Ritual

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Ritual

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is the reenactment of the myth. dramatization takes three distinct forms: magic, shamanism, religion.

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Magic

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The manipulation of a SN force or power. Four types of magic: pure, contagious, imitative and witchcraft.

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Shamanism

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The manipulation of a SN spirit.

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Religion

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Worship of SN spirits.

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8 Characteristics of Ritual

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1. The stage for the dramatization of the story is the axis mundi, the crossroad between the natural and SN world. It is divided into two domains: domus ecclesiae- where deity is invited to attend and where there is a notion of rank and file or social hierarchy and domus dei-where deity invites humans to attend and where there is a strong sense of equality.
2. Reenactment helps humans remember myth with its accompanying values and principles.

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3. Since humans are following the ideal behavior of deity, this helps to standardize human behavior because they are being obedient to deities' rules for ideal behavior. Standardization of behavior makes human behavior predictable so fellow worshippers know exactly what to expect from one another.
4. Participation in ceremony is a form of communication in which little new information is learned- "communication w/out information" because followers always know what is to be said and done next on a repeated basis.

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5. Participation creates strong sense of unity, security, certainly, sharedness, well-being, comfort and mutual affection for fellow participants.
6. Participation is in form of an expressive act vs. a technical act. Water is an agent to cleanse or remove the physical dirt from one's body, but water used in a baptismal ceremony removes sin or misbehavior from one's life.
7. Separates insider from outsider and also insider from insider- unorthodox from orthodox.
8. Participating in certain ceremonies has cathartic effect-helps to release grief and anxiety in a measure way in a safe controlled environment.