Does the purpose of ritual hold any importance to mass modern living?
Jeez, that sounds like a first year Social Anthropology exam question… in that it makes little sense! Sorry… Does the ‘purpose’ of ritual… let me deal with that one first. So what is the “Purpose of Ritual”? Well the simple answer is that a ritual takes the form of symbolic actions, predescribed by religion or culture. They can give us an insight into the cosmologies of cultures, the history and beliefs of the people. They provide a structure for individuals to fit in to a society. However, to separate ritual and modern life is a tricky endeavour. Of course we can separate ourselves from ritual, or think that we can. It depends on your perception of ritual. If you think merely of a witchdoctor shaking twigs, or some other common image, then you’re wrong. Rituals are at the boundaries of most our social situations. Every birthday, every new year, funeral, wedding. Every time someone ‘comes of age’, or goes through another rites of passage ritual. Times of change, times of crises,
