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INTRODUCING RITUAL

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INTRODUCING RITUAL. Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies John Carroll University. What Is Ritual?. “A specific and usually repeated complex ‘language’ of paradigmatic word and gesture.” Intentional acts done in the same way to effect the same purpose ... - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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INTRODUCING RITUAL INTRODUCING RITUAL Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D. Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies Professor of Religious Studies John Carroll University John Carroll University
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Page 1: INTRODUCING RITUAL

INTRODUCING RITUALINTRODUCING RITUAL

Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D.

Professor of Religious StudiesProfessor of Religious Studies

John Carroll UniversityJohn Carroll University

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April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 Introducing RitualIntroducing Ritual 22

What Is Ritual?What Is Ritual? ““A specific and usually repeated complex A specific and usually repeated complex

‘language’ of paradigmatic word and ‘language’ of paradigmatic word and gesture.” gesture.”

Intentional acts done in the same way to Intentional acts done in the same way to effect the same purpose ...effect the same purpose ...

Rituals may be religious or “secular,” Rituals may be religious or “secular,” depending upon context, intention, depending upon context, intention, etcetc. .

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What Is Religious Ritual?What Is Religious Ritual?

ReligiousReligious ritual is: ritual is:– A repeated complex of word and gesture …A repeated complex of word and gesture …– That refers “to essential structures of the universe,That refers “to essential structures of the universe,– And paradigmatic modes of being….”And paradigmatic modes of being….”

All the key facets of religion (creed, code, cult, All the key facets of religion (creed, code, cult, community) intersect in religious ritual.community) intersect in religious ritual.

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April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 Introducing RitualIntroducing Ritual 44

Purposes of Religious RitualPurposes of Religious RitualFour traditional ends of religious ritual:Four traditional ends of religious ritual: AdorationAdoration Penance/purificationPenance/purification PetitionPetition ThanksgivingThanksgiving

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AdorationAdoration

Historic St. Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio—Gaudete Sunday 2007, “Alleluia”

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Penance / PurificationPenance / Purification

Historic St. Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio—Gaudete Sunday 2007, “Kyrie Eleison”

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PetitionPetition

Historic St. Peter Church, Cleveland—Gaudete Sunday 2007, “Prayers of the People”

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ThanksgivingThanksgiving

Historic St. Peter Church, Cleveland—Gaudete Sunday 2007, “Offertory”

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Religious Ritual Supports BeliefReligious Ritual Supports Belief Serves psychological function of providing the Serves psychological function of providing the

context for religious convictioncontext for religious conviction– Creates a Creates a chairoschairos for contact with the Sacred for contact with the Sacred– Enacts the beliefs of a communityEnacts the beliefs of a community– Teaches what is Sacred to the participants/communityTeaches what is Sacred to the participants/community– Through physical expressions of words and communal Through physical expressions of words and communal

ethos, helps create appropriate affect in participantsethos, helps create appropriate affect in participants E.gE.g., Reciting the Lord’s Prayer with motions., Reciting the Lord’s Prayer with motions E.gE.g., “Stoning Satan” and other rituals of the Hajj., “Stoning Satan” and other rituals of the Hajj

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April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 Introducing RitualIntroducing Ritual 1010

Sacred Presence in RitualSacred Presence in Ritual Rituals have Rituals have

transcendent powertranscendent power– Escape “routine”Escape “routine”– Make present supra- Make present supra-

mundane realitymundane reality Reveal sacred Reveal sacred

presencepresence– Divine immanenceDivine immanence– LeadersLeaders– ParticipantsParticipants– SpaceSpace– ObjectsObjects

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Ritual Space is Sacred SpaceRitual Space is Sacred Space ““Center of the Universe” Center of the Universe” Site of hierophany (historic or Site of hierophany (historic or

present)present) Point where Ultimate Reality Point where Ultimate Reality

connects with earthly existenceconnects with earthly existence Examples of sacred spaces:Examples of sacred spaces:

– Easter Vigil fireEaster Vigil fire– Sacred circle for Native American Sacred circle for Native American

ceremonialsceremonials– Navaho HoganNavaho Hogan– Mount SinaiMount Sinai– JerusalemJerusalem– MeccaMecca– The The Kaa’baKaa’ba– Others?Others?

