Rituals and Religion

Religion

Systems of belief and practices regarding the sacred and the divine.

Magic

Practices aimed at influencing supernatural forces.

Imitative Magic

The principle that like produces like (e.g., voodoo dolls).

Contagious Magic

The belief that objects in contact with a person carry their essence.

Social Functions of Religion

Promotes social cohesion, moral guidance, and explanations of the unknown.

Divination

Seeking knowledge of the future or unknown through supernatural means.

Spirit Possession

A supernatural being taking control of a person's body.

Rite of Passage

A ceremony marking a person's transition between life stages, involving separation, liminality, and incorporation.

Ritual of Inversion

A temporary reversal of social norms, often seen in festivals.

Revitalization Movements

Efforts to create new cultural systems in response to societal stress.

Rite of Intensification

A ritual that strengthens community solidarity, often during crises or harvests.

Multivocality

The ability of rituals or symbols to have different meanings for different people.

Condensation

A single symbol or ritual representing multiple complex ideas.