NOTES from the Prof:
Your websites are listed here now in the order that you ranked them in the second part of the assignment. Your grade for the first part of the assignment will be based partly on how your entries were ranked by your peers.
(Duplications were not allowed, but a few of you submitted duplicates. Both reviews are listed, but the first one was the first one turned in; the score for the website follows the second one in those cases.)Ritual Sites: 2004
http://www.noharmm.org/paige.htm
The website, The Ritual of Circumcision by Karen Ericksen Paige was an updated article out of the magazine, Human Nature. Although the article was written in 1976, there is an abundance of factual sites and ideas about the ritualistic practice of circumcision. The website talks in depth about the history of circumcision and the importance of the ritual for different cultures and for different reasons. The information placed on the site is harmoniously brought together by the historical and present view of this ritual. From Egyptians performing the circumcision ritual in 4000 B.C., to tribes using the ritual as a means of economic and social organization, the site gives detailed data on the “whys” of this ancient practice.
Examples of circumcision among religions for rites of passage are given, as well as, the use of the ritual to control masturbation in many societies. Historically and presently, circumcision has become a ritual for many religions, countries, tribes and societies for numerous reasons. The site provides lengthy reasoning to the ritual and the multi- faceted use of the ritual. This site is extremely useful for factual information through the many sources sited and other valid links, helping to make the ritual site believable.
Circumcision rituals have been performed for centuries therefore, opinions and ideas as to it’s meaning or relevance in society are diverse. However, this particular site was an excellent means to find objective material. The site contributes old and new information, as well as, many links to the sources of the site’s information used. I recommend this site as an easy reference for material and objectivity concerning the ritual of circumcision. sb 4.65www.philae.nu/PerAnkh/templepage1.html
The Per-Ankh or The House of life is a website dedicated to the historical information of the Ancient Egyptian religion. This is an informative and detailed website which was created by Nebet Mirjam. In the pages I did not find anything about him only an e-mail for contact. However, he seems to be very knowledgeable on this subject. Every page is very detailed and with a vast amount of information.
The website includes: a list of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses names, historical temple sites and nomes in Upper and Lower Egypt, rituals of Philae, religion, priesthood, festivals, and myths.
I will be writing about The Daily Temple Rituals. The Daily Temple Rituals consist of three different parts; the morning service, the midday ritual, and the evening ritual. First, let me begin with a description of the temple and how sacred it actually was. The cult statue of the Egyptian Religion was kept in the darkest room, a sanctuary; this was enclosed in a building of granite or wood, with double doors which were sealed in order to keep pure the sacred space. The cult statue was arranged to receive the deity, and once the three daily rituals were performed it became the god himself. The most important of these rituals was performed during sunrise this was the morning service. Before dawn the temple was filled with priest and temple servants who prepared offerings of food, drink, and flowers neatly on platters. This was arranged to be pleasing to the main god of the temple.
“At midday and at sundown a somewhat shorter ritual took place. The doors to the shrine were not opened and only the acts performed were those of libations and burning of incense (www.philae.nu/PerAnkh/).” By performing these rituals the god’s presence in the temple was guaranteed. As long as the god was taken care of and pleased he would remain in order to protect the two lands. However, if the god’s were forgotten this meant hard times for Egypt.
This website was extremely informative, I had never studied the Egyptian religion and by surfing this site I was able to gain some knowledge. Although, I could not find the credentials of Nebet Mirjam he seems to have great knowledge on this topic. This site would be fantastic for anyone doing research on Egyptian religions. jb
http://www.philae.nu/PerAnkh/dailyritualPA.html
This webpage is about the ancient Egyptian ritual used to start off the day in a temple. It is an analytical walkthrough of the three daily rituals used to open a temple and keep the gods happy and in the temple throughout the day. This is a good example of the every day rituals involved in an ancient society’s day. Nebet Mirjam is the author, and I trust his website because he lists his sources at the bottom of the page. He seems pretty serious about this topic, going into why and how the rituals were performed. This seems like an anthropological essay rather than a hobbyist’s webpage. Overall, I think this is a very good webpage to visit if you are looking for rituals involved with ancient Egypt. ag 4.29
This is an awesome web site that shows Islamic customs. The main point that is emphasized is on Islamic wedding customs. This web site includes very detailed descriptions on their rituals of engagement and wedding ceremonies. It also has terrific pictures to allow us to really get the feel of their customs and beliefs. The wedding or engagement garments are simply beautiful and full of color. The engagement ceremony last three days and the site describes what is done and what is important in the ritual for each of those days. The community is included and really makes these days very special and unforgettable for the couple. This site also includes Islamic recipes, distinct personal articles, stories of the Qur’an, different Islamic wedding rituals, and it also provides other Islamic links. I believe this web site is different from other web sites because it provides personal accounts and pictures. I believe it will be a great source for students to identify with this beautiful ritual. This information is honorable because the articles are written by prominent figures of the Islamic community. cd-a 4.14
http://www.adf.org/rituals/
The title of this website is Liturgy and Rituals and it is dedicated to the teaching of Indo-European Pagan worship. This site offers a comprehensive view of Paganism by providing a historical perspective, glossaries, articles, definitions and “how to” ritual instruction. There are step-by-step instructions for many rituals (too many to number) that include the elements to be used, the participants necessary to perform them and the procedure(s) to follow.
While this is not an academic site, the organization that runs the website has been in existence for over 18 years and has published a journal for as many years which can be linked to from the main page. There are national as well as international chapters in this organization and contact information for each state can be obtained through the “groups” link. The information is presented in a straightforward and easily understood fashion making it easy for the novice or the researcher seeking to explore the world of Paganism.
This site lists (among others) its purpose for ritual as the means by which to rectify and empower the souls of worshippers, to serve the gods, goddesses and spirits and bless the folk and the land. There is a section on seasonal rites that include rites of passage, personal magical work and the nature of the work. There is also information on clergy training and study programs with links to provide further information if one is so inclined.
Overall this is a very comprehensive site with copious information on Indo-European Paganism, its purpose and practices. idhttp://www.adf.org/rituals/celtic/
This webpage is the official webpage of the Ar nDraiocht Fein: A Druid Fellowship. Specifically, the link is to the main page listing the rituals practiced by the ADF. The rituals are arranged seasonally, starting with Samhain or Halloween, and ending with Lughnassadh, celebrating the end of summer and the coming of fall. From what I’ve seen on the website this would be extremely useful to anyone wanting to know how a Celtic ritual is performed. Some of the links are step-by-step instructions on how to do certain rituals; others include descriptions of why these rituals are performed and what they mean to the ADF. I have never seen a website that holds such detail on the rites performed by modern day druids as this one; it’s almost like a how-to book for people interested in modern day druid rituals. I believe that the information presented on this page is valid because it comes from a webpage with a .org in the URL. These kinds of web pages are almost always valid sites for information. Also, the authors are not talking about something they may have studied or been interested in, they are talking about something they do in their everyday lives, and I think they would be the authority on that. Although the authors practice these rituals, this web page isn’t designed to convert people. It seems like they put together this list or rituals to show everyone who is interested how their religion works, and their descriptions are just that, descriptions. Nowhere in the webpage did I feel like the authors were trying to convince me to join them; they just wanted to let me know what it was they do spiritually. ag 4.09
http://muslim-canada.org/salaat.html
I particularly enjoyed this web site. I know it is an accurate account of the Islamic prayer ritual because it was directly approved to use by the Threshold Society and The Mevlevi Order. Islamic prayer is very particular and unlike most forms of prayers you need to perform a certain action. The name of this form of prayer is called the Salaat. There is different steps that make this prayer important. Before you start your clothes and place of prayer need to be cleaned. If you are a women you need to have your hair covered. You also must be faced toward Mecca and you need to stand upright with your hands to your side. Before you actually begin you must recite a private call to prayer. It includes 11 different steps that is shown descriptively with sketches. Then to complete this prayer you need to say a quiet prayer like The Peace of God and Blessing be with you. I think this web page is very informative because it allows you to picture it in your mind. I believe it is a great way to teach people of other religions to appreciate the Islamic prayer ritual. cd-a 4.08
http://www.gyuto.va.com.au/gyuto/monks/intro.html
The Gyuto Monks--like all Buddhists, including the Dalai Lama--were exiled from Tibet, and currently live in exile in India. They practice many ancient rituals, and their website selects three of their main rituals and prayer activities to discuss. They are: harmonic chanting, sand mandalas, and butter sculpture. The website is a valid and objective one, and could be used for scholarly research. It does not go into history of the monks, only touching upon current practices. The site does not attach a particular viewpoint to it, and so in it's objectivity, it has a serious tone that seems perfectly valid. The website calls the Gyuto Monks as masters of a harmonic chanting. Each monk has the unique capacity to chant in three octaves at once. (Okay, so perhaps that one claim seems a little over-the-top...) Ethnomusicologists have been fascinated by the sound of the monks, comparing it to the resonance of a drum or digeridoo which is reputed to have a transformative effect on the physical as well as emotional body. The chanting is a recitation of the teachings of the Buddha, which form a secret and mysterious pathway to tantric transformation.