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The Primal Sacred CircleThe Primal Sacred Circle

The Village Fire Circle The Village Fire Circle The Emerald ForestThe Emerald Forest

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A Contemporary Sacred CircleA Contemporary Sacred Circle

Historic St. Peter Church, Cleveland—Gaudete Sunday 2007, “Come to Us, O Emmanuel,” invocation and meditation for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath

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Sensus FideliumSensus Fidelium ““Instinct” of the faithfulInstinct” of the faithful

– Concerning content of faith Concerning content of faith ((i.ei.e., correct beliefs)., correct beliefs)

– Concerning presence and Concerning presence and power of the Sacred in a power of the Sacred in a particular contextparticular context

Experience of the SacredExperience of the Sacred– Mediated by the senses but Mediated by the senses but

transcends themtranscends them– Communal context for Communal context for

interpretationinterpretation– The “Sacred” nature (of an The “Sacred” nature (of an

event, space, person, or event, space, person, or object) may not be evident object) may not be evident to outside observersto outside observers

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Ritual Objects AreRitual Objects AreSacred ObjectsSacred Objects

Ritual incorporates objects Ritual incorporates objects that function as signs and that function as signs and

symbols of the Sacred symbols of the Sacred

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Sacred Objects: SignsSacred Objects: Signs

Point to the SacredPoint to the Sacred RepresentationalRepresentational Extrinsic to Reality they representExtrinsic to Reality they represent Meaning is conventional, Meaning is conventional,

contextualcontextual– Tends to be “flat,” univocalTends to be “flat,” univocal– Based on human conventionBased on human convention– Identical sign may have one meaning Identical sign may have one meaning

in one context but another in a in one context but another in a different contextdifferent context

– Not clear to those outside the Not clear to those outside the interpretive communityinterpretive community

The cross represents the death of Christ to those who know about it.

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Sacred Objects: SymbolsSacred Objects: Symbols Mediate the SacredMediate the Sacred Participate in Reality they Participate in Reality they

represent; represent; essential, essential, intrinsicintrinsic connectionconnection

Universal significanceUniversal significance Intrinsic meaning drawn from Intrinsic meaning drawn from

nature, not human conventionnature, not human convention Multivalent; imbued with Multivalent; imbued with

meaning on many levelsmeaning on many levels– Various meanings not necessarily Various meanings not necessarily

in harmony with one anotherin harmony with one another– E.gE.g., water and fire convey both ., water and fire convey both

life life andand death death

The Torah scroll both represents and contains

the Divine Word.

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Signs & SymbolsSigns & Symbols

The globe represents the layout of the

land masses & oceans of the

earth.

A child is a symbol of

her/his parents (and, hopefully, of their love for

each other).

What about this one?

What are some other examples

of signs and symbols?

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Ritual Time Is Sacred TimeRitual Time Is Sacred Time

A foundational event in community’s lifeA foundational event in community’s life HierophanyHierophany Is remembered, imitated, repeated; but alsoIs remembered, imitated, repeated; but also Becomes Becomes really present in the here-and-nowreally present in the here-and-now

of the celebrating communityof the celebrating community

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Myth in RitualMyth in Ritual

Klingon Foundation Myth, Klingon Foundation Myth, Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, “You Are Cordially Invited”, “You Are Cordially Invited”

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Transforming Power of RitualTransforming Power of Ritual

Transcends the routine, Transcends the routine, common, quotidian, “profane”common, quotidian, “profane”

Transforms the cosmos, Transforms the cosmos, ecosystem, celebrating ecosystem, celebrating community, and individual community, and individual participantsparticipants

– Ritual is intentionally done both Ritual is intentionally done both to to recognize and effectrecognize and effect a a transformation in participants.transformation in participants.

– Physical expressions of words & Physical expressions of words & affect, helps create affectaffect, helps create affect E.gE.g., Lord’s Prayer without vs. ., Lord’s Prayer without vs.

with motionswith motions E.gE.g., circle dance., circle dance E.gE.g., motions of yoga or ., motions of yoga or salatsalat

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Dynamics of Communal WorshipDynamics of Communal Worship

Two basic dynamics:Two basic dynamics: Union with the Sacred, the Union with the Sacred, the

Transcendent Object of worshipTranscendent Object of worship Bonding of worshipping communityBonding of worshipping community

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Effects of Communal WorshipEffects of Communal Worship

Reinforces group Reinforces group identity, cohesivenessidentity, cohesiveness– Liminal experienceLiminal experience– Temporary Temporary

intensification of social intensification of social unityunity

– Transcendence of Transcendence of routine social structureroutine social structure

– Access to and revival of Access to and revival of "collective memory“"collective memory“

