Is religious ritual necessary for religion?

[Old_Scratch]

And is the emphasis of religion on ritual? If you take away the incantations, priestly order, holy books, special foods, all the little rules, and funny hats, can you still have a religion?

Can a religion exist that in addition to the above, their god is neither good nor evil, it just is, like a force of nature? Anyone can talk to this god but nobody is actually required to believe in it.

It sounds vaguely like deism, but deism isn't a religion. Other various religions may have one or more of these things in them but there is always some aspect of ritual. I don't think a religion can exist without the associated ritual.

So then, isn't religion mostly focused on its particular rituals and that is what makes it popular, not so much what it promises, like eternal life or communication with god etc? The rituals set you apart from everyone and solidify you in your particular group. It also gives you a sense of earning salvation or divine rewards. I think it's what makes religion feel special to many people.

[Nietzsche]

I always thought of religious rituals as a means toward strengthening community ties. There is more a feeling of fellowship and group identity when members of a community get together and undergo rituals together. In my mind, religions main focus is to unite a diverse group of peoples by remembering a shared history and understanding (and participating) it's symbols.

Religion could exist without it, but I think psychologically some of the meaning and sense of brotherhood would be lost. Ritual is part of human interaction. How we begin our assemblies, how we greet each other based on levels of friendship, etc, is all ritualized. Human beings seem to naturally move toward standardization of specific behavior, particularly in certain settings; as in a church, at a baseball game, etc.

[MaximiIian]

Is religious ritual necessary for religion? And is the emphasis of religion on ritual?

It depends on which religion. Some place more emphasis on ritual than others; indeed, for many, it is precisely that aspect that signifies it.

For example; my religion, Wicca, is best described as an orthopraxic religion. Maintaining correct practices and ritual structure is held as more important to defining the religion as a whole than, say, maintaining the beliefs laid down by the religion's founders. Since belief is largely subject to personal gnosis, and sometimes group gnosis, it only concerns certain basic provisions, e.g. polytheism, panentheism, nature worship.

Likewise, much of the way that other forms of neopaganism are differentiated is through the variations in practices and cultural context, since many tend towards the belief that all pantheons are equally valid/existent.

For other religions, like Catholicism, a ritual aspect is important in defining it in relation to other forms of Christianity.

[Caledonian Rhyfelwyr]

I make a point of never getting involved in anything ritualistic when it comes to my religious beliefs. I don't celebrate 'holy days', I don't use any icons or images, I don't believe in dressing fancy for church, I don't believe in rigid sabbatarianism, and down with church hierarchies! Wordly rituals give a false sense of comfort when I should be trusting in the living God.

[Nietzsche]

I make a point of never getting involved in anything ritualistic when it comes to my religious beliefs. I don't celebrate 'holy days', I don't use any icons or images, I don't believe in dressing fancy for church, I don't believe in rigid sabbatarianism, and down with church hierarchies! Wordly rituals give a false sense of comfort when I should be trusting in the living God.

Communion?
Baptism?
Group Readings?
Hymnals?
Prayer?

Ritual extends to each of these as well.

[boofhead]

Communion?

Personally I don't do it.

Baptism?

Not exactly necessary, as it's more about being washed clean, which is a heartfelt, spiritual condition.

Group Readings?

A man in solitary confinement can still be a Christian and close to God.

Hymnals?

Ditto.

Prayer?

This depends upon what definition of prayer you would use. Personally when I stand looking at a beautiful sunset or look at images of Hubble's Deep Probe on the internet and am awestruck by the majesty of God's creation, I am, in effect, praying. Even when I'm not sure what to do in a situation and return to a scriptural remedy - that's prayer.

Regarding intentional prayer in which I use the terms ''Almighty'' etc and end in ''Amen'', I never do such things aloud. So as they are all in my mind would this be a ritual?

[lawless_sage]

i don't believe in rituals if you believe god is the creator than no creator would wish for you you to spend your entire life worshiping him he would want you to live your life happy or anyway you want and if you want to acknowledge this god all you need to do is visualize or thank god in any form you want god to be in i also don't believe in relying in god to bring me success or anything when i pray to my god i don't like to participate in religious rituals i just think of god and thank him and that is usually the end of it.

[Каие]

Some ritual is necessary for religion I reckon, but I think in religion the emphasis is supposed to be on dogma, and not actions.

[Playfishpaste]

Some ritual is necessary for religion I reckon, but I think in religion the emphasis is supposed to be on dogma, and not actions.

Precisely.

The only thing that you need for a religion to exist is a dogmatic and communal belief system.

If it isn't communal, but is dogmatic, like atheism, it is not a religion.

If it isn't dogmatic, but communal, like Unitarian Universalism, or evolutionary biology, it is not a religion.

[MaximiIian]

I think in religion the emphasis is supposed to be on dogma, and not actions.

Once again, it depends on the exact religion in question.

[germ14]

What is your definition of ritual?

[Nimthill]

Hmm, I think ritual is one of the key parts of religion, so I'd say yes, it is neccesary.

Without ritual, you would still believe in God but more in a spiritual nature than a religious one.