The sand mandala has been regarded within Tibetan Buddhism as sacred, and until recently, was rarely seen outside the monasteries. Currently, however, monks go "on tour" to showcase their talents to help globalize the world. Sand mandalas are complex, colored designs of sand, that have remained the same for the past 500 years. The intricate patterns are made from memory, "approaching the task within the framework of ancient ceremonial Tantric ritual." The site goes on to describe the intricate process to which these mandalas are made. After spending many hours creating the beautiful pattern, the monks then carry the sand to the nearest moving water in a ritual procession, where the sand is symbolically scattered to demonstrate life's impermanence.
The last ritual depicted on the website are the butter sculptures which are offerings moulded from butter. These offerings are seen as being central to spiritual development in Tibetan Buddhism. The height of some of the butter sculptures can be as much as thirty feet, and depict everything from Offering Goddesses and butter mandalas, through to flowers, animals and auspicious symbols of Buddhism. Many tools are used in modeling, including wooden needles, hollow bones for making long threads, moulds for leaves and the like and many types of spatulas. Sadly, due to the Chinese destruction of the Tibetan monasteries, most of these traditions have been lost. Only the two Tantric Colleges of Gyuto and Gyume in India have preserved the rituals and ceremonies by constructing displays of offering and passing on their skills to students. In order to pass this information on they fulfill a traditional commitment at the end of each year by traveling to the Dalai Lama's own monastery in Dharamsala to begin creating the butter sculpture display required for the New Year Celebrations. Each year is an opportunity for the younger generation to ask questions and learn under the supervision of an elder. kp 4.02http://www.benjamins.ca/Static/shiva_background.htm
Sitting Shiva:This nine-page, all-encompassing Canadian website is the site of the Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel, a Jewish Memorial Chapel. The word “Shiva” is a derivation of the Hebrew word for seven; Shiva is the seven-day mourning period which takes place after the burial. The website serves as a guide to those about to “sit Shiva”, as well as those who “visit” the Shiva, i.e., visit the home where the seven day mourning period is being observed. During the Shiva, the family of the deceased postpone all worldly activities and direct all attention to the memory and the mourning of the deceased.
The website gives the history of Shiva, going back to the Book of Genesis, cites the importance of the rite within the Jewish Community, and acts as a how-to manual on the process of sitting Shiva for both the immediate family, as well as those who serve as support persons. The traditional meal, “seudat havra’ah”, which consists of hard-boiled eggs and lentils, is also presented. The seudat havra’ah symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, and the immortality of the soul, reaffirming that life continues. It explains the role of the wooden stools, sitting so close to the ground; the recitation of the morning and evening Kaddish (prayer); the burning of the candles. At the end of the Shiva period, it is customary for the mourners to walk around the block. This represents the escorting the soul of the departed and also, for the mourners, a return to the world of the daily living.
The site reminds the reader of the functions of Shiva: psychological, emotional, and communal. It goes through each role and reminds the mourners, the visitors, etc. what each of their roles is. It serves as a reminder that Shiva is not a social occasion,
nor a “catered banquet”, rather an opportunity which provides community support to the bereaved, offers emotional healing, and affords the mourners to remember the life of the person who has died. Shiva is not a private matter; a “proper Shiva” is a communal Shiva.Type: Religious Site
Useful: Serves as a guide to those about to go through the Shiva
Different: Interesting in that it does not come from the actual religion, rather a commercial site, yet guides people through a non-commercial rite of their religion.
Veracity: I felt it had academic integrity. It recommends seeing a Rabbi, if the researcher needs more information.
Objective: Sites Jewish law and history. The only subjective offering was the reminder that sitting Shiva is not a social event
Contribute: I thought it was an excellent page; I ran across no others this thorough and helpful. mh 4.02http://www.smc.qld.edu.au/rituals.htm
This is the big daddy of all ritual web pages from what I’ve seen in my research. On this page alone there is no mention of specific rituals, but it has links to dozens of websites about rituals. It is organized into three parts: Sacred Rituals, Secular Rituals, and New Age and Pagan rituals. This is the web page that anyone could use as a jumping off point for research into specific rituals or rituals of a certain culture. It’s so great because it gives you links to so many different kinds of rituals from so many different cultures, and in turn those links give you even more links to even more rituals from even more cultures. The links on this page are probably good sources of information because it is a .edu website and those have a tendency to hold some very valuable information. It is definitely a scholarly webpage. It’s almost like a mini ritual search engine. I wish this had been my first webpage because I would have used it to find the other two without a doubt. ag 3.96
http://www.buddhistgateway.com/library/rituals/
The web page called Buddhist Gateway serves as another basic web page to give its reader a good overview of the simple rituals of the religion. It describes two important sets of rituals in Buddhism: the rites of passage, and the yearly festivals.
The page is useful for simple information gathering on the simple rituals of a religious group. It defines the rituals (though it does not go into great detail on them). Any seeking quick and easy information on Buddhist ritual has found their place.
The page differs from any other page I’ve found in that it actually gives information on the rituals. Other pages say nothing of the rituals and much about the belief system.
I believe the information is reliable. The page is an essay by Robert C. Lester, a writer who has written countless books on Buddhism. All the books are published through the University of Michigan, so it can be assumed that the university endorses the information. I assume that Mr. Lester is a Buddhist himself, or at least a person who studies it exclusively, being that all his books are on the topic.
Is the page good for academic research? It is a good beginning. There isn’t much to base a scholarly paper on, but it provides a base. rr 3.88http://www.fasote.org/travels/pak/shadi.html
Anatomy of a Pakistani ShadiThis website provides information about the rituals surrounding a typical three-day wedding ceremony in Pakistan. Of course the information is only useful to those who are interested in knowing anything about Pakistani weddings, to others it is a waste of time. When doing this assignment I knew immediately that I wanted to include a website about Pakistani wedding rituals, but unfortunately there aren’t too many sites on that topic; this being the best of what I could find. The reason why I picked this site over others is because it is written from a completely objective standpoint. The writer (in his opening lines) lets his readers know that he is not the right person to describe the rituals surrounding a Pakistan wedding. This is probably also why I think that the website is believable, because it is descriptive and the author has also posted photographs as further evidence that what he is saying is indeed true. There is no official stamp of validity or anything of that sort on this website, but again, since it is written objectively from the view of an onlooker I think it’s safe to say that the information is valid, since it is mostly descriptive. I suppose I can confirm the author’s explanation of a Pakistani wedding since I myself am Pakistani and have attended many weddings and they all generally (more or less) have the same format. The website is as good as any other for academic research because there is nothing “unbelievable” or “shocking” in it – it’s all very typical and goes with what one would expect. It may be more on the fun side rather than serious, but that probably has more to do with the topic at hand than anything else; after all, weddings are festive occasions so it might be inappropriate to write about them so seriously. The author has not provided much information about himself, but it is clear from his writings that he is part of some sort of musical group and that he travels a lot. There may be some customs which are not true to all Pakistani weddings, and there may be some customs which he hasn’t even mentioned because they are associated with a certain area or peoples in Pakistan, but for the most part the author has done a nice job with description and has managed to outline the format of a typical Pakistani wedding in an appropriate fashion. sk 3.86
http://www.soulfulliving.com/personalrituals.htm
Personal Rituals for Soulful Living is a website created by Jane Alexander. She is a UK-based writer on natural health, holistic living and contemporary spirituality. Although there are no sources for this website, Jane Alexander is the author of ten books, granting her more authority than some of the amateur websites. This professional woman has created a site concerning the importance of ritual everyday, every moment and everywhere you go. This site is different from other websites because it is visually stimulating, well written, extremely user friendly and organized. Also, there are a plethora of links concerning ritual and the importance of the subject to one’s metal health.
