When did the word ritual first appear in English records?
The word ritual first appeared in English records in 1570. It came into common use during the 1600s to mean the prescribed order of performing religious services.
Questions about Ritual
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What are the three stages of a rite of passage according to Arnold van Gennep?
Arnold van Gennep stated that rites of passage are marked by three stages: separation, transition, and incorporation. Separation occurs wherein initiates are separated from their old identities through physical and symbolic means while the transition stage places initiated individuals betwixt and between.
How did Bronislaw Malinowski define the function of ritual regarding anxiety?
Bronislaw Malinowski argued that ritual was a non-technical means of addressing anxiety where dangerous elements were beyond technical control. He stated magic appears whenever man comes to an unbridgeable gap in knowledge yet must continue his pursuit.
Who described liminality as a condition of ambiguity or disorientation in rituals?
Victor Turner argued that the transition phase is marked by liminality which describes a condition of ambiguity or disorientation where initiates have been stripped of old identities but have not yet acquired new ones.
Which ancient civilization used the term Me to refer to rituals later equated with parshu?
The Sumerians used the term Me to refer to rituals later equated with parshu in Akkadian language by Babylonians and Assyrians. In Mesopotamia these rituals were considered property of gods known only to kings and religious experts.