Regarding rituals in religious ceremonies

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_The Nehor
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Re: Regarding rituals in religious ceremonies

Post by _The Nehor »

JAK wrote:
krose wrote:Even when I was deeply entrenched in the LDS faith (I left in my 20s) as a believing Mormon born and bred, I was never comfortable with the rituals involved in the worship ceremonies. I'm referring to things such as blessing and passing the sacrament, baptisms, baby blessings, consecrating olive oil, being set apart for a calling, hands-on ordinations, and many others.

The religious rituals always felt like staged play-acting rather than reality, and I always felt a bit silly and self-conscious taking part in them. Because of this, when I went through the temple for the first time, it was a very bizarre ritual overload. Watching my parents and brothers go through all those costume changes and signs and symbols with me was like a weird out-of-body experience.

I have heard some people who leave their religion say that they miss the rituals and found comfort in them, but not me. It was easy to leave that part behind, because they never felt quite right. I felt fake and insincere doing them, so good riddance to them.



A fundamental problem for people such as krose is that they think. Thinking is a threat to ritual in the ridiculous.

Now you left in your 20s. On another forum we had a lengthy discussion as to whether people are hard wired to blind belief or to intellectual inquiry. It might be attributed to heredity or environment or perhaps to a combination of the two.

We didn’t attempt to resolve the question. But it was a great discussion.

JAK


Well, that sucks. I guess the voices and heavenly visions mean I'm of inferior genetic stock. I also missed out on the thinking gene I guess. Oh well. Undoubtedly genetic engineering or some eugenics program will wipe my kind out one day so JAK and his ilk can form a positive utopia. Still waiting for the mental state report JAK.....you ignore it every time I bring it up. ;)
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_Gazelam
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Post by _Gazelam »

krose,

Do you find depth and meaning in the parables of the New Testament? The sacrament and other rituals are no different.

Gaz
We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. - Plato
_Trinity
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Post by _Trinity »

Gazelam wrote:krose,

Do you find depth and meaning in the parables of the New Testament? The sacrament and other rituals are no different.

Gaz


I think there is a difference. One is not having to assume a part in the parables.

I personally thought I was in the twilight zone the first time I went through the temple. I'm not a good actress. I don't want to put on funny costumes and memorize lines.
"I think one of the great mysteries of the gospel is that anyone still believes it." Sethbag, MADB, Feb 22 2008
_The Nehor
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Post by _The Nehor »

Trinity wrote:
Gazelam wrote:krose,

Do you find depth and meaning in the parables of the New Testament? The sacrament and other rituals are no different.

Gaz


I think there is a difference. One is not having to assume a part in the parables.

I personally thought I was in the twilight zone the first time I went through the temple. I'm not a good actress. I don't want to put on funny costumes and memorize lines.


I think that playing a part in parables is important.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_Mercury
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Re: Regarding rituals in religious ceremonies

Post by _Mercury »

krose wrote:Even when I was deeply entrenched in the LDS faith (I left in my 20s) as a believing Mormon born and bred, I was never comfortable with the rituals involved in the worship ceremonies. I'm referring to things such as blessing and passing the sacrament, baptisms, baby blessings, consecrating olive oil, being set apart for a calling, hands-on ordinations, and many others.

The religious rituals always felt like staged play-acting rather than reality, and I always felt a bit silly and self-conscious taking part in them. Because of this, when I went through the temple for the first time, it was a very bizarre ritual overload. Watching my parents and brothers go through all those costume changes and signs and symbols with me was like a weird out-of-body experience.

I have heard some people who leave their religion say that they miss the rituals and found comfort in them, but not me. It was easy to leave that part behind, because they never felt quite right. I felt fake and insincere doing them, so good riddance to them.


I am the opposite. I have left Mormonism and picked up another form of ritual eerily similar to Mormonisms more secret ritual.
And crawling on the planet's face
Some insects called the human race
Lost in time
And lost in space...and meaning
_The Nehor
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Re: Regarding rituals in religious ceremonies

Post by _The Nehor »

Mercury wrote:I am the opposite. I have left Mormonism and picked up another form of ritual eerily similar to Mormonisms more secret ritual.


You joined the Republicans?
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_Trinity
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Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:36 pm

Post by _Trinity »

The Nehor wrote:
Trinity wrote:
Gazelam wrote:krose,

Do you find depth and meaning in the parables of the New Testament? The sacrament and other rituals are no different.

Gaz


I think there is a difference. One is not having to assume a part in the parables.

I personally thought I was in the twilight zone the first time I went through the temple. I'm not a good actress. I don't want to put on funny costumes and memorize lines.


I think that playing a part in parables is important.


Nope. Doesn't work for me. While I can understand and appreciate symbolism, I simply lack the ability to insert myself into a parable or play-act. I'm consistent. I can never role play in the bedroom either. I am me and like myself enough I don't want to pretend I am someone else.
"I think one of the great mysteries of the gospel is that anyone still believes it." Sethbag, MADB, Feb 22 2008
_The Nehor
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Post by _The Nehor »

Trinity wrote:Nope. Doesn't work for me. While I can understand and appreciate symbolism, I simply lack the ability to insert myself into a parable or play-act. I'm consistent. I can never role play in the bedroom either. I am me and like myself enough I don't want to pretend I am someone else.


I like me too and one of my favorite things about me is my ability to insert myself into various roles.....both in and out of the bedroom. ;)

Different strokes I guess.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_krose
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Post by _krose »

Upon further reflection, I think the unease I have with the rituals is that they seem to not be substantially different from (and are possibly remnants of) ancient superstitions that I have always dismissed.

Are religious rituals really that different from, for example, knocking on wood to avoid a bad consequence of something spoken, throwing a pinch of salt over the shoulder when it's spilled, or saying certain words on every mention of a deceased person's name? In both cases, the form of the action is held as important and necessary, which to me is what makes it feel artificial and like play-acting.

Let's say that, during the weekly meeting, someone were to announce something like, "Let's all take a few quiet moments to reflect on the sacrifice of our Savior." That would be much more real and meaningful to me than the ritual of some kids reading a prescribed prayer over some bits of bread and passing them around, while everyone pretends they're eating a piece of flesh.
_MishMagnet
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Post by _MishMagnet »

It seems that human beings in general like and need rituals. Throughout time there is no shortage of ritual symbolism to make us feel special and greater than ourselves. A few weeks ago on the Discovery Channel they had a program on how the new Cardinals are ordained in Rome. They prostrated themselves on the ground, hands out, face in the carpet and so forth. It was a very lengthy ceremony with hundreds in observance.

I don't doubt that there is a personality issue whether or not we find it meaningful. Society in general, though, needs and wants it. Graduations, fraternities, organizations like the Masons, these all exist outside religion.
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