The contents of the website is clearly written, easy to follow and executed professionally. The website can be seen as a personally viewed site, but backed up with informative and substantial information. An overview of the site shows that the ideologies of the writer focus on the magnitude of rituals for health and happiness. Informative and inspiring the site delves into everyday ritual and all of the miscellaneous times when ritual can be performed.
The main type of rituals the site provides is seen through the importance of ritual being a central part of our lives. This deals with traditional rituals, family rituals, rituals for individuals, rituals concerning others and the necessity of ritual in everyone’s lives. Jane Alexander’s website can be useful for those seeking information on how to incorporate ritual as a means of balance, harmony and purity for one’s soul. The information is posted to help one find any type of ritual, which can benefit them in a small or large manner. It is a useful site for those seeking ideas on how to create a ritual system. It also contributes examples and reasons for particular rituals. For example, rituals about showering, waking up, having a meal or going to sleep are explained in detail for people to try themselves.
The website was written by the author of the book and may not be as objective as a scholar creating a factual and validated website. Nonetheless, the site does give an abundance of ideas for one to integrate ritual into their own lifestyle. Although there are no sources, I was a believer in the author’s ideas and her reasons for her opinions about ritual. sb 3.77http://www.siutao.com/en/ewo/ewo_yinshenjiefu.shtml
I was trying to find a website that primarily broke a ritual down to its simplest form. This site explained the ritual of Yin Shen Jie Fu, which is a Taoist form of worship, from beginning to end including, which materials to use and not use, when and where certain prayers should take place, the placement of certain items, and other ritualistic identities with the Yin Shen Jie Fu. I especially liked the way everything was organized in a recipe like fashion that is easy for anybody to understand. It began with a short introduction on what time of year the ritual is performed and was then broken down to three sections: what you need for preparation, arranging/preparing praying ceremonies, and praying moments.
The site supports other Tao religious information sites, and along with the worship and ritual explanation, it also provides background on the teaching and philosophies, deities, branching and culture of the Tao religion. It also contains a gallery of pictures and community area where there’s a discussion board. It is intended to “become a central place where you can get a lot of information about Tao and its relation.” ra 3.73http://lists.kabissa.org/lists/archives/public/womensrightswatch-nigeria/msg00686.html
New Ritual Replaces Female Genital MutilationThis websites speaks of the terrible rituals in Kenya were they circumcise young girls. A lady speaks about her story and how horrific it was. She states that she still hears the song that they were singing when the ritual ceremony was being performed and how even though she was bleeding and in so much pain, they continued to sing. This ritual that is performed in that country is done in order for the girls to become women. Now because of the terror of this ritual, they have been trying to change how it is done. They are now sending the girls to a week of seclusion where they are taught of the responsibilities of becoming a woman. The rituals are not totally forgotten though, the girls still sing and dance after the speeches have been made. Now, instead of the girls having to go through terrible pain, they have joy and this is how is should be. jm 3.72
http://www.shaadi.com/marriage-rituals-customs/wedding-tamilian.php
Tamil Wedding RitualThis website is about Pre-marriage rituals that occur in the Indian culture, Tamil. The ritual occurs the day before the wedding and its purpose is to make sure the wedding goes smoothly and that the families are happy about the occasion. Both families pray to a bamboo pole. This ritual is called Panda kaal muhurtham. This website goes on about all the rituals that precede the wedding, occur during the union and also after. This is a great website because it gives the name and very good description of each ritual. It also has links to other rituals, Bindi magic and Mahurats. This part of the website is just about the wedding rituals but it is part of a bigger site that has lots of information on all kinds of religions and many more Indian rituals. I would recommend this website for research it is very clear and in-depth. kq 3.61
http://www.fgmnetwork.org/index.php
This is a website that contains a collection of articles and links to other website about male and female circumcision. As I was interested in learning more about the female genital cutting, abbreviated FGC, its history, who are still practicing it, and where, I found this website to be very informative. It is a cross-cultural and cross-religious ritual, practiced by Muslims, Coptic Christians, various indigenous groups, Protestants and Catholic groups. There is information about the different types of FGC, the effects and the justifications for continuing this initiation rite.
Different branches within the UN have pressed the African nations for banning the practice, but have found it difficult to oversee the law and to change the social pressure that still exists. The changes have to come from inside the nations. Some examples of transformations that have been more successful are when the midwives that perform the ritual have been paid a monthly salary for not carrying out the custom, and instead are given new assignments of educating and informing the villages of health care, use of condoms, and disease prevention. Also changing the initiation rite with one that is bloodless has also worked in some areas. The articles are well written, and deal with many sides of this multi-facetted problem. ie 3.6http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/religious-activities&rituals/default.asp
Although this website looks at almost every aspect of the Taoist culture, its ritual section offers many detailed and useful information. The website posts information on rituals, such as procedures, dates certain rituals are
performed, and even what utensils should be used in these rituals. For example, the website offers links to reference articles about fasting rituals, morning rituals,and purification rituals, and how articles such as
swords, seals, plaques, and dresses are utilized in each. Furthermore, different aspects of Taoist ritual are separated and categorized very thoroughly, making it easy to find particular facts.The presentation of the material is clear and informative. What is more, many of the information is directly translated from Taoist texts, which are also given in the website (all of it in chinese). Also, the website gives various links to other databases containing information on Taoist ritual and culture. All in all, this website offers useful and trustworthy information that can be readily accessed and studied. cc 3.59http://w3fp.arizona.edu/mesassoc/Bulletin/markoff.htm
Introduction to Sufi Music and Ritual in TurkeyIrene Markoff of York University has done extensive research of this Islamic mysticism's ritual to bring about a comprehensive report that includes many aspects of the Sufis musical ceremonies. The author gives a brief introduction to the purpose of the ritual practices, saying they transport the seeker on the path of spiritual consciousness that promise spiritual intoxication, unique union and even annihilation in the supreme being. The Sufis have been able to spread the idea of their beliefs through ritualistic traditions of sung poetry, instrumental music, and dance-like movements. Their meditation patterns such as controlled breathing can induce trance and ecstatic states, for which the Whirling Dervishes are most widely known.
The author comments on several different sects of Sufis based in Turkey and their unusual musical ceremonies. For instance, the Sunni brotherhoods such as the Halveti, Rifai, and Kadiri engage in the collective musical dhikr (recollection of God) that was the principal Ottoman dervish ceremony. Divine names are repeated to rhythmic patterns including rhythmic breathing, unique body postures with a variety of motions, hymns and songs of mystical love. This form of worship meditation is done in line or circular formation and passages from the Koran are recited.
The Whirling Dervishes or Mevlevi order of Dervishes in Turkey have elaborately choreographed dance set to traditional compositions played on classical Turkish instruments and sung by a chamber chorus. The ayin focuses on the integration of music, poetry, and dance triggered by movements that increase in speed and intensity. The ayin begins with the whirling dance known as the sema. The dance is partitioned into four sections known as selams, increasing in speed until the last sections where the dervishes slow down as they end the dance.
Another sect known as the Alevis are heterodox and music is performed by those descended from respected holy lineages of religious leaders known as dede. The Alevi’s musical ceremonies not only focus on breathing techniques and ritual dance, but also serve to reinforce social solidarity and correct behavior. The most widespread and important of the Alevis dance are the Dance of the Forty and the Dance of the Cranes, where the movements allude to a shamanistic legacy of the transformation of shamans into birds who take flight.
Overall, this site was a great source of Sufi ritual information, although it centered mostly on musical ritual. Equal attention and care was given to the different Sufi sects, which can be appreciated for an overall survey of the entire tradition. I had known little about the Sufis rituals [except for the whirling of the Dervishes] before coming to this site; now I can safely say that I have a better background and more appreciation for this ancient tradition. kp 3.58http://www.bama.ua.edu/~aast/foot/whatis.htm
I came across this website discussing the meanings and origins of the foot washing ritual. The site explains the origin of this Christian act through the story of Jesus in the latter parts of the book of Matthew. It shows how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, an act that was at the time associated with peasants and servants performing it on the more prestigious. Jesus did this the day before he was to be crucified and instructed his disciples to continue this practice because it was to signify the Christians humble service to God, the church and mankind.
