Download 5.Rituals and Ceremonies

The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
Rituals and Ceremonies
As ethics is the practical application of belief within a religious tradition, rituals and
ceremonies are ways to celebrate and reinforce the central belief system and structures for
that tradition.
There are two types of ritual – public and private. A public ritual is a formal activity
with clearly defined structures, timing and content. Though believers are free to express
their religious beliefs in a private ritual in whatever manner they find comfortable, public
rituals are designed for public display and are a means by which the community of believers
expresses its common beliefs.
Public rituals are often based on rituals found within sacred texts (for example, the
communion service in Christianity). They may reflect the actions and words of an important
event or person in history for example, the rituals surrounding the Public rituals and
ceremonies have set structures, which may include readings from sacred texts, instructions
by presiding officials or ministers, set formulae of prayers and petitions, or rites of
purification. The ritual may he created for special Occasions that celebrate a person's
growth. There are initiation rites for the newly born or for adults who have shown a wish to
become a member of a faith tradition (for
example, Brit Milah [circumcision] in Judaism and
the Sacred Thread ceremony in Hinduism).
There are also rites of passage that assist
a person in moving from one state of life into
another (for example, the marriage ceremony,
entry into the Sangha in Buddhism, or ordination
into the priesthood in Christianity). Certain
ceremonies are created for the benefit of the
community that may be experiencing sadness or
need (for example, funeral ceremonies and
harvest rituals).
Ordination of Priests not planking
Most religious traditions have a religious
calendar that celebrates the passing seasons, and
often the principal beliefs of the traditions have been fixed to certain seasons or dates (for
example, Wesak in Buddhism and Divali in Hinduism). Festivals that have their own special
rituals help members of the community remember their beliefs and reinforce the link
between present faith and the historical tradition. Rituals may also determine the pattern of
the day (for example, meditation and chants by Buddhist monks, the Divine Office in
Christianity (Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic), and the five times for daily prayer in
Islam).
Oxford Studies of Religion
The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
Ritual may also have many different cultural art forms, such as music, dance,
performance and art. Ritual is a way the religious tradition can demonstrate the richness of
human endeavour and skill.
Rituals also often clearly indicate the separate roles of the genders. In most religious
traditions, men have been the ones in charge of determining what is a suitable and
appropriate ritual and have led the congregation in the ritual. Rituals are often celebrated in
sacred places where there may be areas where the ordinary person may not enter or sit (for
example, the raised platform within a Buddhist temple for members of the Sangha or the
sanctuary in Christian churches). There may also be areas assigned for women it a religious
tradition believes they must be separated from men.
Ceremonies may take place outside of a formal ritual. These may celebrate local
festivals and may include processions, re-enactments of important religious events (for
example, the Way of the Cross for Christians) and local gatherings to honour particular holy
men and women. Other ceremonies may be held to bless the harvest, listen to festive music
and readings for example, a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christians during Advent)
or bestow blessings on particular groups (for example, a Catholic priest blessing the safety
of a fishing fleet).
Oxford Studies of Religion
The Nature of Religion and Beliefs
There may also be ceremonies that are performed at home for example, the Sabbath
meal in Judaism or prayer in front of a home-shrine that includes offerings to gods and
goddesses in Hinduism). In these cases, some of these ceremonies are based on laws and
customs found within sacred texts and writings while others may vary from house to house.
Activity
1. Why are rituals and celebrations important to religious traditions?
2. Give examples of private and public rituals in one religious tradition.
3. What is an initiation rite?
4. Give examples of initiation rites within the five religious traditions.
5. Create a mind map showing the interconnection of beliefs to sacred text, ethics and
rituals
Oxford Studies of Religion