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The Magic of Ritual: Our Need for Liberating Rites That Transform Our Lives and Our Communities
"Driver has persuaded me that ritual ... is our best hope for transformation and innovation. A lovely, original, and hopeful book." --CAROLYN G. HEILBRUN, author of Writing a Woman's Life, Columbia University
"Splendid! [Driver] ties all the dimensions of ritual together eloquently—the aesthetic and the moral, the personal and the communal." --HARVEY COX, Harvard University
"Makes a strong case for ritual's transformative power."
--New Age Journal
"Besides mapping out the limits of ritual, [Driver] examines its style. Drawing on experience in Haiti, Korea, New Guinea, and Japan, he points out that ritual, when alive, is playful (but still serious), dramatic (but not exhibitionist), and magical (provoking self-creation, vital transformation). It transforms tradition while retaining it, transforms us while sustaining basic personality." --PETER A. Y. GUNTER, professor of philosophy, University of North Texas, in The Dallas Morning News
"An erudite and delightful combination of play and scholarship." --CHRISTOPHER VECSEY, Native American Studies, Colgate University
TOM F. DRIVER is Paul Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture at Union Theological Seminary, New York.
"Splendid! [Driver] ties all the dimensions of ritual together eloquently—the aesthetic and the moral, the personal and the communal." --HARVEY COX, Harvard University
"Makes a strong case for ritual's transformative power."
--New Age Journal
"Besides mapping out the limits of ritual, [Driver] examines its style. Drawing on experience in Haiti, Korea, New Guinea, and Japan, he points out that ritual, when alive, is playful (but still serious), dramatic (but not exhibitionist), and magical (provoking self-creation, vital transformation). It transforms tradition while retaining it, transforms us while sustaining basic personality." --PETER A. Y. GUNTER, professor of philosophy, University of North Texas, in The Dallas Morning News
"An erudite and delightful combination of play and scholarship." --CHRISTOPHER VECSEY, Native American Studies, Colgate University
TOM F. DRIVER is Paul Tillich Professor of Theology and Culture at Union Theological Seminary, New York.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 5, 2016
This was an interesting response to the Turner anthropology book on structure and anti-structure as well as an exploration of "ritual fearing" cultures (such as America's white Protestant population) and the role of ritual in society as a way to transform reality in fact and theory. Though I am no Christian, I appreciated Driver's stance on liberation theology and his view of the sacred. I don't see many churches adopting his suggestions towards more lively and improvised services, though--not in the straight-laced, middle class Methodist faith of my upbringing, at least.
September 15, 2018
A fascinating look at the role and power of ritual
January 3, 2009
This book is unfortunately out of print, but the instructor of my "Ritual" course supplied us with the first two chapters.
I was instantly CAPTIVATED.
I, like so many modern individuals, have never really given any thought to ritual (despite a Church-based and therefore ritual-filled upbringing!)
I was immediately captured with a phrase Driver used early on: "human condition." That's when I knew I was reading something I should have read a long time ago! My fascination with myth, the things I write about in "Buffy" ... the very essence of myth is all about the human condition! My last conference presentation even had that phrase in the title: "A Look at the Human Condition: Insight From Glory and Illyria." The human condition is what it's all about! And, somehow, in all this studying I've been doing of myth and the human condition, I overlooked the importance of ritual. I am so excited about taking this class! (The first meeting is this week).
Driver looks at the importance of ritual (even mentioning that, while inherently good, some bad rituals do exist). He talks about ritual boredom in modern society. Just as Campbell teaches us that the myth needs to be current to have an impact, so too does the ritual. If we don't know why we're doing it, we aren't going to get much from it.
In the second chapter, "Ritualizing: The Animals Do It and So Do We," Driver discussion looks at ritual AND ritualizing and how these things move through the generations in both humans and animals. Ritualizing is a way to communicate with animals, foreigners and gods, and is also a term "which emphasizes the making up of behavioral routines, their coming-to-be." Essentially, ritualizing creates ritual, and this is seen in humans and in animals. (Incidentally, I learned the reason dogs spin around before lying on a rug is because it used to serve a purpose for wild dogs). Also, "to ritualize is to acknowledge a kinship with other species. A humane existence requires a mutual commerce with nature, a recognition of the ways we humans belong to other forms of life." Yes, the animals are important!
Anyway, on a final note, Driver discusses the importance of culture in ritual and in human growth... which of course leads me back to my area of "pop culture." And a realization of the "ritualization" of watching television. I see a new paper forming here.... :)
I was instantly CAPTIVATED.
I, like so many modern individuals, have never really given any thought to ritual (despite a Church-based and therefore ritual-filled upbringing!)
I was immediately captured with a phrase Driver used early on: "human condition." That's when I knew I was reading something I should have read a long time ago! My fascination with myth, the things I write about in "Buffy" ... the very essence of myth is all about the human condition! My last conference presentation even had that phrase in the title: "A Look at the Human Condition: Insight From Glory and Illyria." The human condition is what it's all about! And, somehow, in all this studying I've been doing of myth and the human condition, I overlooked the importance of ritual. I am so excited about taking this class! (The first meeting is this week).
Driver looks at the importance of ritual (even mentioning that, while inherently good, some bad rituals do exist). He talks about ritual boredom in modern society. Just as Campbell teaches us that the myth needs to be current to have an impact, so too does the ritual. If we don't know why we're doing it, we aren't going to get much from it.
In the second chapter, "Ritualizing: The Animals Do It and So Do We," Driver discussion looks at ritual AND ritualizing and how these things move through the generations in both humans and animals. Ritualizing is a way to communicate with animals, foreigners and gods, and is also a term "which emphasizes the making up of behavioral routines, their coming-to-be." Essentially, ritualizing creates ritual, and this is seen in humans and in animals. (Incidentally, I learned the reason dogs spin around before lying on a rug is because it used to serve a purpose for wild dogs). Also, "to ritualize is to acknowledge a kinship with other species. A humane existence requires a mutual commerce with nature, a recognition of the ways we humans belong to other forms of life." Yes, the animals are important!
Anyway, on a final note, Driver discusses the importance of culture in ritual and in human growth... which of course leads me back to my area of "pop culture." And a realization of the "ritualization" of watching television. I see a new paper forming here.... :)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews