Ceremony Versus Radical Decolonialism, Counter-Reformation, Anti-Syncretism, And Ritual
There is a progress for revealed religious systems. This form of study considers antiquated and unreasonable systems as well as new and better systems. Here is a sample of related thought.
All ceremonies, by definition must be flexible, whereas an inflexible ceremony is named / defined as a “Ritual” instead. Nowadays; it is a shared understanding that Ritual is the very lowest form of religion.
Celiac Disease (an extremely serious autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues when exposed to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) has evolved to now include Ocular Celiac [Disease] symptoms. Many indigenous people from Turtle Island (the “Americas”) are deathly allergic to wheat; and, Christian Communion Wafers are made from diabolically modified wheat. Wheat originates in Palestine only, just as the practice of consuming cow milk originates in South Asia. Tangible religious elements must not be expected to exist beyond their natural range and ceremonies must remain fully flexible at the same time. Proof for this is the example of the Celiac having their eyes and vision actively destroyed when exposed to the ambient (aerosolized) Cristian Wheat Ritual known as “Communion”.
The Wusaraambyan Tribe’s Church continues to reject wheat and The Cristian Wheat Ritual as an attack on their culture and they enjoy very Practical Ceremonies instead:
“(…the Church as a whole.) Finally, they decided to cut up pieces of sweet potato as their “bread” and to make a juice from crushed raspberries and water.” -From: First Communion: Sweet potatoes And Raspberry Juice Used For First Wusaraambyan Communion By Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission 1942
Another Tribal Church; The Aetas (earliest known inhabitants of the Philippines) have also adopted this same philosophy [that ceremonies must remain highly flexible] in that:
“Ordinary root crops become a Godly meal" -From: Belong: Indigenizing Holy Communion By Cristine Carnate-Atrero
Syncretism (and Anti-Syncretism) are euphemisms for assimilation and assimilation is a euphemism for Genocide. The syncretism that racist religions fear is in reality only practicality. To reiterate: tangible religious elements must not be expected to exist beyond their natural range.
The antagonists of Flexible Ceremonies (who are also enemies of Practical Cultural Survival) are Radical Decolonialism, Counter-Reformation, Anti-Syncretism, Orthodoxy, Fundamentalism and Ritualism. There are indeed present-day holy people who enjoy The Present Truth; large portions of [new] teachings not found in The Old. This Present Truth, like The Old, is also an eternal purpose and quite possibly superior to The Old.
Radical Decolonialism can ruin most things. The author collects critical online reviews for American Indian Restaurants and saves these to a single document for two reasons; in case these disappear from the internet and to later show society what happens when people are too decolonial too quickly. Programs like American Indian Education in US Public Schools are neither a decolonial project nor are these not a decolonial project. The statement is a paradox because these programs exist at the intersection of a deeply colonial system and vigorous Indigenous resistance and self-determination efforts. They are simultaneously constrained by the dominant system's historical legacy and a site of active Indigenous cultural reclamation and political empowerment, making a simple categorization impossible.
“The real question is not weather a system works, but for whom it works.”
-Joe Slovo (1926-1994), Lithuanian-born South African activist and politician, quoted in obituary in Guardian (London) 7 Jan. 1995.
Examination as to the origins of prejudice usually include two distinct groups: the “In-Group” and the “Out-Group”. A reasonable assumption is that dominate cultures which attempt to define life and religion for everyone represent an “In-Group” of discriminating traditions. It is not necessary to go to The Old for everything. There is a superiority of the ensuing revelation. We do not form doctrine out of personal experience, however, being a holy person does not require converting to older traditions. The place of salvation moves, has moved and may continue to move. The qualifications of holy persons have changed out of necessity and according to the power of an abiding, indestructible life. The Old can be weak and even useless. There is always a bringing in of a better hope.
Addendum
Imagine a Ceremony that is so flexible, informal and adaptable that it is not even convoked nor performed. Now Imagine a prayer so flexible that it is not even prayed.
Ceremonies exist as an Observable Event of intercession, a bridge to meet practical and spiritual needs, within a void of responsibility or vulnerability, however, the focus must always be on The People Present or involved. Thinking and feeling outside the conventional definition of a "Ceremony" allows more consideration for The People Present or involved and for entirely internal or spontaneous actions as well.
A continuous state of being within grace and consistent integrity, without legal or formal constraints is part of The Ojibwa Way; The Way Of The Heart.
The ability to adapt is valuable but not infinite. There is a gap between a perfect concept of flexibility and the inherent limitations of The Real World. It is within this gap that most ceremonies and prayers find place.
Of course, Ceremonies can be evil. The act of a modern workplace manager forcing a subordinate employee to sign-off on a document listing of clear expectations is a fantastically Evil Ceremony and practice whereas this is a perfect example of Situational Integrity. Situational Integrity is considered the opposite of real, consistent integrity and is thus hypocritical, oxymoronic and evil.
A Treaty Ceremony can be evil when this results in bad faith, injustice to the vulnerable, perception of superiority and the real-world consequences of broken treaties leading to the deprivation of basic human needs, poor infrastructure, and a lack of essential services for the affected communities.
Ceremonies where individuals are coerced, manipulated, or subjected to trauma without informed consent can be perceived as evil due to the violation of Personal Autonomy.
Indoctrination Ceremonies used as a formal process for inducting members into oppressive systems can be considered psychologically damaging.
The phrase "a prayer so flexible it isn't even prayed" points towards the idea of living in a constant state of connection, mindfulness, and surrender to a higher power, rather than relying on formal, spoken requests. Living a mindful life and being fully present in each moment can be seen as a form of non-verbal prayer or meditation, where simply existing with awareness is a Spiritual Act. Substance Use Disorder prevents people from bringing their full authentic self, authentic presence, and authentic awareness to existence (Life).
"Pray Without Ceasing" is often interpreted not as a command to constantly recite words, but to maintain a continuous awareness of The Creator’s Presence throughout daily activities
The Creator’s Spirit praying through us, for us is an internal, spiritual process that transcends human articulation (words). Think: “groanings too deep for words," especially during times of weakness, suffering, or when struggling to find the right words. It is considered a heartfelt, authentic prayer that can be a more direct communication with The Creator than spoken words. People unfamiliar with the “proper” ritual or words can pray this way.
Groaning can be a way to express feelings that are too tense or complex for words, such as grief, longing, or struggle. The Creator’s Spirit, within a higher dimension of prayer, interprets and prays through these groans, acting as an intercessor for the believer. This means that even if the prayer is just a series of sounds, it is understood by The Creator. The idea of groaning extends beyond personal prayer to encompass the entire created world, which is seen as "groaning" in anticipation of redemption.
Some sources note that physiological responses like groaning can have benefits, as they engage the nervous system through activities like singing, sighing, or humming.
