does the development of culture depend on the change of traditional religion?

Rabinal achi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR8PyhFshu8

Ta’ziyeh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aKAPL9Fkz4

Oedipus Choral Ode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD8rmXwG9ZQ

As said in the context that the evolution of human speech and and language has changed the ways humans interact with each other and the environment, can we think of a few thoughts on how human history will change even more in the future or will history repeat itself?

The story of how Seth killed his brother Osiris out of jealousy seems similar to the story of how Cain killed Able. Furthermore, the third son of Adam and Eve is said to be named Seth. Is it possible that the Hebrew and Egyptian cultures are recalling the same event in a different light and with different details to adapt to their own understanding of the times/ fit better with each respective religion?

-Rebecca

In the reading “Contraband”, it mentions how some actors that went from house to house to raise money for those in a worse economical state than they were in, or for a charity. This, I believe, is seen as a commendable act in any community, especially the Jewish one. Yet the reading also mentions how the actors went to great lengths to disguise their identities to “avoid the shame of receiving alms”. Why was acting still portrayed as a shameful act in the Jewish community even if it was for a good cause?

Connecting this reading back to last week’s “Contrband” reading, i find it very interesting that even though both readings talk about dramatic theatre’s role in religious (Egyptian, Greek and Mesoamerican) festivals, there seems to be a societal shift where one performance was focus on strengthing community/religious bonds through the festivals and the only performances were for the money. Was it just the differences in economics then or where “religious performers” actually held to a higher stander in the ancient worlds?

In Early ages, religious festival and ritual ceremony are not seperated, they were stuck together. People sing, drink, eat, and then they carry out ceremony. I guess that it is related to agriculture or weather. It seems that festival and ceremony are seperated today. My question is when and how they are seperated.

All these different religions throughout time seemed to come eventually to the same thought of practicing certain dramatic rituals or representations of what they believe to be the past. My question is why did these religions come to the decision that during festival times or certain specific days they should be performing certain things?

I know the readings mention that it was to give the public a chance to be involved but I think if you are of a certain religion you have the ability to worship and be a part of your religion either at a place of worship or in your home so what other reasons could have been behind the decision?

Why do you think it is that theatre in early civilizations seems to have started with religious stories and practices?  How do you think citizens reacted when individuals began to transcribe these stories and incorporate their own style, thereby taking “ownership” in a way of the material?

In Mesoamerica performances involved religious elements and a mean of social integration. These performances were also necessary to sustain the universe and their place within it. Why does religion seem to be commonplace in most early drama and theatre?