Religion Myth and Symbol

Religion Myth and Symbol:
An Introduction to Ritual
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Religion Myth and Symbol:
An Introduction to Ritual
Introduction
For numerous centuries, religion has been viewed as the main guide for the way people lived and interacted with each other, sometimes even serving as the basis for the numerous laws developed by the different civilizations of the world. Indeed, the very definition of religion involves its role as a guide to the way of life of people. However, modern times have seen to the rapid rise in movements and advocacies debunking the different teachings of numerous religions. In fact, scholars have come to label religion and its principles as myths, or things that have no empirical or scientific proofs.
Still, despite these issues, one cannot neglect the fact that the way by which people live their life is affected by religion and its different aspects or components. One of the said components of religion is the different rituals conducted for varied purposes. In religion, a ritual usually can involve numerous definitions, based on the religion and the ritual itself. Rituals can range from something as basic to religion as praying, to things as complex as ceremonies and sacrificial offerings.
In relation, this paper will then explore rituals as a concept and component of religion. More specifically, this paper will explore rituals in relation to religion, including examples and its significance. This will be achieved by first presenting an overview of rituals, including its definition and other descriptions. Examples of rituals will also be presented. Afterwards, the significance of looking into rituals will be presented, followed by a discussion on the intelligibility, meaning, and effectiveness of rituals. An analysis of rituals based on secondary sources will also be conducted. Finally, this paper will provide an exploration of the different questions that remain to be answered in the study of rituals.
More importantly, this paper will attempt to prove that rituals are effective symbols and myths in religion, whose value depends on numerous factors, especially the degree by which people understand it, and on its perceived effect or influence.
Rituals: Overview and Examples
As mentioned earlier, there are different definitions one can provide detailing what a ritual is. Still, one significant definition of ritual is provided by Turner (1997)1 and Eliade (1965)2, who defined ritual as:
In religion, rituals are a series or pattern of words, actions and movements that allows for the performer`s repetition of the "mythical age", or sometimes also termed as "ideal time". A repetition of a certain specific "mythical event" in the person`s religious life, rituals are also vehicles of "eternal return" to the mythical age, and make possible the person`s return to an ideal time or "sacred time".
Although the two authors did not explicitly provide such words as the direct definition of rituals, they discussed it in such a way that the above definition of rituals can be easily deduced. Indeed, such deduction is something that has to be done in Turner`s discussion, while Eliade`s presentations of what a ritual is clearer and more specific. Thus, Turner`s discussion will be drawn upon for examples, while Eliade`s thoughts will be focused on for the exploration of the definition or description of rituals.
According to Eliade, as described in his book, Myth of Eternal Return, ritual presents an avenue or portal by which people can return eternally to the mythical age, sacred time, or ideal time. In here, it is significant to understand three significant terms: eternal return mythical age, and sacred or ideal time. In its most basic sense, eternal return refers to the person`s ability to go back to the mythical age, and become contemporary and united with one`s sacred myths. Mythical age, on the other hand, is almost synonymous with Sacred or ideal time, since the mythical age is the time in which the "sacred", something most religions view as the spirit, enters the world or the Universe, providing it with meaning and form3. Therefore, this moment, the mythical age, is considered a sacred time. Given these definitions, it can then be deduced that rituals involve a set of words, actions, or behaviors that allow man to return to a previous time or state of holiness or divinity. They are avenues through which people can tap into the infinite wisdom and resources of the sacred or divine.
Moreover, Womack (2005)4 also added that rituals are a significant form of religious symbols, with different rituals symbolizing different aspects of the religion, as well as of the society. Rituals provide a way through which organization and structure can be maintained in the community, since some religious rituals are significant parts or components of the society. Rituals are also significant aspects of the dynamics of social life, since most rituals, both religious and not, are dictated by the society, especially those that developed the earlier tenets of the religion.
To better understand the different definitions of rituals provided, one may look at a certain example of a ritual, described by Turner (1997) in her book. One example of a ritual is the Isoma, a ritual performed by the Ndembu of the northwestern areas of Zambia. Isoma is a ritual performed for various reasons, but it especially a ritual for procreation. Although it is a ritual that is made for women, the male or husband begins the ritual by employing a "doctor", and this doctor then calls other doctors to assist him. Involving a tripartite diachronic structure, this ritual is divided into three phases: Ilembi, Kunkuna, and Ku-tumbuka. The first phase entails the woman`s separation from the profane world, while the second involves the woman`s partial seclusion from the secular world. The third step involves a festive dance, which marks the "lifting of the shade" of misfortune or punishment placed by ancestral spirits on the woman or the society she belongs to.
This ritual by the Ndembu demonstrate the people`s belief in the ritual`s ability to project or return the woman to an earlie...