The Contradictory Aspect of Malinowski's Analyses of Religious Rites

Abstract

C ONTRADICTORY STRAINS in Malinowski's thought are represented when he acknowledges his indebtedness both to Sir James Frazer and also to Professors C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards. He refers to Frazer as ablest interpreter of all the documents of human tradition and culture.'L He also declares that the scheme proposed by Ogden and Richards answered all my problems and solved all my difficulties.2 These two interpretations are contradictory in their analyses of religious rites. Frazer maintains that religious rites refer beyond and in this sense, they perform referential or instrumental function. Ogden and Richards maintain that religious rites do not refer beyond but are ends in themselves, and in this sense, they are not instrumental, but are purely expressive or emotive. In so far as Malinowski endeavors to analyze religious rites from both points of view, his analyses include an element of inconsistency. This is especially illustrated in the terms he uses to classify rituals, which he believes universal in human cultures.3 He regards sacred rituals (to be distinguished from profane rituals) to be classified as either magic or religion. But as Malinowski uses these terms, the distinctions between the categories of magic and religion become so indistinct as to invalidate the classification itself. He characterizes magic as invariably pragmatic action in speech and ritual.4 He declares that it is a practical art consisting of acts which are only means to definite end, whereas religion is a body of self-contained acts being themselves the fulfillment of their purpose.5 This twofold set of categories is also proposed by Ogden and Richards. They characterize religion as having no concern with . . . directed reference. Since its sole function is emotive or evocative, they maintain that what it does, or should do, is to induce fitting attitude to experience.6 By this they mean that the sole function of language in religion is expressing attitudes, moods, desires, feelings, emotions.7 1 Magic, Science and Religion and other Essays, pp. 18, 37, Free Press, 1948 (Doubleday Anchor Books, 1954) Hereafter referred to MSR. (Italics added). 2 The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages, Supplement I, p. 309, Meaning of Meaning, C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards, Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1948. Hereafter referred to as Supp. (Italics added). 3 Freedom and Civilization, p. 135, Indiana University Press, 1960. Hereafter referred to as FC. 4 Ibid., p. 212. Cf. MSR, p. 70. r MSR, p. 81. 6 Meaning of Meaning, p. 158. Hereafter referred to as MM. 7 Ibid., p. 235.