Rites Of Passage :: essays research papers fc

Rites of Passage     When an singular experiences movement, or a change from an affixedposition in society to another position, that individual can easily describetheir change as a passage into a new earth of living. A new realm of living isthe stylus in which the individual and society views, acknowledges, and proceedswith their life. Their changes are monumental not only for the individual, butfor his/her society as well. Many changes take place during the yoke of apersons life. They become rites of passage and rituals of initiation-which aremore than just simple changes. A plethora of come with these rites and are foundin all corners of the globe. sacking on vision quests, by the plains Indians ofNorth America, to circumcision by certain Australian cultures, rites of passagepresent a vast table of religious comparisons(Eliade, p. 287-88).     This essay go out examine two rites of initiation, by comparing andcontrasting their importan ce to each culture, and discussing how thatimportance affects that particular individual as well as their society. Finally,the essay give explore possible reasons as to why these initiation rites hold adeep meaning in their respective societies.     The Kurnai of Australia have an initiation rite for the sons of conjoinmen in their perspective villages. Within a section by A. W. Howitt, in Eliadesbook, From Primitives to Zen A thematic Sourcebook of the History of Religions ,a ceremony know as the "Showing the Grandfather" is described(Eliade, p. 288)In this initiation the Kurnai have a formal way of bringing a mans son into thehighest, and some secret realm of their religion. By incorporating the use ofthe father and son relationship, this particular ritual involves the revelationof the central meaning, or "mystery" of their religion. The men and women areseparated. Secrecy is one the most important traditions in this initiation. Theinitiation is not revealed to the women, or anyone else not of their society.The sons, or "novices" as Howitt calls them, are taught the proper religioustraditions that they need to know for the ceremony, and for the rest of theirlives, as this initiation will conclude their step into religious righteousness,and manhood. This all takes place the solar day before the ceremony, while other men,who have already been through the ceremony, school by hunting for food andarranging a site, not too far from the village, where the initiation will takeplace. The next morning, a new day at hand, the novices are taken to the siteat which time the ceremony commences.