GRE®®® issue essay:"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without the

[Atlas]

"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."

I still remember when I was in the primary school, we were required to participate in Flag-hoisting ceremony every Monday. Every time I looked up at the national flag going up the pole slowly, a surge of national pride was felt in my breast. As the statement claims, rituals and ceremonies contribute much to fostering culture attachment, but not always accurately.

To begin with, it cannot be denied that rituals and ceremonies are symbols of cultural belonging and identity. As to people with different backgrounds of families, religions and countries, the peculiar sense of who they are and where they belong can be evoked efficiently by the characteristic of ceremonies, which themselves derive from the diverse culture. When devout Christians are at church, the venerable ceremony of the mass may move them to tears and convince them of the belief in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, as if they have been members in the heaven. Or as I have mentioned at the very beginning, the Flag-hoisting ceremony can boost patriotism as well as a sense of national dignity and self-confidence. That is how rituals and ceremonies help define a culture.

However, reinforcing the sense of cohesion is unlikely to be the only purpose of ceremonies and rituals. While tracing back to the origin of ceremonies, we can even go back to ancient era without written records. The early ceremonies were held for the spiritual belief, and preserving cultural identity is just a side product developed in the process of history. Even now some primitive tribes engage in the ceremonies for original reasons such as expelling evil influences and invoking blessings, rather than cultivating the sense of belongs.

Further, the ceremonies have to be distinguished from pure formalism. It should be clarified in the first place that we hold ceremonies in honor of the significances of culture and history which they imply. If the rituals and ceremonies are reduced to unnecessary and overelaborate formalities without noticing the true meanings, then it will only be boring while leading to decreased efficiency. In the absence of any deep understanding or firm belief in the culture background, ceremonies may be contrary to what they are meant for.

To be conducive to feelings of belongs and affiliation culturally, the rituals and ceremonies are not the only means. In modern companies, the construction of organizational culture is advocated by most management in order to strengthen the centripetal force of staff. However, attenuating formalities are encouraged to enhance working efficiency, as is stated in the preceding paragraph. In such cases, a charismatic leader may play a crucial role in the formation of the cohesive affinity of employees. For example, employees in Apple are likely to be proud of their legendary CEO Steven Jobs, thus keep a strong sense that they are members of the company where Jobs attains his unparalleled success. Perfect management conceptions and systems can motivate employees as well. Perhaps these companies have their distinct ceremonies, but not the primary means by which staff find their culture identity.

To summarize, a culture with a unique heritage is supposed to maintain an outward display by means of ceremonies and rituals. But they have to avoid transforming into meaningless formalities, and sometimes may be unnecessary.

[Kitosdad]

"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."

I still remember when I was in the primary school, we were required to participate in Flag-hoisting ceremony every Monday. Every time I looked up at the national flag going up the pole slowly, a surge of national pride was felt in my breast. As the statement claims, rituals and ceremonies contribute much to fostering culturAL attachment, but not always accurately.

To begin with, it cannot be denied that rituals and ceremonies are symbols of cultural belonging and identity. As to people with different backgrounds of families, religions and countries, the peculiar sense of who they are and where they belong can be evoked efficiently by the characteristic of ceremonies, which themselves derive from the diverse culture. When devout Christians are at church, the venerable ceremony of the mass may move them to tears and convince them of the belief in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, as if they have been members in the heavenS. Or as I have mentioned at the very beginning, the Flag-hoisting ceremony can boost patriotism as well as a sense of national dignity and self-confidence. That is how rituals and ceremonies help define a culture.

However, reinforcing the sense of cohesion is unlikely to be the only purpose of ceremonies and rituals. While tracing back to the origin of ceremonies, we can even go back to ancient eraS without written records. The early ceremonies were held for the spiritual belief, and preserving cultural identity WERE just a side product developed in the process of history. Even now some primitive tribes engage in the ceremonies for original reasons(,) such as expelling evil influences and invoking blessings, rather than cultivating the sense of belongING.

Further, the ceremonies have to be distinguished from pure formalism. It should be clarified in the first place that we hold ceremonies in honoUr of the significances of culture and history which they imply. If the rituals and ceremonies are reduced to unnecessary and over-elaborate formalities without noticing the true meanings, then it will only be boring(,) while leading to decreased efficiency. In the absence of any deep understanding or firm belief in the culture background, ceremonies may be contrary to what they are meant for.

To be conducive to feelings of belongING and affiliation culturally, the rituals and ceremonies are not the only means AVAILABLE. In modern companies, the construction of organizational culture is advocated by most management in order to strengthen the centripetal force of staff. However, attenuating formalities are encouraged to enhance working efficiency, as is stated in the preceding paragraph. In such cases, a charismatic leader may play a crucial role in the formation of the cohesive affinity of employees. For example, employees in Apple are likely to be proud of their legendary CEO Steven Jobs, thus keep a strong sense that they are members of the company where Jobs attains his unparalleled success. Perfect management conceptions and systems can motivate employees as well. Perhaps these companies have their distinct ceremonies, but not the primary means by which staff find their culture identity.

To summarize, a culture with a unique heritage is supposed to maintain an outward display by means of ceremonies and rituals. But they have to avoid transforming into meaningless formalities, and sometimes may be unnecessary.
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Excellent work Atlas. Control your urge in writing too often. Review and improve.

Kitos. 9/10
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Atlas]

Thank you for your advice!