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Human beings, as a part of nature simply reflect nature. Sitting in my garden writing I am struck by the habitual processes of nature. I'm listening to the episodic thud of large green pine cones hitting the ground (we have fifty something large pines in our yard). It's the same at this time every year. Some days walking down the driveway to the car I have to cover my head with my briefcase. A hard green pine cone hitting you from a couple of hundred feet high would be painful! The pugs are engaged in their morning rituals. Jack and Lucy wander round the yard, same direction as yesterday and the day before, sniffing this tree, digging a little here and there. Molly brings a tennis ball to be thrown. Just like yesterday and the day before. The young cardinals, now getting their brilliant red coats fly from the same bush to the next, singing the same song. If nature is so ritualized, it's no wonder we humans are.
Rituals are meaningful. Rituals of personal hygiene make for cleanliness and good relationships. We have cared for youngsters who reach teenage years but who have not developed good toilet habits. To teach a teenager how to wipe their bottom after a "number two" is harder than you think! Much of early parenting is teaching daily rituals to kids.
We use rituals to mark significant life events—births, birthdays, marriages, deaths. Important events need rituals to mark them. The ritual becomes a way marker. When we skip the ritual we are the poorer.
Rituals, too mark the changes in the seasons—festivals, holidays, remembrances. Build a fire. Hold a party. Eat the ritualized foods associated with the season. I'm already looking forward to the "holiday season." (Though I noticed yesterday that the local shopping mall is already decorating for Halloween. Just a little soon, in early August.)
Then there are religious rituals. I'm a fan of religious habits. I like the sameness of language, of smell and taste—the familiarity of ritual. I like vestments. I love Eucharist. I like the words of Daily Office, especially when the readings are short and memorable—not too many words. I like the ritual of movement, of the sign of the cross. I like the smell of old churches. Religious ritual provides a structure to enter into spirituality, to go "through the veil." Religious rituals benefit us.
But the eighth century Jewish prophet Isaiah had an interesting insight. He said that god did not like human religious rituals.
“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”
says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood
of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to worship me,
who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen …"
(New Living Translation)
How do we make sense of that? One thought. Religious ritual is for our benefit and not god's. Religion too often is couched as doing something that will please or appease god—like god needs our rituals or that our rituals change god's mind about us. It is even worse when we think that our religious rituals give us permission to not do other important things—like care for the poor, or help those who need our help. Religious rituals, like all the habits of life, help us give shape to life, make sense of life and keep us rooted. Best not to make them more than they are.
+Ab. Andy