Some of the Passover Seder traditions are occurring through Zoom this year. A historian of the Bible explains how ancient Israelites changed the ways of their worship.
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Articles on Rituals
Displaying 61 - 80 of 84 articles
As the coronavirus spreads and life comes to a standstill, people are coming up with a host of rituals to maintain a sense of order and human connection.
The Greeks treated their city-states like bodies. To protect them from disasters, it was the poor that were often sacrificed.
Islamic law requires Muslims to ritually clean their body before praying. This guidance has particular relevance at a time when hand-washing is important to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Historically, indigenous people celebrated a girl’s transition to womanhood with a year-long ritual. Many such ritual practices were made ‘illegal’ by the US and Canadian governments.
The curious history of a ritual meant to ward off bad luck.
The Jewish coming-of-age ritual of bar mitzvah evolved to its current form during the time of Enlightenment, when Jewish families feared losing their traditions.
Holiday movies offer us a glimpse into how the world is could be, often in sharp contrast to our lives as they are. In that way, the annual act of viewing them is like a religious ritual.
Up to 10% of deceased people in big cities get no burial ceremony, in many cases because they requested it.
Voodoo is often seen as a practice involving magic. In Haiti, Voodoo is a religion born out of the struggle of slaves. And today, it is used as a form of healing and protection.
The Viking Age but not as you know it.
For indigenous peoples, winter solstice has been a time to honor their ancient sun deity. Their rituals reveal a deep understanding of the natural world.
An expert explains why the Jewish practice of abstaining from food on Yom Kippur is so out of step with the rest of Jewish tradition.
An expert argues our connection with these figures is longstanding. They are embedded in our myths and help us explore deeper questions about being human.
Despite the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, passed by the US Congress 40 years ago, Native Americans still struggle to protect public lands where they practice their religions.
Throughout Catholic history, miracles have been attributed to Virgin Mary’s power. She is understood to cry not only over the sins of the world, but over the pain she experienced in her earthly life.
How did civilization emerge from small groups of hunter-gatherers? Some archaeologists focus on cooperation as the vital ingredient – and find evidence for it in the form of feast-related artifacts.
Forty years ago, the Mormon church reversed restrictions on its members of African-American descent. Today, the church wants to celebrate the value of its diversity.
Remembrance days and memorials provide people the opportunity to share stories with a community. An expert explains how that can make a difference.
Ritual feasting emerged around the time humans were beginning to farm. It came to play an important role in societal bonding, much as it does today.
Top contributors
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Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
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Associate Professor of Anthropology and Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut
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Professor of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies, University of Colorado Boulder
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Affliated Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University
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Lecturer in Religious Studies, University of Tennessee
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Visiting Lecturer in Anthropology, Wellesley College
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Professor and Chair of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis, University of Southern California
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Professor of Religious Studies and Cinema and Media Studies, by special appointment, Hamilton College
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University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University
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Professor of Anthropology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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Professor of Classical Studies, Brandeis University
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Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies, Texas State University
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Professor of Public Theology and Director of The Bernardin Center, Catholic Theological Union
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Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross
