CELEBRATING THE IMPORTANT TIMES OF OUR LIVES… Religious Studies 3, Chapter 3

JOURNAL QUESTION: Think of the place where you go to church. What is your experience of the worship services (or Mass)? Do you feel the rituals are helpful or dry? If you could change one aspect of the service (or Mass), what would it be? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWHPT16tOh0

RITUALS: A ritual is a symbolic action that allows us to physically and concretely express our beliefs. A ritual leads people out of their daily worries to take them to a special time and place. A ritual gives us a chance to express certain truths that cannot be done with mere words.

RITUALS vs. ROUTINES RITUAL Full of deeper meanings Concern the process, not the end result Breaks through the boredom of daily schedule ROUTINE Empty of a deeper meaning Are done to provide a physical result Contributes to the boredom of the daily schedule