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Lex Orandi, Lex CredendiLex Orandi, Lex Credendi“the law of prayer is the law of belief”“the law of prayer is the law of belief”

Ritual shows what Ritual shows what celebrating community celebrating community believesbelieves

Physical expressions of Physical expressions of words & affectwords & affect

Enacts meaningEnacts meaning Creates affectCreates affect Shapes participants’ Shapes participants’

patterns of behavior and patterns of behavior and thought/beliefthought/belief

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Lex Orandi, Lex CredendiLex Orandi, Lex Credendi“the law of prayer is the law of belief”“the law of prayer is the law of belief”

Bride Conquest, The Emerald Forest

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Four Types of RitualFour Types of Ritual

Calendar RitualsCalendar Rituals Communion/ SacrificeCommunion/ Sacrifice Crisis RitualsCrisis Rituals Rites of PassageRites of Passage

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Four Basic Types of RitualsFour Basic Types of Rituals

1. Calendar Rituals remember an 1. Calendar Rituals remember an event in the past and make it event in the past and make it present againpresent again

Examples:Examples:– Holy Communion Holy Communion – Lent, Easter, other liturgical Lent, Easter, other liturgical

seasons seasons – Sabbath/Sunday Sabbath/Sunday – Daily hours of prayer Daily hours of prayer – Thanksgiving, New Year's Day Thanksgiving, New Year's Day – Feast days, MLK dayFeast days, MLK day

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Four Basic Types of RitualsFour Basic Types of Rituals

2. Crisis Rituals2. Crisis Rituals– Are done at time of important decision, to Are done at time of important decision, to

help person choose the right pathhelp person choose the right path– Examples: Examples:

Cursillo Cursillo Retreats Retreats Vision quest of NavajoVision quest of Navajo

– Or at a time of intense need, to Or at a time of intense need, to overcome an obstacle or tragedyovercome an obstacle or tragedy

– Examples:Examples: Confession/Reconciliation Confession/Reconciliation Prayer in time of special needPrayer in time of special need

((e.ge.g., Novena to St. Jude)., Novena to St. Jude)

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Four Basic Types of RitualsFour Basic Types of Rituals

3. Rites of Passage (aka Life-cycle 3. Rites of Passage (aka Life-cycle Rituals) enact shift from one social Rituals) enact shift from one social location to another (usually location to another (usually higher)higher)– Examples:Examples:

Baptism/Baptism/BrisBris/Naming of Child /Naming of Child Funeral Funeral Puberty Rites Puberty Rites Marriage Marriage Initiation/conversion ritesInitiation/conversion rites

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Four Basic Types of RitualsFour Basic Types of Rituals

4. Sacrifice-Communion Rituals 4. Sacrifice-Communion Rituals create or intensify unity of create or intensify unity of participants with the participants with the Transcendent Object of worshipTranscendent Object of worship– Examples:Examples:

Holy CommunionHoly CommunionPassoverPassoverThanksgivingThanksgivingSuperBowl Party?SuperBowl Party?

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Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion Select one or two rituals you have Select one or two rituals you have

observed to answer the following:observed to answer the following:1.1. What were the key actions involved in the What were the key actions involved in the

ritual?ritual?2.2. Who were the participants? How could you Who were the participants? How could you

tell?tell?3.3. What intra-group connections were being What intra-group connections were being

made (made (i.ei.e., where did you see ., where did you see communitascommunitas)?)?4.4. What feelings were evoked?What feelings were evoked?5.5. What attitudes/convictions (ethos) were being What attitudes/convictions (ethos) were being

expressed and developed?expressed and developed?6.6. What behaviors (mores) were being shaped?What behaviors (mores) were being shaped?

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Many Facets of RitualMany Facets of Ritual What constitutes a religious ritual?What constitutes a religious ritual? What are the four basic purposes of religious ritual?What are the four basic purposes of religious ritual? What are the four main kinds of religious ritual?What are the four main kinds of religious ritual? What are each of the following and how are they connected What are each of the following and how are they connected

to religious ritual?to religious ritual? Sacred spaceSacred space Sacred timeSacred time SignsSigns SymbolsSymbols MythMyth

How does religious ritual allow participants to make contact How does religious ritual allow participants to make contact with the Transcendent?with the Transcendent?

How does religious ritual transmit the worldview and ethos of How does religious ritual transmit the worldview and ethos of a tradition? a tradition?

What does it mean to claim that religious rituals create the What does it mean to claim that religious rituals create the context for participants to make meaning of life?context for participants to make meaning of life?


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