Catholics have rituals and protestants don't?

Question

What about the Episcopals, don't they have ritual mass like Catholics? Why do they still have rituals?

Answer 1

Episcopals are protestants and they have ritual worship services. You're right about that. It might be closer to the truth to say that the "high church" churches have ritualistic services and fundamentalists or evangelicals don't have as much.

But they still have some: I've been to various fundamentalist churches and they all know exactly when to say "Amen!" or "Hallelujah" when the preacher pauses. They all know when to start standing up or waving their hands; they tend to sing hymns in the same place ever service. This is ritual.

All churches have ritual. The Catholic Church and other high churches are just more honest about it.

One of the accusations leveled at high church ritualistics is that since it is rote, it's necessarily meaningless. Some fundamentalists tend to assume that since people are reciting words in unison instead of each making up their own prayers, that the praying can't be sincere.

This shows an ignorance of very basic human psychology: actors say this all the time: when they have a role that calls for them to be angry, they have to become angry themselves. Actors say that sometimes after being in an angry scene, they have to go off on their own to calm down because, even though they were acting, reading words in a script, those feelings and emotions became real for them.

That is the power of words. When I'm in Mass, I'm focusing as hard as I can on meaning every word I say. There is something very freeing about that, and knowing that I'm praying/worshiping in unison with everybody else, adds power to my prayers.

So I guess we "still have rituals" because it's basic to our human nature. If we don't have to focus on extraneous things like spontaneous prayer, we can focus more on God and praising Him with our words during Mass.

Answer 2

The Anglican Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church all have the most beautiful rituals far surpassing Roman Catholicism.
But Jon is right; every church has rituals.
They can't exist without them; because then they would confuse all their members.
I say, if you need to worship, you don't have to do it in a Church.
But when you are in deep need of a spiritual uplift, nothing does it better than a full-out extravaganza of soul inspiring fireworks - in whatever form you crave it!
For me, I would creep into an ancient, empty Cathedral somewhere in Europe and soak up the energy. Or go to a Christmas Mass in an Anglican Church and then again a little later to a Greek Mass. The energy is too inspiring!
Gospel works for many; I love gospel singing, but I would miss all the incense and candles and "pomp".
So, whatever works, works.

Answer 3

A regular Sunday service isn't a ritual? A wedding presided over by a minister isn't a ritual? Taking communion isn't a ritual?
All religions have rituals. It's just that some are more elaborate than others.The Catholics, Lutherans and Episcopalians are into a little more showmanship.

Answer 4

I am not sure what you call rituals but churches within the Anglican Communion which refers to itself as reformed catholic use a services which are 'authorised' by the church authorities and which include sacraments such as the Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and Marriage and these may include formal prayers such as the prayers of penitence and recitation of creeds (Nicene and Apostle's)
There is a wide spread of formality ranging from churches which are so formal that they are known as Anglo Catholic which may well use incense to 'low' churches were the services are virtually indistinguishable from those found in protestant service.

Answer 5

Yes, they all have rituals but as someone mentioned already, some of them are more showy. I don't know why people get upset with rituals, usually the fundamentalists do...some rituals are really quite beautiful. I don't understand this idea that ritual or repetition take away from the substance of it.

Answer 6

on account that whilst? From what i've got seen, you people have continually had an analogous theory approximately Catholicism and had your individual procedures. From what i can allow you recognize do no longer desire something to do with us. the clarification for the protestant reformation, became a pair of uneducated people, did no longer understand what to think of, so they hold on with the hot men, the heretics who desperate after 1600 years of one way, they desire to reject those procedures. And Protestantism isn't a Church, with the help of ways. that's a circulation that rejects Catholic coaching. anybody who does this i do no longer understand how they are able to call themselves Christian.

Answer 7

All organized religions have some kind of rituals.

Answer 8

Some people want more options. Some want to keep it plain. And some just want a few options. As long as the car is going down the straight and narrow true path and following Christ.

Answer 9

Jesus said men put tradition over God rituals come from tradition and so are not of God.

Answer 10

"ritual Mass"

Hehe, your lost...
Give the bible a try. READ!