The site further states Jesus’ personal explanation for foot washing from the book of John, and those who currently practice it support the principle that no follower of Christ is “ to set himself above serving any other human being,” as illustrated in Matthew 20:25-28. While some think the act was a symbolic message to be taken more for its metaphorical meaning rather than its literal, the site provides different links from Bible scholars regarding the act and how and where it is performed today. While it does not quite break down the actual performing of the act as good as other sites do for other rituals, it does show its original meaning and the original act. It illustrates sort of the backbone of Jesus’ teachings which uphold the Christian faith. ra 3.58http://www.pass.to/newsletter/take_me_to_the_mikveh.htm
Mikveh:This website offers a view of the mikveh or mikvah: the “ancient” cleansing ritual of Jewish women marking the end of a married woman’s menstrual cycle and her return to sexual relations.
The rediscovery of the mikveh, the “rabbinically commanded” monthly bathing for Jewish women, is the topic of this article. It describes the history and purpose of the ritual, mostly signaling the eligibility of a married woman to re-enter into sexual relations after she has ridded herself of the “impurities.” Rabbinical law is also supplied: married couples are “forbidden to have sexual relations” during the niddah, and for seven days after this period.
Historically the ritual required natural bodies of water be used: ocean water, a stream, rainwater, but today, it is acceptable to use a combination of one of these waters with ordinary well or tap water – in a manner prescribed by a rabbi. While many women of the Jewish faith rejected and dismissed the tradition of the mikveh in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, objecting to what they called the “patriarchal concept of family purity, the ritual did not completely cease. It remained in use among mostly Orthodox Jews. Today we are seeing resurgence in the practice. And while the early feminists saw the mikveh as negative, for many, more recently it has become “naturalistic,” representing a celebration of the life cycle and nature, a full body experience.
The article quotes Elliot Goldstein of the Jewish Cultural Magazine Moment: “Jewish feminists have begun immersing themselves in mikveh waters – for untraditional reasons”. “It felt like someone had dumped my soul into some really good water and then poured it back in. This worked,” stated Danya Ruttenberg, editor of Yentl’s Revenge: The Next Wave of Jewish Feminism. The website cites female rabbis, authors, and modern women extolling the soul-refreshing experience.
And according to the website, the mikveh is servicing a new clientele: men – but for different reasons and not as often. Men have been forming mikveh clubs and meeting weekly or monthly. One practitioner stated that he felt it gave him “heightened
consciousness” and greater focus. It has become somewhat trendy, yet it is obvious that people long for more meaning in life – perhaps through “reinterpretation of tradition.”
This website is a link from a page by the name of “Gantseh Megillah,” Yiddish for a big, long story = The Big Deal, according to the Yiddish glossary on the main page. If I had happened upon the main page first, I would not have been ventured further – it’s too casual and rings too amateur.
Type: Independent
Useful: Informational, more like a definition of mikveh and an overview of its current practice
Different: less formal than most of the sites on Jewish rituals
Veracity: The site has no academic integrity. It does, however, quote a (female) rabbi and male and female authors, but the site is still too casual. Further research is needed.
Objective: Originally I hadn’t thought it was very objective, yet as I read the text more carefully, I feel it was well balance. The word “feminist”, which was used throughout the article, however, has come to present negative connotation and may paint a less than impartial slant on topic.
Contribute: Interesting website, not life-altering for this reader. mh 3.57http://www.jewfaq.org
Judaism 101This website is called Judaism 101. It has tons of information on the Jewish way of living and where Judaism arose from. The entire site is based around an online Judaism Encyclopedia which includes places, things, deeds, words, people and times. This website is set up very well and seems to be a great place to research Judaism. It also discusses hot topics concerning whether Judaism is a race, culture or religion. It also offers a reference section and also ranks most of their material on a basic to advanced level. It discusses many rituals including,
kosher sex, proper diet, treatment of animals and offerings. The author is a woman named Tracey Rich, who is a very well read Jewish woman who has put much research into this site.
This would be an excellent website for research and it seems to be fairly accurate. I highly recommend the use of this website. kq 3.53http://home.uchicago.edu/~krgorden/arch.html
This website deals with Japanese ritural architechture, that is architechture that plays a role in religious ritual. The information is categorized by period of construction and by which faith was responsable for it (Shinto, Bhuddist, etc...). The author of the articles explains the many features of Buildings, shrines, and other architechtural designs and how they relate to spiritual and religious beliefs.The website shows how architechture is more than just a means to an end; that is, buildings are not just places in which to carry out ritual, but
buildings themselves are part of the ritual. Elements like symmetry, alignment with cardinal points, and even color are part of the intricacies of ritual. Hence, architecture becomes an element of ritual. Also, the text
is accompanied with pictures of architectural features mentioned in the text. This website offers an interesting look at the relationship between architecture and ritual. Although it refers to a very specific region and
culture, it does present the view that ritual and the places where ritual take place have a very direct connection. cc 3.44http://rediscoveringritual.com/index.php/friend
This website is about rediscovering rituals in your every day life, from connecting with friends and family, seasonal, to kitchen rituals, and a chance to share your rituals. In the family they bring order and rhythm, especially when you have children. The family dinner can be one, as well as helping out with dinner. They reinforce traditions, express love, link generations and they convey family values without judgment or preaching. These rituals are flexible, as your children grow older they change, new ones are created and the old ones are tossed out. This website is an easy read, telling how to bring in a time and space for appreciation of the small things in everyday life. It helps you to find your own rituals, and to define the importance of them. It’s not a site for research, more for your own inspiration and sharing. ie 3.44
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/MADHAVAN_Ritual.html
This particular site not only provides the basics of the Masonic ritual, it also gives you plenty of history behind Freemasonry and its rituals. The site is actually an essay written by a Mason named Chakravarthy Sampath Madhavan, of the Grand Lodge of India. The section entitled “Evolution of the Ritual” is a pretty thorough explanation of how all their rituals came to be, and how they are done. It goes onto discuss how relevant Masonic ritual is today’s Masonic community. The Teachings and Philosophies of Masonic ritual are discussed in detail, and there is also a section on the its relevance in today’s context.
I would have say I’m not exactly sure if this site would be considered a “religious” site because Freemasonry is not quite a religion. To me it seems most definitely to be more of an informative site because of the obvious title. I think it can be very useful to anyone wanting to learn more about how Masonic ritual is performed, and how it came about. It also discusses its relevance in today’s Masonic community. The author of the essay is a Mason, and obviously has a vast knowledge of his craft and its definition of ritual. Overall, a very informative site for students, both Freemasons and non-Freemasons. I appreciate that it gets straight to the point of the subject, which is a good sign of how valid Chakravarthy Sampath Madhavan’s explanation of the Masonic ritual is. gb 3.42http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/vodou/index.html
This web site is part of the American Museum of Natural History and contains great introductory material on Vodou. From the introduction page one can choose to view information on Haiti, the roots of Vodou, ritual, spirits, and tools of worship. Within each of these pages there are links to even more information. For example when you go into the page with the information on the roots of Vodou, you learn that Vodou is a blend of Catholicism, West African native religion (Fon/Nago), Kongo religion, European mysticism, freemasonry, and Taino religion. Then you can click on all of these to learn how each of these roots of Vodou has been incorporated into Vodou. For example the Taino are the native Indians that where in the Caribbean when Columbus discovered the Americas. When slaves would run away to the mountings they joined the Native Americans there. In the Spirits of Vodou web page you can get information on ten important Vodou Gods as well as visual representation of these sprits. Although much of the information in this web page is introductory, it is still a very useful web site for some one wanting to gain some basic information about Vodou. One of the best things about the site is the images. They have pictures of ritual objects, altars, rituals, and representations of spirits. It is in Vodou’s symbols and images that one can clearly see the blending of Vodou’s root elements. In one altar one can see Catholic saints, Masonic symbols, Native American symbols, and West African symbols. jt 3.33
http://www.missouri.edu/~rsocjoel/rs150/papers/weberw001.html
The Role of the Amish Marriage Ceremony in Reinforcing the Values of Religious Devotion, Simplicity, and Group UnityThis address is a link from a university homepage of a professor of sociology who specializes in the Amish. The web address contains a research paper written for a course at University of Missouri, “The Amish Community", Rural Sociology 150 and Peace Studies 150, wherein students analyze aspects of Amish and Mennonite life and culture.
I need to preface this review with the following: the paper is attributed to no one. There is no author indicated on the paper. This is the only paper I encountered on the professor’s website where this was the case. I have emailed the professor to ask for clarification.
