The value of rituals

[Zoii]

What is the value of ritual. Ritual is such an instinctive thing. In our churches (and not just Christian) our services involve wearing of garments, ritual movements about the alter, use of candles and incense and chants or ritual singing. The singing heightens your emotions and the ritual itself draws you in and adds meaning to the purpose of why you’re there. And Im not criticising it. I like the ritual, for reasons I’m not sure I’ve thought through.

And it’s not about religion. When I lost someone close to me I lit candles, sat in a specific place and light incense, observe special dates, write letters….and I still do.

But not everyone agrees with it seeing ritual as a sideshow that detracts from the true meaning of religion.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Ritual comes from somewhere. Fair questions to ask would be where they come from and (in the Christian observance) why they exist at all. The urge some people have to eschew liturgy and the like typically ignores those questions because muh Bible or something.

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

What is the value of ritual. Ritual is such an instinctive thing. In our churches (and not just Christian) our services involve wearing of garments, ritual movements about the alter, use of candles and incense and chants or ritual singing. The singing heightens your emotions and the ritual itself draws you in and adds meaning to the purpose of why you’re there. And Im not criticising it. I like the ritual, for reasons I’m not sure I’ve thought through.

And it’s not about religion. When I lost someone close to me I lit candles, sat in a specific place and light incense, observe special dates, write letters….and I still do.

But not everyone agrees with it seeing ritual as a sideshow that detracts from the true meaning of religion.

PLEASE PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!

 

[quatona]

What is the value of ritual.

It seems to me that one purpose of rituals is:
To evoke and sustain your awareness of the specific context you are currently in.

And it’s not about religion. When I lost someone close to me I lit candles, sat in a specific place and light incense, observe special dates, write letters….and I still do.

I´m not sure I would call those "rituals" in the strict sense of the word.
On another note, it might be interesting to contemplate on how "symbolisms" and "rituals" are related.

But not everyone agrees with it seeing ritual as a sideshow that detracts from the true meaning of religion.

Well, sometimes form isn´t just helping content, but replacing it.
When I was an altar boy I sure loved the show, but didn´t care much for the content.

 

[com7fy8]

One problem of ritual can be it can turn into or be only a gesture, and maybe a public show. But even if this happens, it can be present in order to call attention to something, making it possible for someone to consider its right meaning.

In Christianity, we have the Lord's Supper. This is for the remembrance of Jesus and in order to make His death known (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). But ones can turn this into trying to get something only for their own selves, and it can be a copy-cat thing. But there are things in the Lord's Supper, which can help someone's attention to where the person belongs.

 

[Zoii]

One problem of ritual can be it can turn into or be only a gesture, and maybe a public show. But even if this happens, it can be present in order to call attention to something, making it possible for someone to consider its right meaning.

In Christianity, we have the Lord's Supper. This is for the remembrance of Jesus and in order to make His death known (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). But ones can turn this into trying to get something only for their own selves, and it can be a copy-cat thing. But there are things in the Lord's Supper, which can help someone's attention to where the person belongs.

So what are ypou saying about the rituals in a catholic or protestant church service, because it can be quite a show? Is that necessarily wrong though or does it add to the faith

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

So what are ypou saying about the rituals in a catholic or protestant church service, because it can be quite a show? Is that necessarily wrong though or does it add to the faith

You don't need rituals. However my grandma Vu Thi Cau (Catholic) taught me a simple prayer "Hail Mary" in Vietnamese. I only say "Hail Mary. Full of Grace. The LORD is with thee. Blesseth art thou amongst women. And blesseth is the fruit of thy womb Jesus! Holy Mary mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death; Amen." - official to the best of my knowledge. Any other Catholics here can chime in.

 

[Dave-W]

PLEASE PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!

? ? ? ? ?

 

[Ken Rank]

? ? ? ? ?

I am thinking the act of it a ritual?

 

[Ken Rank]

There was a time when I used to look at Jewish prayer, daily liturgy, as ritual and vain repetition. I have since come to a better understanding and recognize that when they say the same prayer every morning that they are at least starting their day by placing God on the mind and lips. Before they go to bed some will say prayers, and the again, the end the day with God on their mind and lips. Some ritual is good and some aren't and that is my conclusion.

 

[com7fy8]

So what are ypou saying about the rituals in a catholic or protestant church service, because it can be quite a show?

There can be quite a show. But a person, deeper, can benefit from it.

I think there can be members of either Catholic or Protestant churches, who are using the rituals as a show, even to show that their group has superior worship because of their rituals. But not all Catholics and Protestants do this. Individual ministers and other members can each be different, about the same ritual.

Is that necessarily wrong though or does it add to the faith

What shows can be used for someone's good.

It's what you make it,
how you take it . . .
just don't you fake it!

 

[rturner76]

I had a ritual that was harmful, Not a Christian one. I had an unhealthy habbit and so every time I would sit in a certain place, look at a certain object, or hear or smell something,i t would remind me of this ritual and produce a craving that would stay with me for 15-30 minutes. It took a long time to begin to break that cycle.

In a similar way a Christian ritual can be helpful. If one sees a sight, hears a sound smells a scent, they may be reminded of their ritual and pickup their Bible, sing their Hymn or think of that prayer or service they know when prompted. Most definitely going to a familiar place and hearing a familiar sound and smell like a hymn and incense in a processional

 

[jayem]

Rituals exist for psychological reasons. They reinforce the impact and meaningfulness of an event. The audience or participants come away with a greater sense of emotional satisfaction.

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

I went to church today to ask for a request. However my grandma who passed away told me it is enough.

 

[Greg J.]

