Many people practice a religion that includes religious rituals (of many kinds). But why should someone practice a religion? Today we’ll look at what the ancient Confucian philosopher, Xunzi, has to say about why we should practice religious rituals. The focus today is on how religious rituals (including e.g., singing, praying) may contribute to human flourishing, in light of the (putative) fact that human beings oftentimes harm or wrong themselves and each other. How might religious rituals help human beings? After today’s class, you will:
1. Be able to give several examples of religious rituals and how they intersect with religious belief(s).
2. Be able to explain some reasons for why one might practice religious rituals.
3. Be able to appreciate how a theory of human nature supports one’s understanding of the significance of religious rituals for human flourishing.
Consider the following questions, write your responses in your journal, and talk about them with a friend:
1. Describe some everyday rituals that you practice consistently. How do these help or prevent you from getting closer toward flourishing?
2. What evidence is there for the claims that (i) human nature is bad and (ii) human beings need (religious) rituals in order to slowly change them from being bad or doing bad things (in some sense) into being good or doing good things?
3. What rituals do your parents or friends practice? Why do they practice these rituals?