Analysis of Ritual
An outline of this assessment task can be found on the tab: Outcome 2 Religious Traditions in Australia
After you have chosen a ritual to study, answer as many of these questions as you can an you will have a great deal of material to complete the analysis.
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Analyse the way in which symbols are used to express fundamental beliefs
Analyse the contribution of various liturgical roles
Draw conclusions about the meaning of the ritual as a response to human need
Reflect on experiences of ritual for collective identity
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Analyse the way in which symbols are used to express fundamental beliefs
- What symbols remind people of their God?
- What images of God does the ritual give?
- What beliefs about God are spoken of?
- Are there any ideas about how this God would wish the world to be?
- Are there any images of life beyond this life, of human destiny, in the ritual?
- In what ways do the symbols point to a deeper meaning?
- What symbols are specific or particular to that ritual and that tradition?
- How do the meanings of the symbols bind the people together?
Analyse the contribution of various liturgical roles
- What do people do to show that they are involved in this God's work?
- What parts of the ritual indicate that people belong together?
- How do the leadership roles in the ritual add to the identity of the group?
- What roles in the ritual are a sign of human relationships?
- What qualities are needed for each of the roles in the liturgy?
Draw conclusions about the meaning of the ritual as a response to human need
- Why do people celebrate this ritual?
- What are the basic human needs that the symbols of the ritual point towards?
- What parts of the ritual actually represent a person's desires?
- What does the ritual point to as the source of human happiness?
- What actions in the ritual demonstrate common beliefs?
Reflect on experiences of ritual for collective identity
- What is the significance of the ritual in the life of the religious tradition?
- What is the importance of the ritual for the relationship between the tradition and Australian society
- How does the tradition perceive itself in Australia in the context of this ritual?
- What is it to be an Australian member of the tradition?
- In what parts of the ritual is the community aspect most evident?