Gabrielle Salvador G.

Maiquez BS 145

2014-04119 Prof. de Guzman

Natural Symbols

Symbols are helpful tools in understanding a particular

culture as these imply a certain meaning that only a group of
people could naturally understand. A symbol belongs in a pattern
wherein other symbols are also included. Therefore, a symbol
cannot stand alone because its meaning is only made and could
only be understood through how it is related with the others.
There are various aspects that could affect the symbolic system
such as cultural environments and social structures. Therefore,
comparing symbolic systems across cultures would yield
differences thus a universal symbolic pattern may be impossible.
To illustrate, drinking beer in some countries specifically in
European countries are considered trivial or are part of their
meal therefore they give little importance to it. However, in
other countries, beer drinking is commonly found in social
occasions that symbolizes a bond with other people.

Rituals are symbols that have become desensitizes to people

because it is done frequently that they eventually forget its
importance and becomes a habit. This is most commonly attributed
to religious activities where people forget the meaning of what
they are doing because they have been doing it for a significant
number of years. Thus, the book describes a ritualist as one who
performs external gestures which imply commitment to a particular
set of values, but he is inwardly withdrawn, dried out and
uncommitted.

There are different aspects that could cause the

desensitization of an activity that makes it a ritual. One would
be the aforementioned religious rituals that are frequently
performed not only by the ordinary churchgoers but also the
priests and other religious leaders. Another aspect is found in
the conflict between ritual conformity and rational commitment.
The former being personal commitment without meaning while the
latter provides greater meaning to the lives of people. Time is
also another aspect to be considered. As time goes by, people are
becoming less attuned to religion and the meaning of rituals have
increased such as other Christian religions whose importance lies
on the purity of Gospel and less on religious rituals.

The book also tackled about the Bog Irish which was also
presented in the first chapter. These people strictly adhere to
the Friday abstinence from meat. As mentioned before, these
rituals eventually become meaningless however it is not to be
regarded as completely meaningless. The reason for this is that
in Ireland, it has become an allegiance to a humble home while in
Rome it is considered as a glorious tradition. Therefore, its
main meaning may have disappeared but it still has a meaning to a
group of people. The transition of meaning of these symbols
states that these must have a profound meaning to peoples life.

The Group and Grid is also mentioned in the book. The former
is described as the strength of group bonds while the latter is
the importance of role differences. This Group and Grid is
considered as two-dimensional meaning there are two forces at
work. There are four possibilities of combinations of Group and
Grid namely: weak group and weak grid, strong group and weak
grid, weak group and strong grid, and finally strong group and
strong grid.

The combination of weak group and weak grid has weak bonds
between its members and are influenced by impersonal forces.
Examples of these are university students, pygmies, and the
likes. They do not have much interest in religion or ritual. They
have fatalist tendencies and are apathetic of other people.
Examples of strong group and weak grid are us and them
because they have a strong connection with their group. They see
things as a duality such as good and evil, black and white, etc.
and have a collectivist culture but are different. This leads to
the creation of different groups. Those belonging in weak group
and strong grid are considered as individualists who gives
importance to themselves than on others. Individual capitalists
are the best example and losers in this system would go down to
a weak grid weak group fatalistic system. Lastly. The strong
group strong grid are those who belong in an egalitarian culture
like the European Catholics. They have control of their
surroundings and choices and they value their values and morals.
Because of the similarities in this system, people are very
helpful and they tend to adopt congruent values.

In conclusion, the book was able to clearly teach about the

symbols in our world. About its differences, perceptions on it,
the different aspects that contribute to its changes, and so on.
It made clear how people have different understandings of symbols
based on their culture and how it shifts from a well-respected,
meaningful ritual to a habitual activity with a different
meaning.