Rites of Passage Flashcards
Rites of Passage definition:
Rites of passages are rituals or ceremonies that all societies have used to mark and to bring about transitions. These transitions might be lifestages (e.g. childhood to adulthood) or might be introduction into a new group (e.g. joining a social or religious group)
big events/transitions
- naming ceremony
- 18th birthday, childhood to adulthood
- getting your first job, transitioning from university
- birth of a sibling
- moving house and joining a new community
What are the three stages of a rite of passage?
seperation
transition
re-integration
Why do people perform rites of passage?
- They can help you remember what is important to you e.g. Vanutu Land Divers
- they can prepare you for new responsibilities e.g. going to marriage classes before a couple gets married
- so they can deal with the challenges of a transition e.g. baby shower
- feel part of a supportive community e.g. getting to know new classmates in Pates
- have a strong sense of identity when life is tough e.g. committing to your faith, graduating university and the graduation ceremony
How would a baby shower not help or help some parents?
A baby shower for soon-to-be parent might not help to a small extent as it may overwhelm them and hit them that they will have new responsibilities. It might help to quite a big extent as they will be surrounded by positivity (family and friends) and they will have lots of presents for the baby (e.g. clothes) which will help for the arrival of the baby.
When do children start preparing for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah?
Children ,every week, at a Jewish school ,for a few years before their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and when they are around 12 or 13 they have their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
What adult tasks are they preparing to be able to do?
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Taking responsibility for his/her actions and living the Torah. They can read from the Torah.
Which language are the Torah scrolls written in?
Hebrew
What differences are. there between Orthodox and Reform Judaism? What difference does this make to the rites of passage involved in girls and boys coming of age?
In Orthodox synagogues, only males read from the Torah or part of Minyan. Although in reform synagogues a minyan can be for both male and female.
Bat Hayli:
A special feast for a girls birthday and it is on a Sunday.
Tallit:
A prayer shawl, which is sometimes not worn until marriage. the tall it is made of silk or wool and is used for morning, afternoon and evening prayers.
Tefillin:
Leather boxes tied with straps and fixed to a Jewish man’s forehead and left arm. He will wear these at the morning prayer. They contain a passage.
Yad:
The pointer you use for reading the Torah.
Derasha:
A mini-sermon that allows a Jew to give thanks.
Why are Yads used?
They are used to follow the text in the scroll while avoiding touching the holy text itself (Torah).
In which Christian church is it common to baptise infants?
Anglican churches
What is the name for the ceremonies that mark peoples entry unto a religion?
Invitation Rites
Events in a baptism:
- a series of promises which are agreed to by the parents and Godparents on the babies behalf
- the signing with the cross, the priest takes the holy oil and dips their thumb in it and signs the baby on its forehead and then say ‘Christ claims you for hi, receive the sign of his cross’ and oil is offered to the parents and Godparents so that they can dip their thumb in the oil and sign the babies head as well.
- the use of water ,which is central in baptism, the water is poured into the font by a parent or Godparent. The priest then blesses the water. The child is then baptised using the water.
- the parents are brought up to the altar and a special candle is lit for the baby and the candle is given to the parents.
Why might parents choose to have their infant baptised?
They might believe that God is present and working at the baptism and that God is present throughout their lives and that the child will come to understand what happened to them in baptism.
