Religion

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)

19. I don't think ritual is vital for belief per se, but I think it is essential for religion.

Thu Jan 5, 2012, 02:16 AM

Jan 2012

Beliefs come in many shapes and sizes, and they may be nothing more than purely personal convictions about the way things are. No ritual is required to establish and maintain such a belief, just normal human psychology.

A religion, on the other hand is the social matrix that crystallizes around a set of beliefs. Because of its social nature it does require ritual to bind the community of adherents together - a visible, participatory, normative expression of their commonality.

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Religion and ritual. [View all] pinto Dec 2011 OP

How is your skin and balance?? Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #1

Both going well. pinto Dec 2011 #2

The reason I ask is that there are times in this group Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #3

Oh, got it. (duh) pinto Dec 2011 #4

I find it interesting that no one else has replied to you Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #5

Just a slow forum at this time, is my guess. pinto Dec 2011 #6

It's mostly a lot of poo-flinging EvolveOrConvolve Dec 2011 #7

Yep. Be ready to duck the flying poo. Critters2 Dec 2011 #8

Who said that? laconicsax Dec 2011 #10

????????????? Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #11

Bad joke, don't worry about it. n/t laconicsax Dec 2011 #12

Jokes belong in the Humor Group Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #13

Ritual is important in religion kwassa Dec 2011 #9

Oh, it's absolutely vital. trotsky Jan 2012 #17

Don't think it's vital, but clearly a component. pinto Jan 2012 #18

I don't think ritual is vital for belief per se, but I think it is essential for religion. GliderGuider Jan 2012 #19

IIRC, Pascal recommended ritual to create belief. laconicsax Dec 2011 #14

Not quite sure what (or if) you were asking here ... Nihil Jan 2012 #15

I never understood the close coupling of ritual and religion, GliderGuider Jan 2012 #16

I've been doing some quick research on this justiceischeap Jan 2012 #20