The human need for ritual?

Question

Anything from a religious service to sitting at at the same table during your lunch break. Do you think there really is a need for ritual? Why or why not?

Note that I'm not talking about just in religions, and I'm not talking about habits. I'm talking about things you do because there is some kind of emotional satisfation in doing them.

Answer 1

Rituals are so so comforting. There have been times recently when I would have gone mad without my own little personal rituals. I have come up with some new ones too, to comfort myself. My world was turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina and the ritual of getting up and preparing tea in the morning, feeding the cats, COOKING, things like that, has gotten me through it.

Then my family has begun viewing the full moon together without fail. The moon hasn't changed and it is peaceful up in the dark sky. It soothes us.

Answer 2

I do things almost exclusively because they serve a practical purpose in some way. Those things that do not fall into said category are the influences of society that are so deeply engrained into my psyche that I haven't yet managed to dislodge them.

Regardless... the love of impractical ritualisation is, to use the word of my enemy against them: Sinful..... and thus wholly undesirable. People have such things drilled into them from a young age to spread conformity among other things.... but it really does not help them, and most never think to question these values nor attempt to go against them..... and are fools for not doing so. Such things include on a lesser level praying (lesser since theists believe it serves a purpose, even if they're just deluding themselves... though it becomes a greater sin for Muslims who fiddle about with mats and go through certain rote motions) and eating specially prepared food (in some cases there are health connections, but usually its just superstition). Greater impractical rituals include the designs of religious buildings, singing hymns, putting up religious symbols all over the joint... and... well... the vast majority of actions undertaken by theists as relates to their religion.
Strip a religion of ritual and it simply becomes a completely harmless "spirituality"...


If it is not intended to serve a practical and personal purpose (since there is no such thing as Universal purpose) then it is a waste of time.

Answer 3

Not everyone has a need for ritual, especially in religion, but we all have habits. I do think humans have a need for routine. We all probably have a morning or bedtime ritual that helps us wake up or go to sleep. In the monothesistic religions I'm aware of, the prophets never included anything about ritual, but you see them in every religion. In comes in the form of communion to 5 o'clock prayer. I think most humans have a basic need for routine, it just doesn't always come in religious form.

Answer 4

And as quickly as you have a universe, then you definitely will need fanatics, and you will ought to deliver a Hurdy Gurdy guy to play the songs of love. meaning you'll want Donovan P. Leitch, particular the Donovan of hippy-dippy days, with voice so grand, and his tattooed hand, Donovan who chased the fears away, revealed the brighter day, Donovan of the voice so gay. for each Englishman, you like yet another, and Charles Darwin must be Donovan's brother, for Charles Darwin enjoyed the wild lands, the wild seas, and Charles Darwin have been given down on his knees to check the turtles, and Charles Darwin wrote the Voyage of the Beagle, and in spite of the reality that he possibly wasn't solid as an Eagle, he taught us some thing. Lewis Carroll, too replaced into English, and his Alice taught us a area or 2 besides, nevertheless some think of Lewis Carroll could desire to circulate to hell, and Samuel Dodgson with him, yet around right here we expect of very exceedingly of him, and save Alice on a severe Shelf alongside with Lewis Carroll himself.

Answer 5

I think I'm on board with SotiCoto. I despise meaningless traditions, especially when they cost money. Such as all the unnecessary nonsense involved in weddings. Pfft!

I don't think I have any rituals. Or routines. Plenty of habits, though.

Answer 6

Ritual and habit is part of our human nature. Even the more nomadic of us have rituals. It's not likely that we can be separated from them. Thankfully, the history of salvation has ritual and tradition built in to it for our sake.

Peace,

MoP

Answer 7

personal opinion is that there are Rituals and Ceremonies which are habits. these are performed by mortals for specified purposes whenever and wherever needed for fulfillment and satisfaction by an individual or as a group.

Answer 8

Man doesn't need rituals, he needs omnipotent support. When he learns to look properly for it, he will find.
Rituals are only blind and useless imitations.

Answer 9

Mostly it gives a sense of control, but also the feeling of familiarity and security.

Answer 10

I think it's as simple as comfort you are safe doing these things and they provide you with stability in everyday life