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James Farwell
CHAPTER 1
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Ritual
Let us begin by considering a generic term to which our question is related: that term is ritual. All religious traditions involve rituals. Indeed, ritualizing is something all human beings do, whether they consider themselves “religious” in the narrow sense or not. We relate to the world, convey what we think is most important, and make our way through the passages of life through various rituals. Some rituals are religious (depending on how one defines “religious”); many are civic, or social, or communal. Rituals are seen as a dimension of activities as diverse as American Thanksgiving meals, football games, weddings both within and beyond faith communities, New Year’s celebrations, and family gatherings of various kinds. Some rituals are loosely organized, like a Thanksgiving meal in which many of the same people will be involved from year to year; traditional foods are often (though not always) served; some (though not all) of the same family jokes and stories will be told; and the sequence of the day will be fairly predictable, though not rigid, involving, perhaps, elements of gathering and greeting; watching or playing of games; eating the foods associated with the ritual; and so on. Some rituals are more tightly organized and scripted, with specific words and actions, organized in a sequence that is invested with importance so that it does not change. Religious rituals are often of this more highly organized kind.
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