Assignment: PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION IN CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
When visiting the CULTURAL EVENT or RELIGIOUS Worship service of another tradition, remember that you are a guest, and you are present through the courtesy of the community. Please attempt to find out any customs or rules of conduct you should observe while you attend. It is best to call beforehand and speak with a leader, monk, pujari, minister, rabbi, priest, imam, etc., to learn what these obligations may be. You may also be able to arrange an interview with this person to gather more information. Pay special attention to rules of dress or decorum.
Please be mindful of any possible conflict you may have with your own tradition. You are not required to do anything that might violate your own beliefs or values. However, a place of worship is not the place to challenge those with whom you may have disagreements. Observe what happens and try later to bring the class into a dialogue about these practices and the underlying beliefs / values. If you cannot in good conscience participate in the ceremony, please choose another place of worship.
PURPOSE OF THE VISIT:
Your main goal is to explore the world of meaning of another tradition as it is expressed in ceremony. To this end, you should observe every possible facet of your environment to find differing perspectives on how that tradition may see the world and our place in it.
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO OBSERVE:
I. SENSUAL ENVIRONMENT
What do you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch while you are participating in this service?
Do some/any of these stands out? Does it appear as if they meant to, and if so, why?
What feelings do you experience/pick up in yourself and in the other participants?
What is the mood in the environment? Does it change at different moments?
When is there silent? Do people close their eyes? When?
When are the senses most active during the service? When do they seemingly "shut off"?
II. SYMBOLIC ENVIRONMENT
What symbol - icons or other special objects - can you observe?
Are the symbols representations of sacred persons, of God/god(s), or of important places or events in the ‘mythos' of this particular religious tradition?
Are they perhaps abstractions or non-representative figures/shapes?
What art forms are employed in this religious celebration of life, i.e. music, sculpture, painting, dance, etc. .
Are there batiks rugs cups, plates, and other artifacts? What role do these play in the environment? Is there a central symbol? Is an underlying myth implied?
How do you know them to be of central importance in this religious celebration of life? What clothing are the leaders of this service wearing? Is the dress symbolic?
What restrictions, if any, were placed in your address? Why? What symbolic gestures or motions do the other participants make?
III. CONCEPTUAL ENVIRONMENT
What texts are read/proclaimed/sung, and by whom? What is the content of the text?
Are prayers recited? What words are spoken, and what language (s) used?
Is the linguistic medium modern or archaic? What was the impact upon you?
How is the ‘original religious experience' of the tradition mediated verbally to the participants in the ritual? Is there a homily/sermon? Who delivers it? What is its content? Is there a spoken dialogue between congregational and leader (if there is a leader)?
What meaning or content does this dialogue have? How and what do the sermon, prayers, music, art, silence, or other means of communication tell you about the worldview of this religious tradition?
IV. HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
Who are designated as important and central people in this religious celebration?
How did they receive this status? How do they function in the overall context of this faith? What role or activities do they have in the worship service? What are their duties/activities outside the activities of the ritual proper? What part does sexuality/gender play in the service? Are men and women separated? Does any gender assume leadership status?
Are the behaviors gender-specific? Who is in the congregation?
What is the racial, ethnic, and class breakdown of the congregation?
How do the leaders act? How do the people in the congregation act, and why?
Does the congregation participate in a spontaneous way or are the proceedings highly ritualized?
How central does ‘community' appear to be in the belief-and-practice system of this religious tradition?