Meaning Seeking - Interpretation Of Mary Douglas' Grid / Group Cultural Theory

The paper mainly introduces and analyses Mary Douglas' purity and impuritytheory,"Grid/Group" cultural theory, and try to use "Grid/Group" cultural theory,which is as a social style analysis tool, to classify Chinese religion styles.In China, research in Mary Douglas mainly in purity and impurity theory, butvery little in "Grid/Group" cultural theory. So, at the basis of research fruit in and outof China, to introduce and analyse Mary Douglas'"Grid/Group" cultural theory isvery essential.As a Catholic, Mary Douglas has the interest in religion research all the time.Through the analysis of 'Leviticus', Mary Douglas points out that foods in the tabooare those foods breaking classify system inhere, those foods are viewed "evil" anddangerous. At the view of Mary Douglas, the diet rule here is a kind of symbol, it letpeople profoundly experience God's Uniqueness,Purity and perfection. Throughthese rules, Sanctity has concrete manifestation style. Taboo has relativity andstructure. In the opinion of Mary Douglas, Only in concrete cultural mode, and whendeveloping association with the whole social idea structure, taboo has meanings.Taboo's structure outstandingly shows taboo survive in certain structural position, andthis structural position is closely correlated with the social classify system.This is Mary Douglas' purity and impurity theory hereinbefore. This academicresults which come from religion studies, are the basis of "Grid/Group" culturaltheory. In the illumination of structural linguistician Basil Bernstain, Mary Douglasuses "grid" and "group" to classify social style."grid" is some kind of classifysystem's scope and identical association;"group" is the pressure among the membersin the social group."grid" and "group" constitute four social styles, they are high-gridhigh-group social style,high-grid low-group social style,low-grid high-group socialstyle,low-grid low-group social style. In high-grid high group social style, societyimplements powerful social control to person, and society is inclined to highlyritualization. This society can be called "ritualized" society, own quite particularreligious ritual (including witchcraft) to identify the line of different rule ofcosmology, and own abundant and dense symbols, thus make sure the salvation of sinand sacrament ritual. In high-grid low-group social style, group identification andsocial restrict are relatively weak, ritual developed often services to individual's target.This social style includes "Big people" and "adherent" two style. In low-gridhigh-group social style, group identification is high. People think belonging to the group is to gain salvation. This social style emphasizes "us-they" two poles, viewspeople or group that out of any order the can understand as evil. Religious ritual oftenis used as self-purify, often emphasizes "entrancement"' individual narrate, and replaygroup's development. In low-grid low-group social style, and group identification islow, social group's membership is mobilized and retractility, also lacks clearindividual role rule.At the basis of religious style classification that already existed, the paper try touse "grid" and "group" to classify Chinese religious style for the first time."Grid"here mainly means religious groups whether or not share classification system withthe mainstream society, in the other words, they whether or not have the same sense ofworth and cosmology with the society."Group" here mainly means the pressure thatreligious groups exert to believers."Grid" and "group" make four quadrant, fourreligious style. They are high-group high-grid religious style,high-group low-gridreligious style,low-group high-grid religious style,low-group low-grid religious style.In high-group high-grid religious style, religions tend to high ritualize, and individualsare hold in there firmly. This religious style has rich cosmological philosophy, thus tosupport its series of ritual and holding means. Besides, these religions mix thematerial worlds and spirit worlds. In high-group low-grid religious style, religions donot share public classification system with the society. This is an "little group"religious style. In this religious style, the members' group identification is high, andthere is no clear rank classification in one another. The members of this religious styleoften call themselves "us", and call other people who are out of these religious group"they", thus develop duality cosmological mode. In low-group high-grid religiousstyle, religions share public classification system with the society, but theidentification and pressure are low in the inner of the group. This religious stylemostly is "Big people" and "adherent" religious style. In this religious style, peopleadore either immortal or "Big people" who is at a high level. In low-group low-gridreligious style, the members' group identification is low in the inner of the religiousgroup, and the membership is flexible and has highly retractility. In this religious style,there has no uniform ritual rule, although ritual is quite rich in the religious style. Incosmology, in this religious style, the number of the immortal can be added orreduced at will, and that the religion does not worship "Main Immortal" or "Bigpeople" as the religions in the other religious style.Through the trying of the classification of Chinese religious style,"Grid/Group" cultural theory as a theoretical fruit or as an analysis tool, it makes much contribution for the social science community.