianism, as well as Buddhism. After the person becomes, too, ill and is almost dying, the relatives are mandated to assemble around the dying person with the intention of awaiting his or her bereavement. The relatives’ members who are abroad, too, are not spared since they have to be around the dying person. A white placard is sited over the gate after the passing away has taken place with the objective of signifying that death has occurred in the family. The members of the family as well as friends are then given notice of the demise so as to prepare themselves for the ritual. According to the Chinese traditions, prolonged existence is extremely appreciated, therefore, the number of years of the departed person is usually added- three to five years are added to the actual age. The family unit dominates the act of this ritual-funeral. The family units are mandated to wear special garments. The special garments comes in different colors in order to portray the connection among the mourners and the deceased- black, white, green, and blue. The closest family members; for example, the daughters as well as sons are mandated to wear white trousers and shirts and usually completed of cotton. The mourners are also expected to wear mourning pins- worn from day one of the rituals. Xiao and pins are depicted as small bits of material that are used in mourning- they are usually attached on the sleeves. The mourning pins, according to Chinese traditions, can be worn for a period of not less than three years. The ending of the rituals signifies the conversion of the dead into an ancestor of the family unit. The deceased pictures and the urn are located on the ancestral altar. In order for the family members to remember the ancestor and for the offspring to show their reverence and loving commemoration of the departed, the family members conduct regular rituals before the ancestral tablet. According to this ritual, it is more reductionist than religionist. In order to restore order and balance, it is depicted that this ritual must be performed. Social order and equilibrium are linked with this ritual with the intention of creating a clear scenario for the family member to understand (Watson 38).

Anderson, J.L. (1991). An introduction to Japanese tea ritual. Albany: State University of New York Press. Dudrah, R.K. (2012). Intermedia in South Asia: The fourth screen. London: Routledge. Watson, J.L., & Rawski, E.S.(1988). Death ritual in late imperial and modern China. Berkeley: University of California Press.

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