Religious rites and rituals - what are they? Perhaps some people believe that only those who are closely associated with religion encounter such phenomena. However, in reality, such rituals have long been intertwined with the everyday life of ordinary people. What can we say about a believer, for whom religious customs and rituals are an integral part of existence.

And yet, despite this, many interesting questions remain in the shadows. For example, even the meaning of the word “religious rite” raises a number of confusions. After all, how do you understand which rituals should be classified as them and which ones should not? Or what is the difference between Orthodox sacraments and Catholic ones? And finally, how long ago was the first religious ceremony held? So, let's look at everything in order.

The meaning of the word "religious rite"

As always, you need to start from the root of the problem, namely exact value of this expression. So, a religious ritual is a certain action based on a person’s mystical idea of ​​the surrounding reality.

That is, the main task of such a ritual is to strengthen the connection of the believer with his higher principle, or God. It does not matter at all whether such an action is carried out individually or is a collective event.

What is a religious ceremony?

Yet it is not enough just to know the meaning of this word. To fully understand its essence, it is necessary to look at everything from a special angle, relying on clear examples and arguments. That's why let's look at what a religious ceremony actually is.

To begin with, let's take as an example finger baptism, which is common among all Christians. It would seem that there is nothing mystical, the usual manipulation of the hand in a given order, which is used during prayer. And yet it is a religious rite... Do you know why?

Because there are two important points here. Firstly, an established ritual that has remained unchanged for all Christians for many centuries. Secondly, it is based on the belief that such an action can shed God's grace on a person.

Based on this, we can draw the following conclusion: any custom that combines these two points is a religious rite.

The first mystical sacraments

Nobody knows exactly when man began to believe that the world is controlled. After all, this first happened in those days when our distant ancestors did not yet know how to write. The only evidence of their intelligent lifestyle is the drawings and incisions on the rocks. However, even this meager information is enough to understand what a religious rite was among ancient people.

In those distant times, a person’s life directly depended on how favorable Mother Nature was to him. Just imagine how majestic it was for people who did not have the slightest idea about the laws of physics and chemistry. Consequently, it is not surprising that over the years they began to attribute to her the presence of her own will and reason.

Therefore, to answer the question: “What is a religious rite among ancient people?” it will be quite simple. Almost all of their rituals were aimed at appeasing the spirits of nature so that they would grant them their protection.

This belief in the power of sacred rites has had a marked influence throughout human history. After all, it was thanks to the ancient sacraments that the first priests appeared - people who communicated with otherworldly forces.

Rituals of the Slavs

Before the arrival of Christianity in Rus', our ancestors were pagans. They believed in the existence of many gods, forming Slavic pantheon. Thus, warriors worshiped Perun, peasants - Lada, and creative people - Veles.

Initially, rituals were invented ordinary people, in order to somehow appease the beloved deity. A little later, the priests themselves began to select the most favorable rituals and insist on what was of higher intelligence.

It got to the point that not a single holiday or significant event was complete without a religious sacrament. And the more often and systematically they were repeated, the stronger they sank into people’s consciousness. Over the years they have become an integral part Everyday life Slavs and were taken for granted by the people.

For example, peasants always made a sacrifice to Lada before starting sowing work. After all, if this is not done, then the goddess will not bestow her grace on the crops, and then the harvest will be bad. The same applied to other aspects of the life of the Slavs: the birth of children, weddings, war and death. Each occasion had its own religious ritual, aimed at strengthening the relationship between deity and man.

What about other countries and continents?

The most curious thing is that such a worldview was inherent in almost all nations and peoples. Thus, the Greeks believed in the gods of Olympus, the Egyptians believed in the powerful and other equally powerful creatures. And the indigenous people of Africa had so many different deities that it is not possible to count them.

