Blackwell Reference Online

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In common parlance, the term “ritual” - both religious and secular - denotes a pattern of regularly performed or scripted behavior, usually in a ceremonial context. At first blush, rituals seem to have little to do with moral actions, if the latter are understood as deeds that are guided by principles that help people to negotiate their way through everyday life (see chapter 1 ). A link between ritual action and moral action has been suggested, however, by historians of religion who see rituals as outward expressions or enactments of myths. Myths, in turn, are understood to be narrative accounts of a society's most profound beliefs about the world - such as the way it came into existence, our personal roles in relation to it, and the ultimate destiny or purpose of existence in such a world (see chapter 10 ). These beliefs, in turn, comprise the fundamental principles that help us to see what is moral. Moral acts can be expressed in specific ritual behaviors, such as the custom of widow burning ( sati ) in India, based on beliefs about the identity and duty of a wife in relation to her husband. Or they can be negotiated day to day based on the reasoning supplied by the mythological worldview. One might decide against an abortion, for example, based on the reasoning that all matters of life and death should be left to the will of a creator God. This way of linking ritual to myth ... log in or subscribe to read full text