Summary of Frits Staal “The Meaninglessness of Ritual”

Staal’s theory is that rituals have no meaning. I personally can’t see anyone buying into this theory unless someone is an atheist. He states that our rituals aren’t linked to the spiritual at all, but I disagree. I’m not super religious, but I come from a Jewish father and Catholic mother and committed rituals for both faiths. Personally I feel something when I’m in a temple or church or lighting candles and reciting the prayer on Hanukah. In any case Staal argues that we commit ritual to form a community. When people pray or do another ritual they are forming a bond. He argues this is the only meaning behind ritual. This I don’t agree with, but I see his argument for someone that doesn’t believe in a higher power

~ by bmill1 on April 29, 2008.