And they all practiced religious ceremonies. For example, the Greeks made rich offerings to their gods in temples, and on holidays they organized festivities with masquerade. The Egyptians built pyramids so that their pharaohs would live there even after death. And some ate human hearts, hoping in this way to gain the strength and courage of a defeated enemy.

Religious rituals in the modern world

Despite the fact that now is the age of popularization of scientific theories and atheistic views, religious rituals have not gone away. Moreover, some of them are so deeply ingrained in people’s minds that they have become the norm. Let's look at the most popular rituals of two giant religions - Christianity and Islam.

So let's start with Orthodox baptism children. This religious rite is considered one of the most ancient in our history. According to his laws, small children are washed with holy water in order to cleanse them of original sin. In addition, Christians believe that during baptism God gives a person a guardian angel.

Another ancient religious ritual that has survived to this day is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. They believe that every true believer should make such a trek at least once in his life in order to show his devotion to Allah.

Devotion bordering on fanaticism

However, not all rituals and ceremonies are harmless. Unfortunately, sometimes faith develops into fanaticism, and then the first victims appear. In particular, some religious rituals require blood, sometimes even human. And the fanatical believer is ready to present such a gift. After all, this is God's will, and human life compared to her - just dust.

At the same time, the bloody trail from religious rituals stretches from the very depths of history, then disappearing, then appearing again. What are the Christian Crusades or the Muslim holy wars against the infidels? Not to mention the fact that the ancient Aztecs sacrificed hundreds, or even thousands, of people just to satisfy the mystical appetite of the Sun God.

In this regard, it should be understood that religious rituals can be carried out both for good and vice versa. At the same time, it is not God who creates evil, but people, because it is they who ultimately determine the essence and order of the ritual.

Faith acquires a religious character and becomes an element of religion if it is included in the system of religious actions and relationships, in other words, it is included in the religious cult system. The main element of religion, which gives it originality, that is, distinguishes it from other forms of social consciousness and social institutions, is the cult system. Consequently, the specificity of religion is manifested not in the special nature of belief, or in some special subject or object of belief, but in the fact that these ideas, concepts, images are included in the cult system, acquire a symbolic character in it and, as such, function in social interaction.

It follows from this that there is an organic relationship between religious consciousness and religious actions. Religious cult is nothing more than a social form of objectification of religious consciousness, the implementation of religious faith in the actions of a social group or individuals. Certain views and ideas that form ideological constructs, when included in a cult system, acquire the character of a creed. And this gives them a spiritual and practical character.

The cult system, first of all, is a set of certain rituals.

Ritual- this is a set of stereotypical actions established by the custom or tradition of a particular social community, symbolizing certain ideas, norms, ideals and ideas. The ritual performs important social functions in society. One of the main social functions of the ritual is the accumulation and transfer of experience both by individuals to each other and from generation to generation. In the ritual, the experience of social activity of many generations is accumulated and becomes visible, as if human activity and communication are concentrated. In the general system of social interaction, the ritual fixes the most important, key moments in the life of a social group. The specificity of religious rituals lies in their ideological content, that is, exactly what images, ideas, ideas, and values ​​they embody in symbolic form. Each religious organization, in the process of its formation and development, develops its own specific system of religious actions.

Ritual- “a set of rituals accompanying a religious act” or “developed custom or a set procedure for doing something; ceremonial Both the dictionary definition and other sources show that ritual is a special case of a broader concept - custom, however, the relationship between the concepts of “ritual” and “rite” is defined differently in different sources:

concepts are considered identical;

ritual is considered a special case of rite;

ritual is a set of rituals.

