ABSTRACT
Underlyingallritualsisanultimatedanger,lurkingbeneaththesmallestand largestofthem-thepossibilitythatwewillencounterourselvesmakingupour
conceptionsoftheworld,society,ourveryselves.Wemayslipintothatfatal perspectiveofrecognisingcultureasourconstruct,arbitrary,conventional,
inventedbymortals.'