Rituals tie the people of a community together. It is something that everyone has a shared experience of. (Having any trouble connecting to your children or parents?) It ties people to their ancestors which gives more significant meaning to who a person is. It grants a sense of belonging, which reduces fear and isolation, and so forth. God likes rituals. One reason is because when the ritual is because of him, it has all the above-mentioned effects, but includes God in that community.

Rebellion problems in children show up when they are required to participate in established rituals, but they aren't the source of the rebellion. It is essential to handle such rituals in such a way as they have significance to the children (such as somehow making them enjoyable [such as having a feast or giving and receiving gifts]), otherwise both the meaning and faithfulness of the ritual will decline and disappear.

It is only a starting thought to think that we need to make the children understand the meaning behind the ritual, but if that isn't interesting, happy, or motivational, "understanding the meaning" won't have as much effect as is needed. When the children are forced to participate, not only by their parents, but also their community, then the sense of connectedness is hammered into them (hopefully somehow associated with positive things) and can become a "comfort food" for later in life. It is a way to maintain the ritual until the child can connect to its importance.

Having a sense of a social identity is valuable for one's self-esteem. A parallel example would be how many Americans don't have a sense of national identity, because the history of America is so short and because diversity is wide and broad. Older cultures can give a person a deeper sense of national identity. It is meaningful to see buildings that "my people" used a many centuries ago, or places where famous people used to live a thousand years ago. It provides a sense of continuity, a sense of being a part of something greater than the individual.

 

[Zoii]

Rituals tie the people of a community together. It is something that everyone has a shared experience of. (Having any trouble connecting to your children or parents?) It ties people to their ancestors which gives more significant meaning to who a person is. It grants a sense of belonging, which reduces fear and isolation, and so forth. God likes rituals. One reason is because when the ritual is because of him, it has all the above-mentioned effects, but includes God in that community.

Rebellion problems in children show up when they are required to participate in established rituals, but they aren't the source of the rebellion. It is essential to handle such rituals in such a way as they have significance to the children (such as somehow making them enjoyable [such as having a feast or giving and receiving gifts]), otherwise both the meaning and faithfulness of the ritual will decline and disappear.

It is only a starting thought to think that we need to make the children understand the meaning behind the ritual, but if that isn't interesting, happy, or motivational, "understanding the meaning" won't have as much effect as is needed. When the children are forced to participate, not only by their parents, but also their community, then the sense of connectedness is hammered into them (hopefully somehow associated with positive things) and can become a "comfort food" for later in life. It is a way to maintain the ritual until the child can connect to its importance.

Having a sense of a social identity is valuable for one's self-esteem. A parallel example would be how many Americans don't have a sense of national identity, because the history of America is so short and because diversity is wide and broad. Older cultures can give a person a deeper sense of national identity. It is meaningful to see buildings that "my people" used a many centuries ago, or places where famous people used to live a thousand years ago. It provides a sense of continuity, a sense of being a part of something greater than the individual.

I agree with you. I know for my personal loss its like my ritual is going to be the thing that reconnects me. In church the emotion of the ritual from the moment the cross is walked down the aisle...to the taking of communion... the ritual itself can easily be the reason youre there - and if that's the case is that necessarily so bad?

 

[Greg J.]

There's nothing wrong with having a church liturgy. The problem is when people's attention is taken off Jesus Christ—a potential problem with everything, and not specific to liturgy. Experiencing a liturgy for the thousandth time, some people take the opportunity to remember why it is like it is (and for whom) and are thankful to the Lord. Others take a mental break, but there's nothing inherently wrong with that. There are no "should"s from God; "should"s come from humans trying to apply their beliefs (or trying to control others, or comfort themselves)—in this case, for what should be in your head during the liturgy. It is what is in your heart that matters, which the Lord will take care of for you if you keep him the center of your life.

 

[Soyeong]

What is the value of ritual. Ritual is such an instinctive thing. In our churches (and not just Christian) our services involve wearing of garments, ritual movements about the alter, use of candles and incense and chants or ritual singing. The singing heightens your emotions and the ritual itself draws you in and adds meaning to the purpose of why you’re there. And Im not criticising it. I like the ritual, for reasons I’m not sure I’ve thought through.

And it’s not about religion. When I lost someone close to me I lit candles, sat in a specific place and light incense, observe special dates, write letters….and I still do.

But not everyone agrees with it seeing ritual as a sideshow that detracts from the true meaning of religion.

All of the rituals in the Bible as designed to teach us about Messiah, so God's rituals are certainly good things, though man's rituals are not necessarily so. The problem in either case is when we continue to do rituals after we have forgotten why we are doing them because that's what we've always done.

 

[bhsmte]

What is the value of ritual. Ritual is such an instinctive thing. In our churches (and not just Christian) our services involve wearing of garments, ritual movements about the alter, use of candles and incense and chants or ritual singing. The singing heightens your emotions and the ritual itself draws you in and adds meaning to the purpose of why you’re there. And Im not criticising it. I like the ritual, for reasons I’m not sure I’ve thought through.

And it’s not about religion. When I lost someone close to me I lit candles, sat in a specific place and light incense, observe special dates, write letters….and I still do.

But not everyone agrees with it seeing ritual as a sideshow that detracts from the true meaning of religion.

I think rituals provide a certain psychological comfort to people. I know when I played competitive sports, there was a certain ritual I would always follow before a game, when I went up to bat to prepare myself mentally.

 

[tienkhoanguyen]

I have to say rituals are important. In my church we do things the old ways passed down from generation to generation. My grandma taught me The Holy Rosary that I do now for the last 3 days now. I say all 50 because it helps my spirit. I don't know much about church however after church my grandma's voice came to me and told me "You are the devil if you go to church anymore because you will be there to show your deeds to the people. It is what is inside your intentions that matters not how people think of you." So that agrees with my mom who says pray in silence; God knows what you need when you pray inside. The Holy Bible also says when you pray listen first.