5. Sign, symbol, propitiatory actions, prayers, types of prayers.

Researchers of this social form call its symbolic character as the most important feature of the ritual. In philosophical literature there is a tradition of considering symbol as a special type of signs - an “iconic sign”, which has partial similarity with the designated object. The sign and symbol have a similar structure, including: 1) material form, 2) replaced (designated) object, 3) meaning or meaning. The main functional property of these social forms also similar. They are intended to represent (present externally) content different from their forms. However, the sign and symbol have significant differences. Signs- These are artificial formations. Their material form is largely arbitrary and does not significantly affect function. The sign does not reproduce the object, but only replaces it. On the contrary, the shape of the symbol is partially similar to the designated object. It plays an important role in revealing the content, since it itself informs about the content and influences the perceiver. And this fact significantly changes the functional properties of symbols. Sign systems only designate an object. The designation by the sign is external, formal character. It is the process of external expression of formalized meaning. In a symbol, the designation is largely meaningful. This is a figurative designation that to a certain extent reproduces the symbolized content. Consequently, at the level of the symbol, a qualitatively new process occurs, which can no longer be characterized simply as designation, but should be called symbolization. Symbolization can be defined as the ability of consciousness, through certain sensory objects, to figuratively represent (present externally) other objects or phenomena of reality. From these positions, in our opinion, ritual can be considered as a type of symbol.

The evolution of religious rituals followed the line of their spiritualization and spiritualization. The top of this path is prayer– a person’s verbal (verbal) appeal to the object of his faith. Ethnographers claim that prayer as a specific religious rite developed on the basis of pagan conspiracies and spells, as an element of verbal magic (magic of the word). As a verbal component, it was originally included in the ritual of sacrifice. Subsequently, prayer was separated from sacrifice and became an essential component of the cult of many religions. There are two types of prayer. The psychological basis of the first type is a peculiar "deal with God", asking him for certain benefits, and accordingly, a promise to fulfill all divine instructions. The purpose of the second type of prayer is to "communication with God" rapprochement and dissolution of the believer in God. Prayers can be collective or individual. Prayers are performed during services in churches, houses of worship, cemeteries, etc. They are performed in an organized manner. During these prayers, the participants in the worship service experience both psychological and controlling influence on each other. Participation in collective prayer can occur for various reasons, including non-religious ones. A person can join such a prayer during the service, as they say, “for the company”, so as not to seem like a “black sheep” or simply because he came to a temple, to a house of prayer, to some kind of solemn event, such as the consecration of a newly built building , buildings. Individual, solitary prayer, as a rule, occurs only on the basis of religious motivation. Therefore, many sociologists consider it an important sign of true religiosity.

Even in ancient times, certain rituals and customs originated. And it is worth noting that some of these customs have survived to this day and there are already quite a few long time. In general, rituals were created in order to help a person, charge him with energy, and help in various everyday situations. Actually, today they are used for the same purpose. In this article we will look at what rituals existed in ancient times, how they changed, what they were used for and how they were used. And then we will look at which of these rituals were lost and disappeared, and which have survived to this day. After all, it is quite interesting and exciting to learn something new about your culture, or about the culture of other countries. This gives us knowledge, education and culture.

Rituals and ceremonies from ancient times

Once upon a time, starting from primitive times, people, in order to exist and eat something, hunted. But the hunt was not always successful, and the hunters left with their prey. But I didn’t want to stay hungry. And in order to have food, the hunters tried to help themselves through signs, they called on luck. For example, drawings of animals on rocks served as such a call, and then these drawings were struck by a spear - this was a kind of symbol of the successful result of the hunt.

Advice

Since those times, rituals such as burial and burial of a person began to emerge. It was recommended to place weapons and flowers in the grave of the deceased, as well as those items that were present in the everyday life of the deceased. It was believed that all the rituals performed during the burial of the deceased were a kind of action that is a connecting link between a person and other world, where he goes after death.

Witchcraft in real world

Later, in order to carry out all these rituals, a special person was chosen in the tribe. Such people were called magicians and sorcerers. They not only performed all the necessary actions themselves, but also tried to teach others to do all this. It was believed that these people had some kind of special power, that these people were not of this world. As for the rituals of the Slavic, as well as other peoples, there is a high probability that these rituals will not coincide, because Peoples have their own individual specific features. This is not surprising, because each of these peoples is unique.

