Functional Analysis of Religious Ceremonies and Rituals

Religious phenomena are naturally classified in two basic varieties of beliefs and practices (rites and rituals). The beliefs consist of teachings and belong to the field of ideas and thoughts, though exercise is a way of social interaction and is concerned with behavior. Acts are derived from faith and belief. Beliefs are immunized from oblivion by acts. Study of ritual ceremonies, in sociology of religion, is of high importance because they blend with the other elements of social norms and social organizations as well as their relationship with social organizations and institutes. This analysis focuses on the separation between social and cultural functions of ceremonies and religious rites. The study shows that ceremonies and rituals has symbolic, learning, identity and tolerability functions in cultural dimensions and functions of social cohesion, social recreation, regulation and the intergenerational link in social dimension.