D&D 5E Ritual Caster feat: cleric choosing cleric?

[Ath-kethin]

The cleric version is the standard. Bard and Druid ritual casting also works in the same way. The wizard is the exception - probably because the class is strongly associated with books, learning, and an expanded spell repertoire.

It's even more interesting, then, that the Ritual Caster feat follows the Wizard methodology, not the others.

Frankly, the Ritual Caster ability for the cleric seems extraneous at best, especially since they get more spell preparation anyway.

And I find that situation doublybironic since of you are, say, a rogue (or any other non-caster) taking the feat, the Cleric spell list is superior to the others in many respects.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

What if cleric rituals are just the prepping of the site, sprinkling the holy water, setting up the brazier and ceremoniously wafting it about, and wearing the proper garments, having washed in the correct manner...but the cleric knows the words already, it's just the ritual boosting it.
Therefore, you don't need a book as such just the knowledge of and means to use the right accoutrements.
Perhaps the words are written down just in a different way - etched or weaved or sewn into the vestments themselves - different stoles instead of different scrolls.