Catharsis

From Conservapedia

Catharsis (from the Greek kátharsis Κάθαρσις, meaning to purge, cleanse, or purify) refers to the purging or cleansing of one's emotions or relieving emotional tensions, especially via the medium of certain art forms, such as tragedy or music. It has passed into common usage by way of religious, medical, and learned traditions.

The concept of catharsis as a cleansing has existed in many different cultures and religions through the centuries, although it generally has the same theme - in order to escape from unclean influences, man had to purify himself and also sometimes the objects around him. Uncleanliness originated from actions that were not permitted, or taboo. Should a man break a taboo, he would be "unclean" and would have to undergo some form of purification ritual. These rituals could make use of water, blood, a change of garment, wine, fire, or sacrifice.

In the Old Testament, catharsis was accomplished by means of washing and bathing. Uncleanliness was believed to exist especially in menarche and leprosy. The purification was performed in the Temple. Even the priests of the Temple had to undergo a purification ritual, especially before entering the Holy of Holies.

In the New Testament purification was performed by means of baptism.

The Greeks

In the Greek literary history, cathartic actions are found in the poems of Homer and Hesiod, and later on in the mystery cults established at Delphi and Eleusis. These cathartic actions were performed as rituals or disciplines, designed to cleanse sins both spiritually and morally.

Aristotle also mentions catharsis at the end of his "Politics", mentioning it in connection with music, and this important text can be used in order to understand his controversial definition of tragedy in the Poetics. Aristotle explains the catharsis of music in this way:

“

We say, however, that music is to be studied for the sake of many benefits and not of one only. It is to be studied with a view to education, with a view to a purge (catharsis) — we use this term without explanation for the present; when we come to speak of poetry, we shall give a clearer account of it—and thirdly with a view to the right use of leisure and for relaxation and rest after exertion. It is clear, then, that we must use all the scales, but not all in the same way. For educational purposes we must use those that best express character, but we may use melodies of action and enthusiastic melodies for concerts where other people perform. For every feeling that affects some souls violently affects all souls more or less; the difference is only one of degree. Take pity and fear, for example, or again enthusiasm. Some people are liable to become possessed by the latter emotion, but we see that, when they have made use of the melodies which fill the soul with orgiastic feeling, they are brought back by these sacred melodies to a normal condition as if they had been medically treated and undergone a purge (catharsis). Those who are subject to the emotions of pity and fear and the feelings generally will necessarily be affected in the same way; and so will other men in exact proportion to their susceptibility to such emotions. All experience a certain purge [catharsis] and pleasant relief. In the same manner cathartic melodies give innocent joy to men. [1]

”

References