on 20/12/01 12:39 pm, Erica Sheen wrote:
>> One more example: Some people return to the grave of a loved one on the
>> anniversary of his or her death, lay flowers on it, and spend time in prayer
>> or contemplation united in their loss. This is unequivocally a group sacred
>> ritual..
>
> But it isn't, is it? It's just the opposite.
You misinterpret me. I'm talking about a number of people (e.g. family
members) returning to the one grave.
on 20/12/01 9:54 pm, Sean Cubitt wrote:
> I get nervous now, after moving to a place where ritual odf the
> traditional variety is an integral part of life, to hear the word
> 'ritual' applied to activities which are merely habitual, or which
> are fetishised or obsessive -- it smacks of the concept of 'taboo' so
> roundly and throughly assassinated by Levi-Strauss.
To horribly oversimplify, I would distinguish between sacred rituals;
non-sacred rituals, which may well be fetishized or obsessive; and habits,
which are performed without consciously thinking through the actions
involved. The obsessive hand-washer is carrying out a ritual because she
concentrates upon her actions; a person who habitually washes her hands
after going to the toilet is not.
John
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