The Politics of Ritual
Published on 14. March 2023
Book
Hardback
232 pages
978-0-691-19891-0 (ISBN)
Description
An illuminating look at the transformative role that rituals play in our political lives
The Politics of Ritual is a major new account of the political power of rituals. In this incisive and wide-ranging book, Molly Farneth argues that rituals are social practices in which people create, maintain, and transform themselves and their societies. Far from mere scripts or mechanical routines, rituals are dynamic activities bound up in processes of continuity and change. Emphasizing the significance of rituals in democratic engagement, Farneth shows how people adapt their rituals to redraw the boundaries of their communities, reallocate goods and power within them, and cultivate the habits of citizenship.
Transforming our understanding of rituals and their vital role in the political conflicts and social movements of our time, The Politics of Ritual examines a broad range of rituals enacted to just and democratic ends, including border Eucharists, candlelight vigils, and rituals of mourning. This timely book makes a persuasive case for an innovative democratic ritual life that can enable people to create and sustain communities that are more just, inclusive, and participatory than those in which they find themselves.
The Politics of Ritual is a major new account of the political power of rituals. In this incisive and wide-ranging book, Molly Farneth argues that rituals are social practices in which people create, maintain, and transform themselves and their societies. Far from mere scripts or mechanical routines, rituals are dynamic activities bound up in processes of continuity and change. Emphasizing the significance of rituals in democratic engagement, Farneth shows how people adapt their rituals to redraw the boundaries of their communities, reallocate goods and power within them, and cultivate the habits of citizenship.
Transforming our understanding of rituals and their vital role in the political conflicts and social movements of our time, The Politics of Ritual examines a broad range of rituals enacted to just and democratic ends, including border Eucharists, candlelight vigils, and rituals of mourning. This timely book makes a persuasive case for an innovative democratic ritual life that can enable people to create and sustain communities that are more just, inclusive, and participatory than those in which they find themselves.
Reviews / Votes
"Winner of the Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion, American Academy of Religion" "A compact and serious academic work. With ten pages of bibliography and extensive footnotes, Farneth offers readers a wide-ranging survey of contemporary thinking on social theory and the nature and history of rituals."---Emily Soloff, The Christian Century "A welcome contribution to ritual studies and to the study of religion and politics by offering a nuanced and compelling account of ritual activities and their public/political role. . . . Farneth's combination of theoretical acuity, lucid writing and argumentation, and frequent use of examples make this text a valuable resource."---Nicholas Buck, Reading Religion "Reading [The Politics of Ritual] has been an inspirational experience. Drawing from examples largely from the U.S., the author's insights into rituals in contemporary politics have practical and realistic implications for people struggling in other parts of the world, which, like the U.S., are unfortunately sinking into a dangerous swamp of ideological polarization and unjust violence. Times like this need brilliant ideas and honest efforts, which I have seen in this work."---Hongcan Deng & Chengjian Li, Religion "Molly Farneth enriches the field of ritual studies by focusing on the progressive political change that can result from intentionally rebellious rituals. . . . [Her] prose is appropriately academic with nuanced analytical sophistication but without pretension or ponderous density."---Laura Strudwick, Nova Religio "Masterfully clear and readable. . . . Farneth opens possibilities for ritual in the present and future."---Jenny Wiley Legath, Journal of the American Academy of ReligionMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
3 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-691-19891-0 (9780691198910)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Molly Farneth
The Politics of Ritual
E-Book
03/2023
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€2.49
Available for download
Person
Molly Farneth is associate professor of religion at Haverford College. She is the author of Hegel's Social Ethics: Religion, Conflict, and Rituals of Reconciliation (Princeton).