Ritual dimension 2 Flashcards
Christian rites of myth
Liturgical calendar recreating Christ’s life cycle
Holy Week observances reenacting passion narrative
Regular worship
incorporating biblical narratives
Eucharist
Central Christian ritual commemorating Last Supper
Consumption of bread and wine as body and blood of Christ
Also called Communion, Lord’s Supper, or Divine Liturgy
Symbols of Eucharist
Bread: Christ’s body broken for believers
Wine: Christ’s blood shed for forgiveness
Shared meal: community unity and eschatological banquet
Transubstantiation
Catholic doctrine that bread and wine physically become Christ’s body and blood
Substance changes while appearances remain the same
Distinguished from consubstantiation and memorial views
Hebrew rites of purification—purpose & means
Restoration to ritual purity after contamination
Methods include water immersion, time passage, and sacrifice
Enables reentry into sacred space and community
Mikvah
Jewish ritual bath for purification
Requires complete immersion in living water
Used for conversion, menstrual purification, and pre-holy day preparation
Christian rite of purification
Baptism as primary purification ritual
Once-for-all initiation rather than repeated purification
Symbolizes dying/rising with Christ and sin removal
Symbolism of baptism
Death and resurrection with Christ
Washing away of sin
Incorporation into body of believers
New birth and new identity
Relationship of temples & idols
Temples housed divine images/idols in ancient Near East
Idols received daily care (feeding, clothing) in temples
Israelite temple unique in lacking divine image
Mis/perceptions of idols as gods
Critics: mere human-made objects of wood/stone
Adherents: physical manifestation/extension of deity’s presence
Theological debates about divine embodiment
Significance of idols/images
Localize divine presence
Focus for worship and offerings
Visible representation of invisible power
Divination
Techniques to discern divine will or future events
Includes dreams, omens, prophecy, and mechanical methods
Present across ancient Near Eastern cultures
Un/acceptable means of divination in Israel
Acceptable: prophets, Urim and Thummim, dreams
Unacceptable: necromancy, astrology, child sacrifice
Distinction based on divine authorization versus human manipulation
Problem with idols/images
Reduction of transcendent deity to material object
Confusion of created thing with creator
Potential for multiple competing cults
