For atonement-related rituals it would go something like this: You are separated by your sins or shortcomings from the way you believe God or your community wants you to be, from your potential, from some kind of purity. You confess, do penance, apologize, and make up for what you’ve done. And thus you are reconciled with God, or godliness, or your community’s approval, or your ability to sleep at night.
