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Sacrifice-Communion Rituals

Professor of Religious Studies. John Carroll University. 11/26/10 ... (e.g., setting table, lighting candles) developed to divert attention from violence. ...

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Sacrifice-Communion Rituals

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    Slide 1:Sacrifice-Communion Rituals

    Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies John Carroll University

    Slide 2:Sacrifice-Communion Rituals

    A type of ritual designed to put participants in direct (even “physical”) contact with Transcendent Object of worship Sharing meal with Deity “You are what you eat” motif Reinforces communal identity, boundaries, ethos Ritual meal is enacted memory (anamnesic) Evoking memory of Primal Event of communion with the Deity Re-presencing the encounter with the Transcendent Reality

    Slide 3:Eating Requires Sacrifice

    Communion with Deity requires death … Literal death of sacrificial victim Metaphorical death of participants who offer the sacrifice Because … All eating requires the death of what is consumed Plucking of grain or vegetables Butchering of animals Crushing of grapes for wine “Eating is aggressive by nature…. The implements required for it could quickly become weapons.” (Margaret Visser) Table etiquette and rituals (e.g., setting table, lighting candles) developed to divert attention from violence.

    (Communion Ritual from The Emerald Forest)

    Slide 4:“You Are What You Eat”

    Slide 5:Sacrifice-Communion Rituals

    Holy Communion Thanksgiving dinner Seder Offering of first fruits

    Slide 6:What Sacrifice Will Be Offered?

    Ancient rituals included explicit slaying of victim Animal Human Vegetable Holocaust: Sacrificial victim is totally consumed by fire Communion: Part of victim burned, “eaten” by the God Part of victim consumed by worshippers

    Presentation of the Gifts, Gaudete Sunday 2007 Historic St Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio

    Slide 7:What Sacrifice Is Offered?

    (Offertory, Gaudete Sunday 2007 at Historic St Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio)

    Slide 8:Making the Offering

    Communion Invitation, Gaudete Sunday 2007 Historic St Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio

    Slide 9:Who May Share the Sacrifice?

    “Lamb of God,” Gaudete Sunday 2007 Historic St Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio

    Slide 10:What Kind of Ritual Is This?

    (Communion Ritual, Gaudete Sunday 2007 at Historic St Peter Church, Cleveland, Ohio)

    Slide 11:“You Are What You Eat”

    Slide 12:Group Discussion Questions

    Have you observed or participated in any of these kinds of rituals? If so, were they religious rites? How could you tell? What did you hope to gain from your participation? What did you gain from it? Why might sacrifice-communion rituals be important to a society? Why might they be important to individuals? Why would they be important to a religious community?

    Slide 13:Class Discussion Questions

    What key symbols do you see in these rituals? What commonalities do you find among all of these rituals? How do the rituals illustrate the beliefs and values of the celebrating community?

    Slide 14:Communion-Sacrifice Rituals

    Delineate and maintain identity of celebrating community Boundary marker: who eats vs. not Reveal and reinforce intrinsic connection between worshippers and Transcendent Object of worship “You are what you eat” Enact communal ethos and commission participants to live it Proclaims that unity with Divine requires death

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