The basic premise of the research of this website is that community is the most integral part of Amish life, outside of relationships with God. The author begins the paper with an historical overview of Amish life, of having been persecuted, of their belief in Romans 12:2, where one is told to be “not conformed to this world” and how the Amish base their lifestyle on this verse. (S)he explains the fundamental things which govern the Amish, citing explicitly that Amish life is bound together by ritual and community. The Amish make sure they are not mistaken as being part of “this world” through their dress, through their refusal to use electricity, and for the shunning the ownership of automobiles, all demonstrative of a simpler way of life.
The marriage ceremony reinforces the values of “simplicity and devotion to religion.” Just as in typical American marriage ceremonies, the couple declares commitment to each other. Yet, in a contrastive view, the Amish do not exchange rings, for jewelry is considered to be unnecessary; the Amish do not need an “external” reminder of the marriage – the marriage is between the couple and God. Instead of the traditional American white dress, an Amish bride makes herself a new “everyday” dress, so that after the ceremony, she may use it again. It is important that simplicity be seen, be unpretentious. This ceremony is about commitment to God, to one’s spouse, to the community. The Amish marriage ceremony has great community importance. Each ceremony is exactly the same: the devotion to religion, the actual service, the passages read, the preacher’s words, the songs and food at the reception. This reinforces group unity. No one ceremony is more ostentatious than another.
“The rituals serve to strengthen the feeling of belonging for each member in the community”. Everyone feels included because they had been persecuted because of their religion, so they remain a tight knit community. The marriage ceremony reinforces everything important to the Amish: devotion, simplicity, community.
Type: Educational
Useful: Informational, serves to educate the non-Amish
Different: Comparable with other sites on Amish life
Veracity: Although not signed (anonymous), I feel it is academically sound. I have sent an email to the professor requesting background on the “anonymity.”
Objective: It appears to be objectively written. It offers a comparative view to the American secular marriage ceremony.
Contribute: This webpage serves to remind us he main three principles of ritual: family, community, self. mh 3.33http://www.asc.upenn.edu/USR/fcm/jaar.htm
This web page contains an article, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion in 1996, titled “Blood Sacrifice and the Nation: Revisiting Civil Religion,” by Carolyn Marvin and David W Ingle. The article deals with nationalism and the necessity of ritual blood sacrifice, war, in order to maintain group unity when the unity of the group is threaten by external or internal forces. In this article they outline the requirements necessary for the ritual to be effective. Although the claims of the article may seem far fetched, if one applies their guidelines and logic to the United States current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the effects of the loss of American lives on American unity and nationalism it will prove to be an insightful analysis of the ritual nature of patriotism in the US since September 11. This web site is unique from other web sites on ritual because it is more theoretical in nature and it demonstrates how something that is not commonly seen as ritual can be a very powerful and effective ritual. Although not every one will agree with the points made in this article it can be fair to say that the information contained within this article is sound for academic research. Not only was the article published in an academic journal, but the website is part of the University of Pennsylvania’s web site. jt 3.27http://rj.org/beritmila/About%20the%20Program.html
Berit Mila means the covenant of circumcision and is the traditional removal of the foreskin. This site provides a step-by-step guide regarding the age old practice of berit mila. It is branched from The Berit Mila Program, which was the first Reform mohelet in that same year. The program was created as an alternative to the classic moyel practices. The site focus’s on Rabbi Lewis Barth, Ph.D., and Dr. David James, two of the program’s founders, vision that a mohalim should do more than just the tasks required of him at a circumcision so they decided to create the program to make the ritual of berit mila a beautiful and relevant ceremony to be appreciated by reformed Jews.
The site explains the program and its causes, equipped with everything from a glossary of terms and links all regarding the berit mila ritual. It differs from other sites because not only does it walk through the ceremonies; it also explains the traditions and its purpose in today’s society through other links where you learn more about reformed Judaism. The data and contents of the page are those of the program, which is conjunct with the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hebrew Union College, and the Union for Reformed Judaism. This makes the site great for academic research because of it’s objective, solid scholar background. ra 3.21http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html
This website is clearly a collective scholarly project. Managed by Fordham University it contains a plethora of information contained in three major source books. The three source books are the Ancient, Medieval and Modern Sourcebooks. The website also contains links to Latin American, European and American history in addition to extensive information on Africa, India and East Asia. There are specific links to Islam, Judaism, women and LGBT issues. There are also substantial references on global issues and science. There are also links to secondary articles on any given subject, “mega” links that provide website that track web resources and “web” links that take the researcher to a site concerned with a specific issue, all of which claim to have serious educational value. This site is replete with newspaper reports, personal memoirs, biblical texts and contemporary narrative accounts as well as legal and political documents making it an excellent resource serious academic inquiry.
Ritual information is provided across religious and geographic lines in a historical context. A search on the word “ritual” produced over 180 entries. From Hindu rituals in India to saint worship in the Catholic tradition there is plenty of information in an easy to read format that includes journals, articles and historical accounts all gathered in a concise fashion making it a very useful and easy to use site. id 3.13www.paganlore.com/
Rites of PassageThis is an interesting website that covers rites of passage--specifically the initiation--from a general perspective that then slowly creeps over to indigenous tribes [mostly African] and then to witchcraft, off of which the site is based (Taken from Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft). The site describes in basic terms what a rite of passage is and how different cultures go about their specific rites and what they symbolize. It goes on to say that all initiation rituals follow the same basic pattern; all include the same basic elements in their rites.
I found the explanation to be very similar to that of the mythologist Joseph Campbell's version of the hero's journey. First comes a separation in which the hero [or here, initiate] begins his training. The next step is the cleansing, which the site says "primitives" might include complete removal of all body hair to be part of the process. And it also includes fasting and sexual abstinence. A symbolic death is the next step which can include such rites as circumcision, tattooing, amputation of a finger or the knocking out of a tooth. Or the death could take the form of a "monster"--perhaps the tribe's totem animal--swallowing the initiate. After the "death" the initiate awaits his new birth in the womb. Within that womb they find great knowledge. Therefore the initiates, by simply being in the womb, will learn New Knowledge. After receiving this knowledge, the site says, the initiate is reborn. Different societies handle this differently. Some African tribes will crawl out from between the legs of the women of the village [of course this is a symbolic rebirth]. Like so many religions [Catholicism: confirmation, nuns, the Pope], he is then given a new name.
The site then goes on to talk very briefly about initiation into witchcraft. It then delves into the topic of self-initiation in which the author [a self-proclaimed witch] expresses her opinion on the matter. This site is a good overview of some symbolic meaning behind rites of passage. It seems that the author has consulted some sources on the matter, such as Campbell or other such knowledgeable persons. [How else would the author know that Van Gennep was a Flemish anthropologist who first labeled rituals {in 1909} such as birth, marriage, and death rites of passage? The core of the article does not seem to fit into its home [Pagan Lore] but it is an interesting read nonetheless. kp 3.07http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/C_Transp/C12_Christian_Rituals.html
This site breaks down the different rituals and meanings of each holiday that is special in the religious aspects. It tells about the rituals put into play for all of these holidays. This is the first website that I have seen that expresses the meaning and importance of each holiday. I think this information is pretty valid, it comes from a priest who is a religion teacher at the University for Calgary studies. There is some good information that can be further researched; the topics they give are very broad. Elizerz Segals is the publisher of this website. de 3.03
http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/exhibit/pdf/feastgodsbrochure.pdf
This website is about Ancient Mesoamerican and Central Andes Feasting ceremonies. This was a ritual performed many years ago. The people would prepare large amounts of food and
offer them to the Gods.These rituals were used as an offer and as a mark of supernatural and historic events. This website it actually about an exibition at the Seattle Art Musem, this is
nice because the website provides pictures of the dishes and such. While feasting rituals are very old, some of then go on even today. Offerings to the newly dead, is seen as a way to
connect them to the ancestors and keeping the spirits fufulled. Along with giving to the gods, people also consumed chocolate, alcohol and also performed blood scarfices in an effort
to honor the gods. I think this website is good for the beginninng of research and for examples but not so much for extensive research. kq 3.0Last year, I took a class called Intercultural Communications in that class I learned about different cultures in the world and rituals they perform, one of the cultures I learned about was Indian culture and Hindu religion. When doing research for this project I came across this website, it is about the rituals performed during a Hindu wedding. Everything I found in this page is true and exact to what I learned in Intercultural Communications. In the class I also watched a video of a typical Hindu wedding and all the rituals I am going to write about were performed.
The Hindu wedding has many customs and traditions, beginning with a pre-wedding ritual called Mehndi. Mehndi which I believe is sort of like Henna is applied to the palms and the feet of the bride a day before her wedding. “The next morning, the bride and groom are anointed with a mixture of sandalwood and turmeric pastes at their homes; this is believed to impart radiance to the skin. The paste is then washed-off with the chanting of Vedic hymns (www.matrimonialsindia.com/help/hindu.php).”Then there are the actual wedding rituals, starting with The Baraat, this is a possession of the groom, his family, his guest and a band of musicians. The possession ends at the entrance of the wedding hall, there they are met and welcomed by the bride’s family. This is followed by Kanya Daan, which is the ritual of the father of the bride pouring out a pious of water. This symbolizes him giving his daughter away to her husband. The Vivaah is then performed which is a word that actually means marriage. The priest ties the end of the groom’s kurta to the bride’s saree, the knot signifies marriage. The couple performs the ritual “phere” by circling the fire seven times making seven wishes that are to be fulfilled during married life. After this the couple is officially married. The married couple then performs the ritual of Mangal Sutra and Suhaag. “These rituals are very eminent in a Hindu marriage. The groom clasps a necklace, bearing the signs of Shiva or Vishnu, to the neck of the bride. The suhaag is the smearing of sindoor on the bride's forehead by the groom (www.matrimonialsindia.com/help/hindu.php).” The wedding is concluded with the blessings of the parents of the groom in a ritual called Aashirwaad. Grihapravesh is a post-wedding ritual performed by a Hindu couple. This is the bride’s first entrance into her new home. The bride enters by crossing the threshold with her right foot first, this is believed to be favorable.
I found this website to be very informative, and for a fact I believe all these rituals performed during a Hindu wedding to be true. This would be a very good website for research if one was to be writing a paper on the different rituals of the Hindu religion. jb 3.0http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/
This web site is a Catholic Encyclopedia where you can get information on Catholic rituals, and ritual objects among other things. This can be a very useful tool for scholarly research if one is aware that this is a Catholic sponsored website and is biased towards Catholicism. Still this is a great resource to find the history and biblical backing for Catholic rituals and ritual objects. jtThe New Advent website is a good source for ritual information on the Catholic belief. This site provides a detailed source for all types of Catholic ritual. The site is actually a Catholic encyclopedia authored by a group of independent scholars.
No other site offers more information on catholic topics, not just ritual. It quotes articles and verses that support the reasoning for the rituals preformed and outline the rituals in detail. The information is scholarly, being that the founders are a group of learned men: Herbermann, Professor of Latin and Librarian of the College of the City of New York, Edward A. Pace, then Professor of Philosophy in the Catholic University, Condé B. Pallen, Editor of the actual works, Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Shahan, then Professor of Church History in the Catholic University, and John J. Wynne, S.J., Editor of The Messenger.
The data is written by a group of catholic scholars, and is therefore biased in that direction. The only problem with ritual research on this site is actually finding the ritual information. There is so much information that one might spend hours trying to find specifically what they are looking for. I gleaned the best results by searching for ‘ceremonies’ in the google search engine at the top of the home page. rr 2.98The Wiccan/Pagan Times is the official name of this website. This is basically a newsletter for the Pagan community. It includes book reviews, essays, editorials, activities, articles, reading lists, a ritual page and articles written by members of the pagan community. A regular feature found in the TWPT is called the Author's corner, which is an article about a popular pagan author. This site is useful when researching the Pagan community. It gives us a good idea of how Pagan's function in their community and their views on their beliefs and customs. Most of the sources and writers of this site are not scholars but mainly outspoken members in the Pagan community. This information shouldn't be used for academic research because most of it are personal views and opinions and not concrete evidence. This newsletter is not written in a serious tone, it is more casual and lighthearted. This site contributes to better understanding of the ideas and beliefs of a Pagan. bv 2.98
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1945/4.html
Customs and Traditions of NWFPThis website provides detailed information about the customs surrounding the Pakhtoon (or Pathan) tribes in the North of Pakistan and in most of Afghanistan (NWFP stands for NorthWest Frontier Province). The website is arranged so that the reader can follow through the unwritten code of “Pakhtoonwali” with the author listing the major aspects of the code with a descripition of what each aspect consists of. Again, the website will only be useful to anyone who is interested in the study of the Pathan peoples of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Nowadays those regions of the world are in the news so much that it may interest people to take a look and see what the people are really like, rather than what CNN suggests. The website is different in the sense that there are no graphics to accompany the text – it is written in a very “to the point” fashion that is typical of Pathan culture. It’s hard for me to explain why the reader should believe everything that is written on the website because some of those ideas seem so far fetched (bloodshed etc.) but anyone who does substantial research (or even looks at history – Afghan/Soviet war) will notice that it is true and that these people really do have an unwritten code of ethics which they abide by fervently. This website is very different to the first website I posted because it is written very seriously – again, I think it has more to do with the subject at hand. Pathans generally take their way of life very seriously and don’t expect any objective view of their lives to consist of humorous aspects. Once again, the author is unknown, but his writing suggests that he is probably a Pathan, which means that the website could be very biased. The only way to prove that the website is valid would be to do some additional research on the Pathan people and see if they really are as honorable as the author suggests. sk 2.95
This site is maintained by R. Jonathan Saks. It contains a great variety of Society & Work, Jewish Issues, Family, Dating, Spirituality, Holidays and a little advertising. Each section contains sub-sections. And there are a lot of similar topics. Most of these subjects are rather interesting. But the level of picturing the material is the level of the ladies' journals. This is practical psychology plus a little, taste of religion. The section “Jewish Literacy” contains articles about the Jewish history, mainly the Greek period. The level is practically the same. In the section There are sites on the subject of how to prevent intermarriage. There is a lot of them. de 2.92
http://www.layogamagazine.com/public_html/issue8/feature/feature.htm
A free bimonthly magazine, called LA Yoga is a moderately exciting site. There are different articles, which one can browse through concerning rituals in our lives. Even though, the author of the article mentions his Jewish background of lighting candles for Chanukah and the implications of that ritual, that is not the main focus. Instead he focuses on the importance of ritual for different individuals life and needs. “Beyond culture, most rituals include practices familiar to yogis such as mantra, prayer and meditation that benefit the individually physiologically and spiritually,” claims the writer Adam Skolnick.
The contents of the website include, his views of ritual pertaining himself, as well as, rituals being an entity of their own to help ‘make the mind more clear.’ Also he includes the daily ritual of yoga for preparation of the day’s challenges and the importance to modern life it holds. Comparisons of the Eastern and Western beliefs of rituals are highlighted, showing the difference of how the two assimilate ritual into their daily lives.
The website provides rituals pertaining to yoga as a daily ritual for your soul, family ritual particularly concerning the importance of repetition and lastly, the ritual one creates for themselves. The extent of writers descriptions are moderate in the article; however, the website in general can be seen as mediocre. There are links to other ritual sites pertaining to yoga in your daily ritual, but they too are meager websites, which do not represent the conception of ritual in a validated manner.
The information on LA Yoga’s website is biased and personal. Yet, it is a source of information about the ideas, weight and significance of yoga in both daily and family ritual. The usefulness of this website is mainly to shed light on becoming more attuned to the idea of daily ritual, whatever that might be. Moreover, I have seen more glamorous websites with better links and resources, but the context is similar to other sites through the notion of daily ritual as a means of appeasing the mind. This is not the best objective website one can gain resources from; however, the site’s personal opinions and ideologies do enhance one’s ideas about the significance of daily ritual.
