Meaning Of Ritual In Religion

Rituals that are within a specific religion are quite important and is a word that can be used in conjunction to other words to define what religion is. Ritual is defined in the text as “any type of formal, repetitive behavior that is felt to have significance beyond the actions themselves. In particular, religious rituals is often composed of symbols, re-enacts supernatural/mythical events, and is believed to have efficacy if performed correctly” (Eller 2013, p.197).

There are different types of rituals. First, discussing the ritual of the rite of passage. The rite of passage ritual can be defined as “ a form of ritual intended to accompany or accomplish a change of status or role of the participants, such as initiation or marriage” (Eller

When, in fact, they are not the same terms that can be combined to mean one thing. As defined by the text, sorcerers are “a religions specialist who learns to use techniques, including spells and potions, etc., to achieve supernatural effects” (Eller 2013, p.208). People believed that they use their powers for the worse instead of the better good. Eller goes on to explain that the line between magic and religion is controversial (2013, p. 208). Frazer decided to make further distinction from what he called contagious magic and sympathetic or imitative magic. “Contagious magic is the spiritual consequence of bringing two things together, sometimes literally touching” (Eller 2013, p. 208). The book gave an example of this. If a ceremonial act is done or there is magic stored up in a wand and they touch you with it that power can be transferred to you (Eller 2013, p. 208). “Australian Aboriginal sorcerers would focus their power through a magical bone, which they would point at a victim to “shoot” the magic into them” (Eller 2013, p. 208). This also explains the use of voodoo dolls. Because, they use hair, fingernails, etc. they believe that magic could be performed on them through this object that was once in contact with them. Furthermore, Sympathetic or imitative magic is defined as “the belief and practice that objects have something in common with each other have some

208). Witches are said to “explain why unfortunate things occur” (Eller 2013, p. 209). There are claims that there are two different kinds of witches; a witch (soun) and the master witch (aulan hsaya) (Eller 2013, p. 209). “A soun was a female, recognizable by her dimly colored eye, her power could be inherent or learned, although the learned witches were less powerful but more deliberately evil” (Eller 2013, p. 209). “The master witch was much more powerful and always male. He did his dirty work by controlling evil spirits; feeding them raw meat until they depended on him” (Eller 2013, p. 209). They explain that some witches may not be able to control or understand this power they have. Different cultures had different ways of understanding what witches are. The Azande of Sudan saw the actions of witches everywhere “. . . if women laboriously bale water out of a pool and are rewarded by but a few small fish it is witch craft; if termites do not rise when their swarming it is due and a cold useless night is spent in waiting for their flight it is witchcraft . . . if; in fact, any failure or misfortune falls upon anyone at any time and in relation to any of the manifold activities of his life it may be due to witchcraft” (Eller 2013, p. 208-209).