Discuss the role of ritual in the maintenance of social order.
A ritual is a common practice within a particular society or a group of people. Most rituals are symbolic, either religious or associated with a certain tradition. These rituals are repeated over time and are mostly held at specific times of the year, during a certain period of weather or even after certain occurrences such as natural disaster, holidays, childbirth, weddings and even funerals. Lukes describes a ritual as a “rule governed activity of a symbolic character which draws the attention of the participants to objects of thought and feeling which they hold to be of special significance.” (Lukes, 1975, p291). In this assessment I will discuss rituals and their place in society. I will offer discussion and argument on whether society relies on rituals in modern day and conclude with the role of rituals within social order.
Rituals have been an integral part of human society for generations and an influencing factor in societies’ behaviour. Rituals are an expressive, symbolic activity constructed by multiple behaviours which occur in fixed, episodic sequences and tend to repeat over time. Rituals are performed for religious reasons, during social ceremonies, group events, cultural traditions and other such occasions. Rituals are performed similarly year after year, without change and where ever there is a change it is a very gradual process, spanning decades. The agents to change are generally social, cultural, adaptations to changing times or improvements in the society.
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