Adam Skolnick who is a freelance journalist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles wrote the LA Yoga site. This could exemplify why this site is personal and not factual. Lack of sources does not give validity to the text of the site. This bimonthly online magazine contributes to the study of ritual through the writer’s personal opinions and his views about the significance of daily ritual. If one is looking for an accurate and authentic ritual site, one should pass on the “Ritual Matters” website from LA Yoga. sb 2.89http://www.medjugorje.org/info.htm
This web site goes into detail about the pilgrimage to Medjugorje, where people believe is the place where The Virgin Mary appears (the first appearance was dated in 1981). Medjugorje is a city Bosnia-Herzegovina. People travel to this place from all over the world to experience this extraordinary event. It is a place for spiritual enlightenment and self-renewal, and is known to leave a great impact on the people who have the chance to visit. This is a great web site because it teaches people about the history and the belief in Mary, and it provides ways to actually take part in this event. It also goes in dept on the ritual of the holy rosary; it shows all the steps and all the mysteries of the rosary. The web also shows you how to form prayer groups. The web master is Steve Shawl, who directly works with the Medjugorje parish, so it is an accurate source. It gives a lot of insightful articles and will be a good source to inform students doing research. cd-a 2.88
http://linux1.tlc.north.denver.k12.co.us/~gmoreno/gmoreno/Aztec_Religion.html
The web page on Aztec religion is very useful in evaluating the simplest rituals of the ancient Aztec people. Though you cannot glean much information about the specifics of any of these rituals (being that almost all of them are no longer used in modern times), there is a wonderfully general overview of their cultural beliefs and rituals.
This website is different from the other Aztec sites I’ve encountered in that it seems to have a scholarly bent to it. Some of the sections are simply exact repeats from previous sections, and some words are jammed together as if the author typed up the page quickly, but otherwise, the information provided is good. Other sites I’ve seen only say that there was sacrifice in the Aztec belief, but never explain the reasoning behind it. I believe that one cannot understand a ritual until you have sufficient reasoning behind it, and this website goes into great detail.
This website is authored by Dr. Jane S. Day, who claims to be the curator of the Denver Museum of Natural history. I was unable to find any credence to this claim, being that the article was written in 1992. The nature of the information seems sound, though. I believe the site would be good for some preliminary academic research. rr 2.85This website is a run by a guy named Seth, who refers to himself as “The Cult of One.” It is his personal website, which offers information on the Occult, Satanism, and magick, as well as information about his own life and experiences. He has a collection of materials online relating to these subjects, and even offers a way to buy them from Amazon, if you should so desire. It’s setup is very well done, and it appears to be user friendly. The site seems pretty useful for anyone interested in Satanic Rituals because it has a lot of suggested studying materials too that he has created, which he updates frequently.
Although the site refers to the Satanic Bible a lot, I wouldn’t really consider it a “religious” site. I think it’s more of an independent ritual site. Seth, does not seem to preach a lot about his beliefs, especially not with the intention to convert. Instead, he shares his beliefs with those interested in the material and subjects. I see no harm in that. Also, his “proper” use of colors and schemes on the pages are true to what he bases his site on, so I think he’s not just some guy making stuff up.
After reading his rather interesting bio, I found out how and why he has the beliefs he does, and he has plenty of links to books and stuff that will keep you entertained for a while. He has a page on the site that is specifically about his particular practice of Magick ritual. He gives a dictionary definition of ritual at the top of his discussion, which I thought was a fine gesture on his behalf, and he even gives a few examples of simple rituals. To me, this shows that he’s not completely close-minded on the subject.
He describes the three types of Satanic rituals, and he goes on to explain about Satanic Ritual, making the point that it is just like every other ritual, only that you have to “align yourself with the dark side of your personality” to give the ritual its full potential. He makes some comparisons between Satanism, Witchcraft, and “white-light” religions, which I can only assume means Judeo-Christian religions. He ends his discussion with specific steps of his particular ritual practices. Overall, I very informative site. gb 2.85http://www.footballculture.net/index.html
This website is devoted to the rituals and ‘culture’ surrounding English Football. It’s quite a serious topic to an Englishman. It provides insight into the lives of not only the fans, but also the players – and the rituals associated with both parties. Most websites that are concerned with English football are usually about a specific team or player and are full of statistics and analyses of games, but this site is unusual in that it rarely ever speaks of statistics of games, focusing more on fan loyalty and other such subjects. It’s a good site for research/confirmation of validity because it has its own domain first of all! Secondly, it contains information on many different teams from many different countries with many different rituals, so it’s not just a fan site based on a biased opinion. sk 2.83
Music, Ritual, and Magic in American Indian Lacrosse by Thomas Vennum. This page tells the deep role that most players and fans are unaware of. Many ritual practices are linked with lacrosse as well as early believes still held to explain the game's beginnings. This page would be good for anyone who is doing a report on sports or lacrosse; this could give a student good information and ideas for the Super Bowl project because you can compare the sports with each other. The site includes related links, photos, history, publications, etc. What is do different about this webpage is that it includes films/videos and recordings along with books and articles. nt 2.82
This site works as advertising of mohels, and tells a brief description of the ritual itself and preparation for it. On this site you will find letters of the grateful clients, and parents with photos. Their task is to help the reader choose a mohel and order his services. From the biggest point of view to the smallest of interests. de 2.81
http://www.stormwind.com/common/budrit.html
This website describes common rituals in the Judaic, Buddhist, Islamic, Christian and Native American religions. This site gives a brief summary on each religion and it's rituals. Though the information is not in depth it does explain the significant and essential rituals of Juddhism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islamic and Native American Religions. This website is unique because it explains common rituals from a wide range of religions without bias. The contents of this website appear to be veracious and the site is copyrighted therfore further assuring it is not just "the raving of some nut." This would be a good website for academic research because it is sponsored by The Institute for Philosophy, Religion, and the Life Sciences, Inc. and the writings are of serious nature. bv 2.8
http://www.fabrisia.com/
This web site in many ways is like all other web sites on modern day witchcraft. It has herbal, seasonal and lunar lore, a book of shadows with spells and rituals, as well as goddess lore. This web site is not one I would recommend for scholarly research, it would be more for fun or for someone who is interested in Wicca. One thing that was different from other web sites I have seen on Wicca is that it focuses on Italian witchcraft, whereas many of the other websites I have seen on the subject talk about northern European traditions. The one thing I found to be of some scholarly value is that this web site has a copy of Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by Charles G. Leland. This book is a compilation of stories Leland got from Italian Witches in the late 1800’s, about the Goddess Diana, and her daughter Aradia. Within the stories there are rituals, spells and invocations that the witches interviewed claimed to be from the Middle Ages. jt 2.79http://www.friggasweb.org/renewal.html
This is a website containing articles about rituals, traditions and history of the north European heathen beliefs. It has some that I found interesting, because we still celebrate them, such as Walpurgis is the celebration ritual of the coming of spring, but I never thought about where it originates from. There is also one about “Weaving a Ninefold Rite of Life-Renewal”, a how-to-do ritual for turning your life around. The links are interesting, but I’m not sure I would base all my research on this web-site. ie 2.77
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/anxiety/anxieties/5ocd/stopping/stopping_pr04.asp
Add a consequence to your ritual.This website is about bad rituals. It describes that if you have tendency to do something that you would like to change, then you should add a consequence to break the habit. For example, “if you have you worry about whether you have turned the stove off every morning before you leave to work then you should set a consequence of every time you look or think about the knobs you have to take a 30 minute brisk walk when you get home from work.” This website states teaches that not all rituals are good. You can begin to have a bad habit of ritualizing and it teaches how to stop it. Throughout this website there are many different steps that teach about ways to ritualize positively. This specific web address is just one. jm 2.71
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html
This website is clearly a collective scholarly project. Managed by Fordham University it contains a plethora of information contained in three major source books. The three source books are the Ancient, Medieval and Modern Sourcebooks. The website also contains links to Latin American, European and American history in addition to extensive information on Africa, India and East Asia. There are specific links to Islam, Judaism, women and LGBT issues. There are also substantial references on global issues and science. There are also links to secondary articles on any given subject, “mega” links that provide website that track web resources and “web” links that take the researcher to a site concerned with a specific issue, all of which claim to have serious educational value.
This site is replete with newspaper reports, personal memoirs, biblical texts and contemporary narrative accounts as well as legal and political documents making it an excellent resource serious academic inquiry.
Ritual information is provided across religious and geographic lines in a historical context. A search on the word “ritual” produced over 180 entries. From Hindu rituals in India to saint worship in the Catholic tradition there is plenty of information in an easy to read format that includes journals, articles and historical accounts all gathered in a concise fashion making it a very useful and easy to use site. id 2.71
http://216.239.37.104/u/rochester?q=cache:ltUfjOsh1vEJ:www.courses.rochester.edu/muller-
ortega/rel249/lakshmi/+lakshmi&hl=en&ie=UTF-8This website provides information about the benevolent Hindu goddess known as Sri-Lakshmi. This site is produced by two professors at the University of Rochester and is part of a religion class taught at that university.