Religious rites and rituals: then and now

Over time, all rituals were modernized, acquired new features, and became more complex. People have new ideas and methods of asking the gods for what they really want to receive. Today we can safely say that all religions have their own arsenal of rituals and ceremonies that are daily in nature (for example, prayer), and some may be calendar in nature (for example, rituals performed at Christmas). There are also individual rituals. This includes baptism.

How should you pray?

What happened before, what now a person can pray not only alone, but also come to church, where other people also pray. Previously, every person in his home had a place for a kind of altar, where it was necessary to pray, as well as perform religious acts.

In Siberia, from ancient times, there were tribes of the peoples of the north who had their own shamans. So these shamans were mainly engaged in rituals and ceremonies, and nothing else. As legends say, the shaman was chosen not by the tribes themselves, but by the spirits. The person who was supposed to become a shaman went into another world, he was dismantled in more than a few parts, then put back together, but in a new quality. Such a person had the ability to walk between worlds. A shaman could easily cure a person and protect him energetically. The shaman also had the power to influence the weather. As a rule, all shamans used music during their rituals. The music was the ringing of a tambourine. It is a remarkable fact that in Buryatia and a number of other northern peoples who still preserve their culture, there are also still shamans. These shamans truly have unique abilities. They have the power to place a curse on a person, as well as remove it. Shamans can even predict fate.

Conclusion:

As already mentioned, each nation has its own culture, traditions, rituals and customs. Even in the same territory, several cultural groups can live, between which their customs and rituals will also differ. Moreover, some peoples were able to carry their traditions, rituals, etc. from ancient times to the present day, and this is very valuable, because these are the roots of a person, his history. Every nation should try to preserve and carry through generations this interesting and useful knowledge. They must be passed on to their children, grandchildren, and descendants. Even if they change slightly over time, nevertheless, they will reach descendants.

World cults and rituals. The power and strength of the ancients Matyukhina Yulia Alekseevna

Religious rites and rituals

Religious rites and rituals

At the dawn of mankind, all peoples were pagans: they believed in the powers of the spirits of nature, worshiped them, sacrificed animals and even people. The first religious rituals appeared already in the Stone Age, when priests or wise men performed cults and led the process of sacrifices and prayers. Later, Buddhist brahmins performed religious rituals on the lands of Hindustan, and a few centuries later the first Christians and Muslims appeared, and religious rituals acquired a completely new meaning - they contained a symbol of worship of the one God. Since then, over the course of many centuries, people have changed, the names of states have changed, even the climate on our planet has changed, but religious rituals - one of the most conservative phenomena on earth - are performed as before. Instead of ancient wise men, sorcerers and priests, priests conduct church rituals, and instead of pagan temples, temples, mosques, and cathedrals serve as venues for rituals.

The main goal of a religious ritual is to convey prayers to the one God, faith in Whom helps many generations of people to live on Earth. Ritual objects - icons, candles, censers, crosses - help in performing rituals and therefore have such great sacred significance.

Rituals of modern Hinduism

The rituals of Hinduism have changed significantly over the centuries, as has the religion itself. The basis of Hinduism is the belief in the connection of man with secret forces. The rituals of this religion were in close connection with the world of stars, with the periods of full and new moons, with changes in nature. Like other ancient religions, Hinduism had many rituals aimed at establishing a closer connection between man and the forces of nature. The features of ancient Hindu rituals are recorded in works of ancient literature - the Vedas and Upanishads, dating back more than 2.5 thousand years. According to the Vedas, the ancient priest, the Aryan, sacrificed an animal to appease the deity. The sacrifice was performed using fire, sacred to the Hindus.

Nowadays, gifts are brought to the Hindu deity, puja, in the form of wreaths of flowers and fruits, incense sticks, delicious dishes. Services are held near the image of the deity, ritual songs and dances are held.

