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Do you believe that the rituals of other faiths have power?

post #1 of 45
4/12/04 at 10:00pm
Thread Starter 
This sort of came up in the mormon baptism thread and I would like to hear the thoughts of others without derailing that thread. So, do you believe that rituals and sacraments and such in other faiths have power? Even over those who are not adherents/believers? Is your answer different depending on how closely related the other religion is to yours? Do you think they are as real and powerful as your own faiths rituals or less so in some way?

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post #2 of 45
4/12/04 at 10:07pm
I think of this all the time. Some rituals-yes, others, no. That's just me. I agree with Sylvia Browne when she says that there is much "power" in many traditions. Her books break it own well, I am not so good at that....

DH and I argue about this, he has a complex that HIS beliefs/rituals are stronger than mine (and most others). It is freakin' annoying..........
post #3 of 45
4/12/04 at 10:30pm
I don't think rituals of any faith (my own denomination included) have any particular power. In fact, I dislike ritual a great deal--it seems like children playing dress-up or something to me.

Although raised RC, I was formerly a Quaker, but we go to a UMC church now for logistical reasons. I have found unprogrammed Quaker meetings, which are devoid of ritual, to be way more powerful than any other service I have ever attended.

I do believe that prayer has power, but that's a different question.
post #4 of 45
4/12/04 at 10:54pm
I don't think so. I don't think anything can be "done" to my soul by anyone else without my permission.
post #5 of 45
4/12/04 at 11:32pm
I do not think it will affect my soul... because i believe in reincarnation... so as my daughter puts it.. "after a short vacation we come back down to earth" .... lol... gotta love kids...

i do believe that ritual work can disrupt things within our world.. i cant really think how to say what i mean by this... cuz i am pagan and therefore i would not do any ritual healing or whatever without ur permission as i do not believe its right... and for wiccans its in the Rede.. but i dont classify myself wiccan...


did that make any sense??? :LOL its late...
post #6 of 45
4/12/04 at 11:36pm
Yes, definitely.

I believe all "power" comes from the intent of the observer; it comes from the person's consciousness and helps manifest whatever the person is holding the ritual for/praying for.

I think rituals and prayers are simply a concrete way to streamline and direct our energy to put it to the best possible use.
post #7 of 45
4/12/04 at 11:43pm

Re: Do you believe that the rituals of other faiths have power?

Quote:
Originally posted by kama'aina mama
...So, do you believe that rituals and sacraments and such in other faiths have power? Even over those who are not adherents/believers? ...
I don't know. And because of that, I want to be left alone.
post #8 of 45
4/12/04 at 11:50pm
not something that I've spent a great deal of time thinking about.

But yes I do think that other peoples rituals have power. I think the extent of the power depends.
post #9 of 45
4/13/04 at 12:09am
Quote:
Originally posted by candiland
Yes, definitely.

I believe all "power" comes from the intent of the observer; it comes from the person's consciousness and helps manifest whatever the person is holding the ritual for/praying for.

I think rituals and prayers are simply a concrete way to streamline and direct our energy to put it to the best possible use.

See now thats what i was trying to say....


Candi stole my thoughts :LOL
post #10 of 45
4/13/04 at 12:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by tricia80
Candi stole my thoughts
Wow. Is there a ritual for that?
post #11 of 45
4/13/04 at 12:37am
Quote:
Originally posted by Arduinna
not something that I've spent a great deal of time thinking about.

But yes I do think that other peoples rituals have power. I think the extent of the power depends.
Yeah, I agree with Arduinna.
post #12 of 45
4/13/04 at 12:37am
in a nutshell... i believe that the belief in a ritual or faith gives the ritual or faith power.
post #13 of 45
4/13/04 at 12:38am
Kama----:

oh and ITA with Arduinna!

Peace,
post #14 of 45
4/13/04 at 6:50am
Quote:
Originally posted by klothos
in a nutshell... i believe that the belief in a ritual or faith gives the ritual or faith power.
I agree with this.

Whatever things you believe to be true, or at least capable of happening, they have some power over you. Things you don't believe to be true or capable of happening have little or no hold on you.
post #15 of 45
4/13/04 at 9:41am
moving this thread to Religious Studies for further exploration
post #16 of 45
4/13/04 at 9:56am
I believe there is power whenever people focus their intent.
Rituals are just a way of focusing intent.
There are lots of ways to focus intent.. prayer, meditation, whirling, etc etc etc.

It is not the method that carries power, it is the intent of the participants.

But as one who does work ritual, I totally resent the comment about "children playing dress up."
I love ritual, I find it beautiful, it makes me feel tapped into a deep collective unconsciousness. And I have felt a rippling, spine-tingling power raised when everyone in my circle was focused and united in their intent.

I am no child. And I don't "play dress up" when I do ritual.
You don't respond to ritual.. fine.
That doesn't give you the right to give sneering descriptions of those of us who do.
post #17 of 45
4/13/04 at 10:33am
asherah, if ritual has meaning to you, fine. It does to a lot of people. As I said, I was merely stating how it feels to me. I have been uncomfortable with ritual since I was a child attending RC mass. To ME, it seems awkward, and it is a total turn-off to whatever the service is supposed to accomplish. I'm sure it is important to others. In my church it involves a lot of the more mainline protestant trappings. While I love the group of people I worship with, I find the trappings a total distraction.
post #18 of 45
4/13/04 at 10:34am
Well this is the forum where we can discuss and the Guidelines say:

Quote:
Please do not take it personally when someone questions your own particular faith or belief system or posts an interpretaion or opinion that does not support your belief.
I didn't find anything 'sneering' about EFmom's post whatsoever. In fact, I am glad for this forum so such opinions in discussion can finally happen without the thread pulled off, etc.
post #19 of 45
4/13/04 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally posted by EFmom
I was a child attending RC mass.

Ok im a blonde... what does RC stand for...
post #20 of 45
4/13/04 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally posted by kama'aina mama
Wow. Is there a ritual for that?


Lets ask Candi cuz i think she did one .....:LOL
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