Sacred Action

Rites and Rituals

Purpose of Rites and RitualsReligion = to re-connect

• Sacred actions create and express a spiritual connection to the sacred

• Sacred actions create and express a connection to community (social dimension of religion)

• Connections across space and timeBringing people together to remember the past and

celebrate the presentMarking these occasions as special, imbuing them with

the presence of the sacred

Characteristics of Rites and RitualsAs actions, sacred rites and rituals are:• Performative (something we do)• Formulaic (follow a script, a formula)• Repetitive:– on a daily, weekly, annual time frame (“periodic” or

calendrical – holy days)– from generation to generation (life cycle events)– Re-enactments and/or commemorations of historical

events– Marking the cycles of time, seasonal changes

Kinds of Sacred Actions

• Rites of passage/life cycle events• Periodic/calendrical events (“Holy Days”)• Daily and personal ritual practices

Rites of PassageMarking our passage through life:• Birth rituals (e.g. baptism)• Coming of age rituals (e.g. Bar Mitzvah)• Marriage• Status elevation (e.g. ordination or initiation)• Rites & rituals surrounding death and mourningMark important transitions in our livesCan happen at any time but just once for each personCentered around one person

Holy Days• Weekly communal worship (e.g. Sabbath)• Annual holidays:– Marking historical events (e.g. birth or death of important

people in the history of the religion)– Seasonal celebrations, marking the passage of the annual

cycles of natural time (e.g. spring equinox as the “new year” or winter solstice)

Happen repeatedly for all within a given religionAll followers do these things at the same time, as a

community of the faithful

Daily & Personal Sacred Actions• Daily prayer or meditation (the “magic words”):– Reconciliation (“I’m sorry”) (sacrifice, confession)– Petition (“please”)– Thanksgiving (“thank you”)– Adoration/praise (“I love you”)

• Purification rites – as needed (often using water)• Healing rituals – as needed• Pilgrimage to sacred sites• Dietary regulations• Ritual dress

Some things to think aboutas you watch the videos

• When is it done?• Who does it? To or for whom?• Where is it done?• How is it done? What is the symbolism of the

actions?• What “props” are used? How are they symbolic?• Why is it done? What does it mean, what occasion

does it mark?• How do these actions change or affect the people

involved?

Common features of Sacred Actions

Symbolic use of:• Words• Gestures• Objects• Activity• Dress• Roles• Food• Colors…

Watch for these things, and more, as you watch the videos!

Can you identify the kinds of sacred actions shown in the videos?

Videosthese video clips are online, they use RealPlayer; click links to

watch

Everyday and personal practices:• Prayer in all cultures• Hindu worship I; Puja: Hindu devotion; A household puja

(click links on page)• Praying the Rosary (Catholic)• Walking the Stations of the Cross (Catholic)• The Mikvah (Jewish purification ritual)• Voodoo ritual• Shinto rituals (QuickTime, click links on page)More on next slide…

More VideosFood and Faith:• Ramadan I, Ramadan II (fasting in Islam)• Fasting in Orthodox Chistianity• Kosher food (Jewish)• Passover symbolism of food (Jewish)Rites of Passage:• First Communion (Catholic)• Becoming a novice monk (Buddhism)• Jewish Burial PracticesMore on next slide…

More Videos

Sacred Time – Holy Days: • Origins of Christmas traditions • Holy Week• Jewish High Holidays I; Jewish High Holidays II• Celebrating Hanukkah• Tibetan New YearMore on next slide…

More VideosSacred Art:• The Buddhist Mandala (slide show with narration)• Iconography (Orthodox Christianity)• Illuminated Bible (Christianity)• Islamic Art• Spirituality of Native American artSacred space:• Native American respect for Mother Earth• Roadside Memorials (Christian)

Deep Thinking Questions• What would be an example of…?• What are some of the most important elements of the

______ ritual? Of any sacred ritual?• What parts of the _____ ritual in the _____ religion would

be similar to/different than the _____ ritual in the ______ religion?

• What do you see as the aesthetic or emotional value of these rituals?

• What does the _____ ritual say about what is important to the people of the ______ religion?

• How would people of another religion react to the rituals in your religion?