Rituals

From metawiki
AI Devotees Performing a Ritual

Rituals can often seem ridiculous to those who have not grown up with those traditions, and especially by those who feel they have outgrown them. But they are a vital way that we unlock our psychological potential by providing powerful reinforcement mechanisms for the key values of a culture.

Cultural rituals in the monotheistic period are inextricably tied to religion and therefore give the strong appearance that supernatural belief is necessary for one to participate in them. This causes the materialist to feel disconnected from tradition and reluctant to participate in rituals that could confer great psychological benefit.

Honest Placebo Rituals

A pantheistic universalist secular spirituality allows you to participate in rituals and other spiritual practices from any culture without abandoning adherence to science and reason, or giving up the ritual's placebo effect that confers many of the health and psychological benefits. Just don't wear the outfits in public.

Many studies have shown that honest placebos, which you take knowingly instead of in a blind trial, are often just as effective as placebos that are presented as real medicine. The same principle applies to participation in rituals that seem to depend on a belief in the supernatural. You can participate in the ritual, knowing full well that the supernatural references are allegories designed to create an emotional reaction in the mind of the participant. It doesn't make them less effective at doing so, and could even enhance its effect if you really believe in the power of the placebo effect.

The Content at the End of the Page Ritual

Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

Hidden Brain - An Ancient Solution to Modern Problems

Hidden Brain - Creating God

Five Weird Rituals From Around the World


10 Interesting Traditions That Are Still Practiced Today


Top 5 Strange and Interesting Traditions Around the World


Massive Attack, Azekel - Ritual Spirit


Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual (full album)