RevDahlia

There's a significant difference between being uncomfortable with science because it challenges your own worldview, and claiming that
Science seeks to provide some measure of certainty about the way things work. (Not the why, but the how.) If that makes you feel icky, that's your issue, not science's.

emotional

I didn't say science was uncertain. After all, I accept science's certain stand about things such as heliocentrism and evolution. But the message of science is that the universe is uncertain, that there is nothing fixed, nothing permanent, nothing lasting. That's the message I so abhor. The sun rising tomorrow is a man's lifetime's certainty, but in the long run it is no more certain than the life of a mayfly.

Mageth

I think rituals may serve more than one purpose. Those listed so far (I may miss some):

- as "an action that will bring a desired result, usually in something that is out of ones control."
- to "provide a sense of purpose"
- to "remind everyone (or a group) that they share a common bond."
- to "help brainwash people and get in the way of critical thinking." (though I think that may be a bit of a severe way to put it).
- to offer comfort (false or not) - e.g. funeral or memorial services, which can be religious (Christian, Pagan, etc.) or non-religious.
- as "patterns that provide certainty." Though I don't think I would put it exactly that way. Perhaps as patterns that illustrate or establish an unchanging aspect of the world in the midst of what is obviously a changing world.

Some others:
- to symbolically "act out" parts of a mythology or legends (e.g. the eucharist or communion service, or the dances and ceremonies seen in Africa, Native America, and Hawaii, for example).
- as teaching tools (see above; acting out to teach, as a form of non-verbal passing down of legends)
- to serve as meditative or contemplative tools. E.g. ritualistic chanting, prayers, songs, breathing etc. The intent here is to draw one's concentration away from distractions and to help one to focus one's attention on something (God, one's own inner consciousness, etc.)

You know, we need some freethinking rituals!!

All sorts of actions can be considered rituals or ritualistic. Regularly sitting down to eat dinner with your family can be a ritual. Regularly meeting for a discussion group, to play cards, or for some other activity may be considered a ritual. For me, flyfishing and solo hiking (especially at night, under the stars) are ritualistic. The Burning Man is a notable ritual that might be considered "freethinking", though I suspect it's more Pagan than freethinking. But it's cool.

RevDahlia

Naw, it's freethinking. I've been going for years. It does seem to attract a lot of pagans, but the central premise of the thing is entirely areligious; participants are supposed to be good to one another, pick up after themselves, make good art and have too much fun, and it's all worth it for its own sake -- there is no "higher purpose," it's just cool. The ephemeral nature of the thing is what clinches it in my mind -- it lasts a very short time, it's wonderful, the fact that it will inevitably end only makes it sweeter. Kinda like life, if one doen't waste one's time jockeying for position in the heaven queue.

As rituals go, it serves my purposes admirably.

(edited to remove a superfluous apostrophe)

Mageth

Well, heck, that's good news, RevDahlia. I've never been, but hope to be able to go someday.

I'd add to my list of personal rituals above, my favorite ritual, a campfire shared among a select group of friends, just one special friend, or even just myself. Cigars or a pipe and a bit of whisky are necessary to complete the ritual.

spacedOut

My favorite ritual is watching MST3K on a Saturday morning

RevDahlia

Campfires are excellent. Whenever I am near one I always think about my Cro-Magnon ancestors and how, all those thousands of years ago, they were enjoying exactly the same activity that I am. Human interconnectedness... a vital component of ritual.

There's a kind of quiet that always descends around a campfire, rare in these frenetic times.

I bet the booze was considerably worse in caveman days, though. mmmmm... Bushmills.... benefit of modern living...