Yesterday I asked “What is the difference between a habit and a ritual?” and I answered it: “About a hundred years.”

I wasn’t that satisfied with either the word “habit” or the answer. The original question came to me during Rosh Hashana services and during the week I asked my hiking buddies and the people I performed rituals with to help me construct a comparison that mimicked the clever saying: “What is the difference between a cult and a religion?” answer “about a hundred years.”

Debbie F. suggested “nice act” instead of habit. I made it “nice or useful” and somebody suggested repeated. Which made it “What is the difference between a nice or useful act repeated and a ritual?” Unfortunately it doesn’t have pith or clarity.

This morning Bob K. suggested “routine.” It’s a nice improvement. “What is the difference between a routine and a ritual?” It is pithy, alliterative and clear. Routine and ritual mimic cult and religion well.

Now to the answer: So far we have:

• A hundred years
• thirty repetitions
• a hundred repetitions.
• a generation

Help me out here. What do you think is the difference between a routine and a ritual?

Next question: Does a ritual need incantations or magical expectations?