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 ...