Ritual

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PeterH P
PeterH Jan 14, 2006 21:19:00
Replying to morfe

No. Its meaningful to them ( the Buddhists), but meaningless to me. Everything depends on perspective unless you believe in absolute truths. Individually or in groups, we attempt to make sense of life, the universe and everything. We set up taboos, we create the sacred, we create our gods - in my opinion. Perhaps you believe that sacredness is inherent in places and objects and we come to recognise that by revelation or instruction. If so, I can respect your view, but not share it.

To Buddhists, all life is sacred and so they do not take life. There are even extreme Buddhist sects who wear face marks so that they don't kill airborne microscopic life by inhaling it. Is that an absolute truth that the rest of us must subscribe to? Is it even possible?

A Christian regards wafers and wine as the sacred body and blood of Christ. To me its just wafers and wine. Not sure that I have much more to say on this.

M morfe
morfe Jan 14, 2006 21:41:48
Replying to PeterH

I thought you meant that 'all life is sacred' to be meaningless *with regard to the definition of sacred*. In that you were saying it was a 'misuse' of the word sacred - an 'non-valid' use of the word 'sacred'.

Whether you meant that or not, that is how it reads. I didn't question whether or not 'sacred' was meaningless to you, you already clarified that ages back. Although you have taken great pains to say what it means and what it doesn't mean ;-)

You see how confusing that was?

M morfe
morfe Jan 14, 2006 21:57:58
Replying to PeterH

I guess atheists subscribe the the absolute truth that there is no god excepting a human invention.

And religious types subscribe to the the absolute truth that there is a god/goddess.

I don't know what I am, I recognise and feel my connection with nature, and am awed by nature's mystery and our interpretations of it, but so far science and religion have only answered a few questions, leaving many more.

Pantheist maybe. But there's that *ist* business again.

Sorry, this is so far off topic.

ritualistic behaviour and rituals have everything and nothing in common. I have worked extensively with compulsive ritualists (autism) and many of these are also subject to 'inexplicable' visions. Ritual is also related to meditation and transcendence/altered awareness/cognition - yet custom is also considered ritualistic.

It all breaks back down to semantics again doesn't it?

With that said, I'm going to get intersubjective on my own ass. It's the full moon, it's a bright one, and I feel the pull outdoors.

Have a good weekend all.