Abstract:
This study discusses key concepts and definitions in the fields of practical theology,
ritual studies and phenomenology with a focus on understanding religion, especially
in South Africa, as an anthropological discourse concerning every facet of life often
with far reaching implications. The study also includes a practical example of this
value and definition of religion through a brief iconographic study of the Amarna
letters, the Akhetaten stelae and religious reform in Egypt during 1390-1352 BCE
and the occurrence of the ‘outstretched hand/arm’ in key texts in Exodus 6:6 and 7:1.
This highlights the social projection theory of religion and its impact on material
religion in the Ancient Near East over time. This serves as part of the precursor
discussion to a more specific focus on two Freemason rituals as expounded by
McDade & Tonkin (2013) in “My Handbook and Rituals”. This is the prescribed
handbook given to members and is used for the training and proper functioning of
the rituals and other Freemason matters of the Irish Constitution of Freemasonry in
South Africa. This study takes an interdisciplinary approach to the question of ritual
and religion in order to bridge the gap between social groups through a holistic
understanding of the ‘others’ symbols drawing on the work and methods of Richard
Osmer, Ronald Grimes and Victor Turner among others. The study also observes
the corporate structure and highlights key developments and identification of the
history of Freemasonry in three parts, namely; legendary, documented and
undocumented history. Through a consideration of the ritual phenomena and
symbolic understanding within the first two ritual degrees of Freemasonry (Entered
Apprentice Degree, Degree of Fellow Craft), aided by a deeper sociological and
psychological understanding of normative social structures, the veil of perceived
secrecy may be lifted. This study may serve as further example of the value of
objective, interdisciplinary research which does not rely on theologically comparative
methods. Rather, a model may be developed by which to better study
phenomenology of religion, rituals and ‘normative’ social structures.
