1. Approaches to Rituals
Theoretical analysis

2. Secular Ritual
Religious Ritual
Deeper Meaning of Ritual
Symbolic actions and objects

3. The Need for Ritual Food – ritual killing of animals, hunting
Eg. Ainu (Japan), North American Indian Tribe bear rituals
Warmth/Shelter – Bolivian Witches’ Market
Companionship – daily social rituals (movies)
Communication - Catholic Communion
Purification – Hindu Kumb Melha Festival
Pacification – Funeral / Burial Hindu Ceremony
Maintain Order – Initiation Ceremonies Indigenous Australians

4. What kinds of rituals?
Rites of passage: North American girls’ ‘Coming of Age’
Crisis
Celebration
Worship

5. Rites of Passage
A ritual marking a time when the status of an individual changes: ritual dramas of birth, initiation, marriage and death:
largely individual oriented
Non-recurrent.
Anticipated.
Bar Mitzvah
Graduation
21st Birthday

6. Calendrical Rites Cyclical Organised by community
Turning points of socio-economic seasons
Eg. New Year ritual:
Group oriented
Recurrent – linking people with social world
Anticipated with entrances and exits.

7. Diwali
Diwali is certainly one of the biggest, brightest and most important festivals of India. While Diwali is popularly known as the "festival of lights". The celebration of Diwali as the "victory of good over evil" refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance. While the story behind Diwali and the manner of celebration of the festival differ greatly depending on the region, the essence of the festival remains the same - the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

8. Crisis Rites
Rituals performed at times of hardship (sickness, drought, flood, social anxiety)

9. Celebration
Celebrates special events and dates (Christmas)

10. Worship
Rituals that worship a God or Gods. Usually involves some kind of prayer.

11. Lovat
Read pg. 27 – Beginning, Middle, End approach
- 5 steps

12. Structure of Ritual: Terence Lovat
Entry: Leave the ordinary world and enter the ritual
Preparation: Preparatory rite/activity
Climax: Experience of a central highpoint
Celebration: Joins in a celebration of the ritual
Return: Leaves the ritual and returns to ordinary world

13. `

14. Structure of Haka (during a football match)
The performing of the Haka
The crowd and the team celebrate
Get into formation
Find positions for kick off
Walk onto field

15. Task Think of a secular ritual and a religious ritual.
Complete Lovat’s pyramid for the two rituals

16. Arnold van Gennep: Read Pg 26 Text
Mainly for rites of passage rituals (a ritual where someone transitions from one stage of life to another)
Pre-liminal:
Separating from the previous life
Liminal:
Transitioning from one stage to another
Post-liminal: A new status or state of life

17. Gennep
Example for a surgical operation:

19. Task Separating from the previous life
Break down the crocodile skin ritual into the three phases.
Pre-liminal:
Separating from the previous life
Liminal:
Transitioning from one stage to another
Post-liminal:
A new status or state of life

20. Task Break down this transition into the following three phases.
Going from Primary school to High school

21. Victor Turner Text p.26
3 Meanings:
Exegetical (subjective) – explained by person performing the ritual
Operational (objective) – observable by the outsider; purpose of the ritual in society
Positional – symbols used & relationships between them.

22. Liminality:
Looks at what different people experience in the liminal phase

23. Rituals in World Religions
Questions:
Why do you think there have been attempts throughout history to deny a role for ritual in religion?
Why do you think religion invests so much energy into ritual?
Define in your own words the following group rituals and give examples:
Totemic
Calendrical
Ceremonial
Rites of Passage
Crisis Rites