The website, although not extensive compared to others, details who Sri-Lakshmi is, what she is known for (ritualistically), what her place is in the realm of Hindu dieties and describes five rituals that take place according to the seasons or the worshipper’s particular needs. Each ritual is described in terms of who, what, where and when.
Particular attention is devoted to women’s worship of Sri-Lakshmi linking the rituals that are performed by her followers as being related to the home, the health and the wealth of the worshipper’s family. Men are also followers of Sri-Lakshmi in particular when it comes to time of harvest. id 2.6This website is dedicated to the Study of Love, Karma, Sex and relationship. In the homepage it speaks of Venus the ruler of birth, life, death, time, fate, and love. Since the time of the Romans, Venus has represented sex and all the mysteries and fascinations that come with it. I browsed the website and it seemed very interesting, however a bit phony. The contents of the website included: Astro Readings, Moon Rituals, Monthly Love Spells, and sold all kind of stuff; such as, books, soaps, herbs, spell kits, etc… I furthered my research into Moon Rituals. Each month a ritual is posted on the site for those wanting spiritual advice. This month the ritual was Athena’s Spell of Protection which is an original ritual by Dena L. Moore who happens to be the ritual healer in this site, but more about her later. For February’s ritual, dates are given as the timing for this spell; Dena then goes on to give you a background of Athena the Goddess of War and Wisdom. She is a goddess who is meant to protect us from our enemies and ourselves, Athena also gives us self-confidence and strength. One is then able to go on and purchase Athena’s Spell of Protection for $14.99; this ritual is created by hand and fully charged for the ritual.
The Moon Rituals are very powerful and through the phases of the moon one can ask the universe for aid. A ritual performed during a new moon is a time for endings and new beginnings. These moons help with healing and prosperity. Full moons are a time for love, completeness, or fruitition. Rituals performed during this time bring things that are in darkness into the light. Not surprisingly, Dena also sells ritual kits for the Moon Rituals. In her website Dena Moore states that she has voices from Venus that come to her from “A pillar of light”. In time this pillar of light revealed himself to her as the archangel Metatron. She believes her purpose in life is to help others along their path, and through her ritual guidance or a Moon Oracle reading she can light that path.
Can we believe the information posted on this website? I do not believe so. Then again, someone can buy one of the ritual kits perform the ritual and if it successful we will all believe in Dena’s special powers. However, I am not one to waste my money on such nonsense; and if it is so that Dena has this special power why make one pay for it if she is fulfilling her purpose in life. jb 2.69http://www.saintsalive.com/freemasonry/blue_lodge/blue_lodge_index.htm
Ok, so this is a rather different site. It has links to step by step guidelines for particular Masonic rituals, but the site is made by a group of individuals whose focus is to influence Masons to leave the Masonic Lodge. I thought this might confuse people, but if you don’t know who or what Masons are, then do some research on it. I’m just focusing on their form of ritual. The site is, from what it appears to be, religious in nature, but it does provide the information needed to learn about Masonic ritual. I think this site might be considered one of those “sites that deal with ritual only peripherally”, but it does make the interested mind gain some knowledge of what Masonic ritual is like. gb 2.47
Goes into great detail about the religion in India and the Hindu rituals, such as pregnancy. Ceremonies would be performed to ensure the health of the mother and the child before the baby is even born. The father would part the hair of the mother three times. Charms are given to scare off the evil eye and witches or demons. This is a very interesting site to visit. Could be used to start a report on just about any religion because it includes information about religion, religious rites, rituals, churches, and many more topics. Just about anything you need in religion would be found on this page, and it is simple to use. It also includes religious links and resources. Along with a chat room and a discussion forum, so you can actually get help and opinions from outsiders. This page would be very useful and I would recommend it to anyone that is doing a paper on any of these topics. nt 2.36
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/tammuz69/home/index/wicca/rituals/yule_ritual.html
The Yule Ritual by Elkin VanaeonsThis ritual was written in order to get rid of the old and bring in the new. This specific website gives all the directions and details of how to carry out this ritual. If you are in to rituals, this is the website for you. It teaches all the sayings, tells you how to clean your space, tells what to wear, etc. It even states what to do the next day before you break the circle. This ritual was formed in order to serve the Sun God. Once you become part of the circle, each one in the circle must state their name and where they are from. Once introductions have been made and the priest and priestess have introduced themselves, then the “calling of the quarter” may occur. This is the meat of the ceremony of serving the Sun God. jm 2.29
This webpage has a collection of high quality swords and daggers and more medieval tools for sale. But this site could be used to gather information about weapons used in medieval times, Stone Age, or whatever age. The weapons and tolls includes are apparel, armor, knives, martial arts, and swords, just to name a few. They tell when the weapons and instruments were used, what they were used for, and what type of tool they are. The first known blade fashioned by man came from the Stone Age, created of flint or a similar stone; even in the Stone Age the creator showed pride and decorated the knives to their own unique look. This page goes on and on about not just knifes and swords but also martial arts that include apparel, blow guns, ninja Nunchaku, practice swords, sais, staffs, and throwing stars. It also includes hunting knives and shows pictures of all of the products. nt 1.31
http://www.taima.org/en/shinto.htm
I found this web site particularly interesting. It talks about the importance that hemp plays in religion. Hemp was greatly used in ritual, especially with Japan. “Hemp has an important function in the mythology of Shinto, the “Way of the Gods,” as the ancient indigenous religion of Japan is known. Hemp was used to purify, to drive out evil (exorcism). Hemp seeds were used in Shinto marriage ceremonies. In some ceremonies hemp leaves were burnt as an "invitation to the spirits". Even today there are shinto ceremonies at major shrines such as Ise Jingu in Mie prefecture and other shrines that involve the burning of taima (marijuana).”
“The priests' clothes were made from hemp linen and bell ropes in shrines were made from hemp too. Hemp for bell ropes is still grown in Nagano prefecture today. Several hemp fields are cultivated on Shikoku (one of the four main islands of Japan) to make ceremonial linen clothes for the Imperial family and for Shinto priests.”
Hemp, highly valued in the Japanese culture, was greatly used for Sumo Wresting. “During the sumo ritual of dôyo-iri a yokozuna, the highest ranking sumo wrestler, will ritually cleanse the dôyo (sumo ring) to exorcise evil, wearing a hemp rope weighing several kg around his belly. The choice of material is no coincidence. The reason for it is hemp's association with purity, with driving out evil spirits. One such hemp belt was presented by Japanese prime minister Obuchi to French President Chirac, a sumo fan and, ironically, a staunch supporter of marijuana prohibition.”It also talks about how hemp was used for medicinal purposes, religious, food, fuel, and fibre. Hemp was used in other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Rastafarianism. I really like this site because it’s out of the ordinary. I had no idea that hemp was so useful to other cultures for ritual and religious purposes. ls
http://www.thewaterpage.com/religion.htm
This web isn’t too extensive, but I found it informative. Again, I think this web site is unusual. I never really stop to think of the importance of water used in religion and ritual. The introduction is well written with great insight into the importance of water not only to ritual, but to us human beings. “Water has a central place in the practices and beliefs of many religions for two main reasons. Firstly, water cleanses. Water washes away impurities and pollutants, it can make an object look as good as new and wipe away any signs of previous defilement.” “Water not only purifies objects for ritual use, but can make a person clean, externally or spiritually, ready to come into the presence of his/her focus of worship. Secondly, water is a primary building block of life. Without water there is no life, yet water has the power to destroy as well as to create. We are at the mercy of water just as we are at the mercy of our God or gods. The significance of water manifests itself differently in different religions and beliefs but it is these two qualities of water that underlie its place in our cultures and faiths.” The web site includes various religions such as, Bahai, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Zoroastrianism. As I read over the section on Judaism, the description of the use of water for ritual hand cleansing made sense to me. “In Judaism ritual washing is intended to restore or maintain a state of ritual purity and its origins can be found in the Torah. These ablutions can be washing the hands, the hands and the feet, or total immersion which must done in 'living water', i.e. the sea, a river, a spring or in a mikveh.” From what I can tell, the other descriptions seem to be on point. I don’t know how accurate everything is, but the information came from Water Web Management Ltd 1 Dome Hill, Caterham Surrey CR3 6EE, UK and written by Paula Abrams. ls