What Do You Think About Ritualistic Christianity?

Question

Such as Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. I find Catholicism pretty lifeless. I watched EWTN and the priests just seem to be going to through the motions. As if the actions were more important than the meaning behind them. I much prefer Protestantism because things are not so planned out, leaving more room for creativity and life.

Also, doesn't it seem like rituals such as "Oh, bless this bread Lord" are similar to magical spells?

Answer 1

In the beginning most rituals had meaning to those who worshiped. After a time repetition begins to lose meaning.

For me, my faith has to be expressed in fresh ways, spontaneously. But truthfully, only God can see into the heart of a person and see why they do what they do. For some in these churches their faith is alive inside the rituals. For others, it may be a meaningless rote action.

All we can do is live the way we feel lead by Christ to live. I usually have enough room for change in my life that it takes all my time, leaving very little time to watch others and see how they are doing it.

Answer 2

Ritual can serve a purpose. It can foster organizational stability. It can reinforce teaching. It can give a community a sense of shared identity. It can also be seriously abused. When the thing remembered is displaced by the means of remembering it, that's a problem. For example, the Eucharist (Lord's Supper) was designed as a tribute or memorial service to constantly remind believers of the sacrificial love of Christ for His church, a good thing. But over time the spiritual values became so tightly coupled with the physical aspects of the ritual that a doctrine was invented to support the much more physical view of the ritual. This is a problem, and was one of the main reasons for the Reformation. As Jesus said, it is the spirit that gives life; the flesh gets you nothing:

"... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63.

Answer 3

I thin its a matter of appreciating the symbolsim. Eastern Orthodox is no simple faith. The icons they have of the Angles, Christ and the Virgin all have deep symbols which connect the believer with their deity. The actions which follow suite are symbolical manifestations of their respect, love in the form of adoration of that icon.

People who practice the faith from childhood are well versed in the iconography and symbolism (at least that is what is expected of them). Also its a matter of heritage. This is something that must have been shared along generations, a father and mother would pass their knowledge of the mass and the sacraments to their child and the child would acknowledge those rituals and endear them as he/she was taught by their parents.

That strong bond which is forged between family and church, community and church is primarily actualized through those acts.

And why wouldnt they strain over those rituals, for them its a method of communicating with their God, a way they use to pass on a message to him. So ofcourse they would take it seriously. Wouldnt you?

Answer 4

I agree with you all the way my dear brother Rowan! :-)

Read this:

Undignified Praise

Religion teaches man to follow the traditions of men and to fear men more than God, which often results in a ritualism, apathy, or conservatism in worship. True worship often expresses itself with an outpouring of praise that does not conform to a mold or fear man. Such was the praise of King David when he danced in a linen ephod before the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:14). Darrell Evans has written some great tunes with these themes, like the song, We Will Embrace Your Move where he rejoices, “Oh God be our God and we’ll be Your people of praise; We’ll dance and we’ll sing for our God is the ancient of days!”

Answer 5

All Christianity is ritualistic to some degree or another. I'm a practicing Roman Catholic, and while it (sadly) can be lifeless, it can also be lifegiving. Be cautious about judging "going through the motions" ... the same can be said about yoga, T'ai Chi, or everyday life.

As a Catholic, I value the ritual. As a martial artist, I value the rituals in Aikido. Both can bring us closer to the Divine.

I'm glad Protestantism works for you.

Answer 6

*shrug* They're all the same to me. You sit in a room and listen to some boring guy drone on for half an hour, get some (bad) music and are told to behave.

I guess that's one of the reasons the only church I'll go to these days is the Unitarian Universalist church. At least there they still have coffee and cookies after the service and the people are incredibly nice, even to a Pagan like me.

Answer 7

If you look closely to the word of god it doesn't say that the use of ritualism is not allowed but just not necessary. All that is needed is faith and acceptance. Above these things you are free to worship as you please. They are the building blocks of Christianity. I am an Atheist who loves to read theology.

Answer 8

I can have creativity in my life without the help of the church.

I live in a Eastern Orthodox country, I find the religion itself to be way less fanatic. Though I don't believe in it, I stil would never change it or give it up :)

Answer 9

To each his own. It is not what I like for myself. I don't feel that Ritualistic Activities which are not from the heart but from tradition. For me I don't see how there is any real feeling. But this is what they feel is best for themselves so I stay out of it. I will worship my way and let them worship their way.

Answer 10

Ritual in ANY religion is there for one purpose and that is to make a person feel that they have done something and actually participated in their faith.