Anthropological analysis on the new trends and changes of Catholic system of belief and rituals (With special references to Chilaw, Sri Lanka)

Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus. It plays one of the main moves around Chilaw, Nattandiya and Wennapuwa, Sri Lanka. This research examines the new trends and changes of the system called beliefs and rituals in Christianity. Catholic is the main Church in this area, and due to various reasons, several changes occurred in their belief and ritual system. Prominent example is during their early practices using Latin as the official language, the community did not familiar with the church because of the language difference and after these changes, administration made native language as their main performing language. This explorative, descriptive study based on these faiths and their significant characteristics. In this research, the sample size is 40 and respective fathers, sisters, brothers, and devotees were purposively interviewed utilizing unstructured interview method. The main aim of this research is to provide an anthropological knowledge of the latest trends in Catholic beliefs and rituals, through the changes of Sri Lankan social system and Christianity using Chilaw as the research area. To accomplish this research, the researcher utilized interviews, observation, and participant observation. In this study, the researcher observed that the administration as well as the Catholic devotees are still protecting the physical cultural materials of the Church. Prominent characteristics in Catholic beliefs and rituals are changed and modified due to complex social and cultural changes.