RITUAL |
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1. What distinguishes rituals from habit, proper procedure, and contests? 3. What are different kinds of rituals? 4. What are the functions of rituals? 5. What are the consequences of ritual contact with the transcendent?
Ritual is a perfunctory, conventionalized act through which an individual protrays his respect and regard for some object of ultimate value to that object of ultimate value or to its stand-in Ritual is a prescribed form of behavior for occasions not given over to technological routine, having reference to beliefs in invisible beings or powers regarded as the first and final causes of all effects COMMONLY NOTED CHACTERISTICS OF RITUALS
Involve action (self conscious, acted not just vocalized) Regularly repeated (occasion, form, content) Dramatically structured (evocative presentational style and staging that is intended to produce attentiveness or greater commitment) Authoritatively designated (activity is based on transcendent demands or permission) Intrinsically valued (activity is inherently valuable) CLASS DEFINITION OF RITUAL Religious ritual is a prescribed form of behavior through which transcendent sources of value are created and affirmed. These rituals are closely scripted, dramatically organized, and authorized by the source of transcendent value, which lend to them an intrinsic value. TYPES OF RITUAL
Celebration rituals - Ritual occasions in which participants engage in expressive ritual play
FUNCTIONS OF RITUALS 1. Regulate human actions, particularly in marginal settings 2. Facilitate communication of intense and powerful sentiments 3. Activate otherwise dormant human energies RITUAL CONTACT WITH THE TRANSCENDENT - TWO OUTCOMES
HOLINESS RITUAL The Holiness Movement arose within Methodism in response to discontent among Methodists committed to achieving Christian perfection Supporters of the Holiness Movement urged a “sanctifying moment” or “second blessing” that would replace the love of sinning with a love of God. The sanctifying moment would be manifested in an instantaneous transformation (“entire sanctification,” “full restoration,” “perfect love”). The transformed believer would testify to the experience and become accountable for its continuance The movement developed an institutional structure with the creation of the National Camp Meeting for the Promotion of Holiness in 1867 A number of churches emerged out of the Holiness Movement, mostly during the 1880s and 1890s (Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, Church of God in Christ, Christian and Missionary Alliance) The purpose of the ritual is to become one with the sacred Participants are ordered by where they are located with respect to becoming one with the sacred Saved or called (Baptized as an adult, knowingly accept Christ as personal savior) Sanctified or committed (Individuals have fully incorporated the teachings of Christ into their being such that their everyday behavior, lifestyle, and outlook reflect those principles) Filled with the Holy Ghost (Individuals who are both saved and sanctified, are in complete harmony with the teachings of Christ as indicated by spirit possession, and use of spiritual power to perform ministries in the group) Pastor (An individual who offers the most complete evidence of having become. This person is saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost and has received the call, answered the call, served as an apprentice pastor, and excelled in the ministries of preaching, song, and healing) Rear to front Spoken Word Manifestations of the Spirit are ordered Clapping, swaying (unsaved) The roles of participants in the religious rituals are ordered by their spiritual status. Spiritual standing is coded by dress color, physical location within the church, and prominence in the rituals General congregation (mostly middle aged women and children in conservative dress, saved and unsaved)
Zionettes Choir (children 6-12 dressed in white aspiring to being saved) Fellowship Choir (mostly 14-21 year old females dressed in turquoise, pink, and green dresses, saved) Musicians (adolescents or senior mothers, saved or sanctified) Memorial Choir (junior and senior mothers, deacons, and trustees in black dress, sanctified) Deacons and Trustees (older sanctified men) Nurses (senior mothers in white nurses dress who watch over those possessed with the Holy Spirit) Assistant Pastor (sanctified member who conducts the first half of the ritual) Head Pastor (sanctified wearing black dress with red trim indicating the blood of Christ who leads the second half of the service)
Beginning the service (crossing the threshold) Processional (entrance in spiritual order, an indicator of spiritual status) Call to Worship (asserting worship service) Invocation (invocation of Holy Spirit by Assistant Pastor or a Senior Mother, chanting) "Our Father" (statement of belief, supplication) Scripture Reading (hearing and accepting the word, presented in reverent spoken word) Hymn (prayer and limited spirit breakthrough) Apostles' Creed (statement of belief and commitment) Hymn (prayer with moderate spirit breakthrough in the form of dancing) Collection for Home and Foreign Mission Hymn (prayer with extensive spirit breakthrough; entire congregation stands, claps, and sways; dancing and speaking in tongues by higher spiritual status participants; pastor enters the sanctuary) Introduction of the Pastor Pastor’s Morning Message (uses a scriptural passage to address a problem confronting the congregation as a whole, asks how problem would have been solved in Biblical times, and concludes with extensive witnessing of the Spirit by higher spiritual status participants) Alter Call (Pastor touches each person who comes to the alter on the forehead to indicate that the Spirit is working in the Pastor and now in the person) Offertory (collection taken by the Assistant Pastor) Benediction (Pastor asks the Lord’s blessing for those present) Aftermath (Participants remain in the church for fellowship)
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