tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35248477.post7728500194094115620..comments2024-03-27T14:20:05.905-04:00Comments on Montclair SocioBlog: Sweat Equity and Magical ThinkingJay Livingstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06652075579940313964noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35248477.post-50386240969879656982007-12-06T12:41:00.000-05:002007-12-06T12:41:00.000-05:00Agreed. This week I've been reading Harvey Whiteh...Agreed. This week I've been reading Harvey Whitehouse's "Modes of Religiosity" which is largely about rituals. He describes them as actions that incorporate "elements that lack any adequate technical relevance." So, as you suggest, blowing on the cake is a ritual because it lacks a rational explanation (apart from the need to extinguish the candles - but then why were they lit?) while brushing one's teeth is not because it accomplishes the task of keeping one's teeth clean.<BR/><BR/>Still, it's interesting to consider how all sorts of bona fide rituals appear to have evolved from cleansing practices that surely had rational explanations (and no doubt part of the reason Miner chose hand washing and teeth cleaning as examples).Jim Gibbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00873567518947118323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35248477.post-75656304690677839422007-12-05T21:03:00.000-05:002007-12-05T21:03:00.000-05:00Thanks, Jim. But I think the difference is that t...Thanks, Jim. But I think the difference is that the Nacerima can explain their supposed "ritual" behavior as something that is very rational and not at all ritualistic. Just because Miner can use the anthropological language of ritual to write about brushing teeth or washing hands doesn't mean that these behaviors actually are ritualistic. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, it's pretty hard to see the rationality behind sweaty CDs or breathed-upon cake.Jay Livingstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06652075579940313964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35248477.post-4262054721522477952007-12-04T13:42:00.000-05:002007-12-04T13:42:00.000-05:00Nice post. I think you just provided the sequel t...Nice post. I think you just provided the sequel to Miner's <A HREF="http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html" REL="nofollow">"Body Ritual Among the Nacirema."</A>Jim Gibbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00873567518947118323noreply@blogger.com