Religious Research

Religious Research

Ritualization and the Distinction between Rituals and Non-Rituals in Religious Studies

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Seyed Shahabodin Oudi 1
Allahkaram karamipour 2
1 PhD student, Religious Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 Assistant professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2024.377679.2081
Abstract
A major problem in religious studies as an interdisciplinary field is to identify certain actions as rituals in a context. The present article adopts a novel interdisciplinary approach to study how rituals are distinguished from ordinary actions. The approach in question combines several notions of ritual in anthropology, embodiment in gender studies, spatiality in architecture, and intentionality in the cognitive science, which we incorporate within the course of ritualization as what distinguishes rituals from non-rituals. Methodologically speaking, in this research, we take up the descriptive-analytic method to consider the success of certain actions to make themselves recognized as rituals. Studies show that, through ritualization, a ritual space is produced in which certain actions are rendered meaningful through the bodies of those who practice the rituals, in which case they turn from an ordinary action to a ritual action. Finally, we conclude that a main component by which rituals are distinguished from non-rituals and successful rituals are formed is the physical training of those who practice rituals through occasional ritual situations.
Keywords
rituals
ritualization
intentionality
occasional situation
spatiality
religious studies
Subjects
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Religious Research
Volume 12, Issue 23 - Serial Number 23
September 2024
Pages 253-280