Clendrical Rituals

This paper has presented a definition of religion, as well as an examination of its parts to determine if the definition is adequate to apply appropriately. Secondly, this paper has examined several practices and experiences common to both major religions of the worlds, as well as indigenous religions. Lastly, the key critical issues of the study of religions and reasons for their consideration have been identified and discussed.

In The Sacred Quest, University of Notre Dame professor Lawrence Cunningham attempts the search for a coherent definition of religion. While he doesn’t strive for a one-sentence interpretation of what indicates a real, organized religion, he arrives on several elements and functions to give meaning to his definition. To Cunningham, there are five elements that make up a religion: belief, feeling, action, individual and community aspects, and values. Cunningham argues that these five elements exists in order to explain what could not otherwise be explained, enable people to sustain hope in the face of difficult experiences, and provide ways of thinking that provide goals and respond to “great problems” in life (158). All of these aspects work

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema What is the precise geographical location of this strange tribe, the Nacirema? The Nacirema is a North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. Little is known of their origin, though tradition states that they came from the east.

Rituals and rites are required in almost all religions because they hold meanings spiritually and emotionally. Reaffirming faith and practicing traditions are important parts of adherents' personal and religious life. Christian sacrament and Jewish rituals are derived from their religious stories and histories that represent symbolic stories of the origin and their sacred destiny (Esposito, 18) yet Judaism hold means of obedience to and gratitude for God, whereas Christianity is accepts "divine grace or aid through the incarnation of God" (Esposito, 23). Christians and Jews have religious expressions that have a beginning and an end (Esposito, 22) which corresponds with their rituals and rites providing the "assistance through every stage of life, from birth to death" (Esposito, 180).

From the start of civilization, religion has played a crucial role in the development of most societies. The proof of its influence is evident in the way daily life was carried out. Religion had the power to affect everything from social status to common law, thus dominating a large portion of the culture. In ancient Egyptian, Islamic, and Indian society, religion had the capacity to establish how the average person would conduct their daily life.

After reading Horace Miner’s Body Ritual Among the Nacirema I cannot say that I would want to be part of the tribe. A huge reason would be that I could never go from my own Christian faith to the religious practices of the Nacirema. My second reason for not wanting to be part of the tribe is that I could never be subjected to the horrific medical practices and “magical potions” used on every citizen in the tribe.

Religion has been a major factor for the growth and development of societies since the establishment of even the very first ancient civilizations. Though each of the ancient societies—the Chinese, the Egyptians, the Indians, and the Mesopotamians—had different spiritual beliefs, they each shared the common belief that the presence of religion within a civilization would have positive results upon the entire civilization.

Practices and rituals are an important key element of a worldview. These are the physical expressions of a worldview which serve as the very fabric that ties the other elements of norms, ideology, and narratives together. They provide adherents with the ability to express their core beliefs by allowing for reflection of the meaning of the beliefs they hold within a worldview. These rituals and practices also allow for adherents to renew bonds, recreate important events, and facilitate important transitions in life. Baptism and communion are two important practices (rituals) within a Christian Worldview. In Scientific Naturalism, the use of the scientific method would serve as an example of a practice which is important to adherents.

In the article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” talks about how society is obsessed with their physical appearance. However, I don't agree with that because there are many people who have a hold on many other things such as materialistic things. People today think having everything in life is the way to live happy and better than others. Material wealth is not only based on having money and goods, it can also be valuable/meaningful things people have in their possession as well as having a large amount of things they don't need. Having everything you want isn't always as important as you may think because there is other things out in the world that are better than having unnecessary and awfully expensive things.

In the article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” the author uses magical and humorous word choice, to make the reader jump to assumptions about the culture. Miner mainly uses magical word choice. In the article, a primary focus is a shrine in the home which holds a box that contains potions and charms. The keeper of these objects in the box believes that they cannot live without them. He used the magical words to describe the bathroom and the objects inside it, such as a medicine cabinet that contains medication and such things. Well, he does explain how we use the items, but he makes the items seem more magical and obscure with his word choice. Also in a Latipso (or hospital) a Miracle worker performs rituals with assistants in costumes who move about the temple. Making the "ritual" seem more magical than it already is when in reality Miner is describing a surgical procedure in a hospital. He calls surgical scrubs costumes and masks as funny headdresses. The gift that

Major religions dating back 4,000 years have served as institutions that bring individuals together in the form of communities that share similar morals, ideals, and customs. Religion greatly affects individual behavior both positively and negatively because of how important of a role it plays in many lives. Smidt (1999) notes that religious institutions act as a societal framework that provides a variety of services such as guidance, physical care, and social networks. It is at these institutions where individuals are first introduced to ideas about ethics, values, and customs. Thus, officials within each religion have an important role in shaping how their congregates view the world. Many religious institutions serve as the center of a particular

Religious rituals were often used by the Aztec civilians in an attempt to communicate with their god. The Aztec religion was heavily based around pleasing the gods and being rewarded. Aztecs had often believed that pleasing the gods and patron deities, would ensure smooth operations of the world, and greater success in business. They were often complicated to honour the powerful deities. It is said, that at least half of each month was dedicated to religious rituals.

I’ll be totally honest with you; I had absolutely no idea what was going on when we were reading “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” by Horace Miner. There was not a single part of me that was in on the joke, and while that says a great deal about my personal gullibility, it also says a great deal about the success of Miner’s work. For my own pride, and my own grade, I’ll chose to focus what that fact says about Miner’s work in terms of class discussion prompts, cultural relativism, and ethnocentrism.

societies usually desire the perfect reflection of them .As time passes and life changes so do religions ,however the bases of the religion remain. Each religion has different dominations, each to fit certain societies . some of the reasons why one may be religious could include social and psychological aspects. Religion could help cope with stress, give hope and peace of mind .It could give a sense of community , along with a support group , It also gives a worldview , purpose , and a system of ethics . Because religion fulfills human needs it has not extinct

Since the dawn of time, religion has been the staple of humanity. It has been our explanation for the unexplainable, as well a way for us to form a community with those around us. Due to the natural diversity of humans, a varied set of separate religions has formed throughout the world. Religions continue to adapt and inspire each other, however, they all have their differences, as well as internal differences through the observations of each believer.