For almost 3 thousand years, rituals have been performed by Brahmin priests; their role in Indian society is quite large. Even common household rituals among Hindus are performed with the desirable participation of a priest called a purohita. To this day, India still has a caste of untouchables who do not have the right to go to temples and invite priests home. IN last years The movement of untouchables for their rights, primarily for permission to participate in religious life, intensified. Many Hindus from the untouchable caste perform rituals according to the ancient Vedas, when there was no strict division into castes and, accordingly, prohibitions on performing rituals.

Buddhism and its rituals in the modern world

Buddhism, unlike most other religions, has never had a church organization or centralized government. Buddhists are united in one thing: they preserve three basic values ​​- Buddha, dharma and sangha. At the same time, Buddha is a special being who has reached the heights of possible life on earth; dharma - the law discovered by Buddha and explaining everything that happens around; sangha is a community of equals.

Currently, in many Asian countries and in Russia (Kalmykia, regions near Mongolia), Buddhism is preached, although in very different forms and manifestations. Thus, the most exotic secular rituals take place in Japan, and in the rest of Asia, Buddhism is widespread in numerous monasteries.

In 1956, in the year of celebrating the 2500th anniversary of Buddhism, Indian Minister of Justice B. R. Ambedkar called on Indians of the untouchable caste to preach Buddhism, which does not recognize caste in principle. In one day, more than 500 people converted to Buddhism, and the minister was declared a bodhisattva after his death. Many people began to preach Buddhism in the following years, and the Indian government allocated sums of money for the development of Buddhist institutes.

In Burma at the end of the twentieth century. there were about 25 thousand monasteries and temples. Very often, people become Buddhist monks for a period of time, for example, 2–3 months. Having entered the sangha, monks clearly perform all rituals (mainly meditation) and perform all spiritual practices. It is believed that in this way a person earns a special merit for himself, a lunya, which will help later produce a happy reincarnation. More than 80% of Burma's population are practicing Buddhists.

Tibet is famous for its monasteries with secret rituals and traditions. Until the middle of the twentieth century. Every family in Tibet sent one (and sometimes two) sons to become monks; every seventh resident was a monk in Tibetan society.

In China, several Buddhist monasteries of a unique direction have survived to this day - the rituals in them combine Buddhist meditation with shamanic rituals.

All Buddhists shave their heads bald, wear special clothes and most often observe the laws of celibacy.

Easter

The great Christian holiday, which has roots in the pagan past of our people, is one of the most beloved holidays of the year. Throughout Easter week, Christians prepare special dishes, paint eggs, visit and receive guests, glorifying the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The ancient Slavs, like many other peoples of the world, many centuries ago revered egg as a sacred object, often making it a fetish and offering it as a gift to deities. The egg contains the eternal mystery of the continuation of life.

With the advent of Christianity in Rus', a red-painted egg as a symbol of new life, a sign of the sun, became the main attribute of Easter, the great spring holiday. Millions of people around the world exchange colored eggs, not thinking about the mysterious symbolism of the egg, but attributing this tradition to late Christian ones.

Among the Eastern Slavs, Easter cakes are an integral attribute of Easter, which are a symbol of ancient breads brought as a gift. pagan gods. Long before the adoption of Christianity, the Slavs baked tall breads from coarse flour and sour milk in ancient ovens, decorated them with fruits and took them to the temple during the most important rituals. Later, this tradition of gift-giving was adopted and reworked by the Christian Church, and now all believers consecrate Easter cakes in churches, like other Easter dishes.

For example Happy Easter the process of transformation of ancient pagan cults into Christian cults is clearly visible. This process also affected other Russian holidays: Christmastide, Ivan Kupala, Elijah's Day, Parent's Day and many others. The Christian Church, having only slightly modified ancient religious customs, erected in their place its own rituals, which are quite understandable to believers, since they are built on traditional Russian beliefs.