Curious about people's boundaries/views of ritual...

[purplerabbit]

[Poll #1270079]

If you click more than one box, it would be especially nice to leave a comment as to what circumstances change the answer.

Comments

[uncledark.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it's not about the magickal energy, but about the appearance of approval. That is, even if I think the ritual in question is not a spitirual/magickal intent, I might not do it if I don't want to be seen as approving or supporting whatever it's about.

I'm tempted to add "Maybe, if I like the people enough," in cases where I'm not opposed to the intent of the ritual, but simply not actively for it. In which case, I might do it to show support for friends in something important to them. But I would not set aside substantial reservations just to be polite.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

yeah, what he said.

So for instance, I will go to xtian church to make my mom happy. I will try to avoid taking communion while there, if at all possible. If, as happened to me once, this means that an entire row full of people has to climb over me to get out to do their communion... well, that's their problem for not designing the church chair set up better, with aisles. Your assumption of 100% participation is not my problem, if I'm being polite and simply trying to stand aside.

I consider "not partaking" to be more polite than my alternative, which is "partake, but mentally change everything to 'gods and goddesses'" While I can (and have) done this, I think it skirts pretty close to being offensive. And while I may not agree with the xtian religion as I've been taught, I don't have to be offensive towards those who do... as long as they leave me the option to stand out politely. FORCE me, and I WILL make a scene for my right to decline the invitation.

[goldfish42.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I attended a high mass at a Catholic cathedral this past Spring. The Feast of the Eucharist, their holiest and most meaningful ritual. I didn't take communion or participate in the whole feet washing thing, but no one was asking me to and no one was offended. I think that going through the motions with a different intent in my mind would have been disrespectful to the god(s) involved.

It was actually a pretty powerful experience.

[ca-katarina.livejournal.com]

This is one of my two "ditto" comments.