Rite of Passage

Rite of PassageCeremonies that mark a person’s progress from one

phase to anotherThey correspond with important events in human

lifeBirth, puberty, mating, old age, death

Rite of Passage

3 Stage Process1. Segregation2. Transition3. Reintegration

3 Stages of Rite of Passage

Segregation (Separation)Person is separated from rest of society

TransitionPerson is becoming his or her new self and learning

the new role. Guides, mentors may be available

ReintegrationPerson is reintegrated into society with a new role

Consequences of Rite of Passage

Produce Cognitive Dissonance in the IndividualProduces conformity among new membersHelps in the transition to full group membershipLinks individuals to the communityInitiates who feel more rewarded show stronger group

identity

Examples: Rites of Passage

Birth

Adulthood

Marriage: ex. Bride Kidnapping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKAusMNTNnk

Death

Ritual Analysis

Rite of Passage and Ritual

Ritual

Sequence of activities involving gestures, words, and objects, designed to influence forces on behalf of those

who practice it.

Manifest Function of Rituals

Intended and recognized consequence

Consequences that people observe and expect

Manifest Function of Rain Dance: produce rain

Latent Function of Rituals

Unintended and unrecognized consequence Not explicitly statedLatent Function of Rain Dance: Reinforces group

identity by providing a regular opportunity for members of group to meet and engage in a common activity.

Can rituals be dysfunctional?

Dysfunctions can be either manifest or latent

Dysfunctions have a negative effect on society

Manifest Dysfunction of a festivity: Disruption of transportation and excessive production of garbage.

Symbolism in Ritual

Symbol: anything that represents something else.

What symbolisms are described in this ritual? What do these symbols represent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HtE7eFcKvvs

Ritual Analysis in Sports

Can you find this ritual’s …….?Manifest FunctionLatent FunctionSymbolisms

Is it possible that this ritual could be dysfunctional in some way?

Chicago Bulls Players’ Introductionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

feature=player_embedded&v=rYFlzJyxWlw

One More Time: Ritual Analysis in Sports

Can you find this ritual’s …….?Manifest FunctionLatent FunctionSymbolisms

Is it possible that this ritual could be dysfunctional in some way?

All Blacks’ Haka: New Zealand Pre-Game traditionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofj3dCKyI38

Ritual Analysis

Who exercises control in rituals?

Do rituals exercise control upon their participants or do the participants have control over the ritual?

Do the participants have control over this particular ritual?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hGFDF96hwTE

Human Beings, Rituals and Religion

Rites of Passage and the Sacred

Questions to Think About

What is religion?

What is the role of religion in society today?

What do you think will be the role of religion in the future?

Religion

Religion: System of roles and norms organized around the sacred, binding people in social groups.

According to Sociology, Religion is a social creationThings are sacred if people define it as sacred

Religion is related to a culture’s worldview: beliefs regarding the natural and supernatural, and the manner of perceiving and interpreting the world.

How does religion affect our worldview? Provide an example

The Sacred and the Profane

Sacred (Religious) Profane (Secular)

Supernatural worldInspires awe, respect,

reverence

Ordinary worldCommonplace, familiar

Animism

Most primitive form of religion

Beliefs in a supernatural power based on the natural world

Animals, plants, mountains, etc. contain spirits

Might have been way to understand dreams and other phenomena

Forms of Animism

Shamanism Shamanism Video

Spirits communicate with one person of the group (shaman).

Magic: Attempt to understand, experience and influence the world using rituals, symbols, and language

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTxlaNhA6K4

Describe both rituals performed by the Chinese shaman.

Is the reporter biased towards shamanism?

Forms of Animism: TotemismBelief in spiritual connection or kinship between

humans and animals or plants.

Totem (spirit-being) is a symbol representing a family or clan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXCdcfxi9vQ

Theism: belief in a god or gods

Monotheism Polytheism

Belief in one GodJudaism, Christianity,

IslamOrganizational structureSacred WritingsOrganized priesthood

Belief in a number of gods

HinduismUsually powerful gods

over lesser godsLesser gods have

different spheres of influence

Ethicalism

Idea that moral principles have a sacred quality

Based on truth, honor, tolerance

Buddhism, Confucianism, Shinto

Goal: reach highest human potential

Ethicalism – Ex. ConfucianismThe master said, "A young man's duty is to behave well to his

parents at home and to his elders abroad, to be cautious in giving promises and punctual in keeping them, to have kindly feelings towards everyone, but seek the intimacy of the Good.“

The master said, "Govern the people by regulations, keep order among them by chastisements, and they will flee from you, and lose all self-respect.  Govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual, and they will keep their self-respect and come to you of their own accord." 

Document-Based Questions:

1.  How did Confucius feel people should behave toward others? 

2.  What might Confucius think about criminal laws and prisons in the modern world? 

3.  On a personal level, do you respond better to strict rules regarding behavior, or to good examples of proper behavior?

4 Different Religious Bodies

EcclesiaeDenominationsCultsSects

Ecclesia State Church

Large and all-encompassing religious body that tolerates no religious competition.

Often highly connected to the economic market and political system of a society.

Officials are highly trained and have a lot of power

Fundamentalism: strict adherence to the religion’s rules and practices. Belief that religion should be the primary force in one’s life.

Denomination

Exist in societies where churches do not hold a religious monopoly- they are one religion among many.

More tolerant of other religions, acknowledging rights of other religions.

Ex. Religions in the United States.

Sect

Relatively small religious organization that typically has split off from a denomination because of differences concerning beliefs.

Sects are found in all religions.

It is a subjective term and can be thought off as branches of different religions.

Cults

New religious group whose beliefs and practices differ a lot form those of society’s major religions

Group advocates for belief in something new

Followers are usually disillusioned by traditional religions. Likely to have a charismatic leaderhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=ML2Oa4Oigvo

Functions of Religion

1.Social Solidarity

Strengthens bond between people and creates sense of community

Creates a sense of belonging

Makes you feel less alone in the world

Provides support and purpose

Functions of Religion

2. Social Control

Encourages conformity to norms

Keeps social order by making it divine

Rituals like confession serve as emotional release and contribute to unity of the group

Functions of Religion

3. Emotional Support

Helps endure disappointment and suffering

Gives hope in the worst of times.

Provides answers for ultimate questions.

Lessens anxiety and alleviates doubts that may arise from circumstances beyond our control

Functions of ReligionWrite an example for each of the different functions of religion we have mentioned before:

Social SolidaritySocial ControlEmotional Support

Conflict Theory PerspectiveReligion as the “Opium of the People”

Karl Marx

Faith in the promise of rewards in the afterlife prevent people from seeking out the sources of their hardships and from taking action to better their lives.

Sport acts as a distraction for people not to see the inequality among social classes.

It distracts people from their suffering.