Rites Of Passage :: essays research papers fc

Rites of Passage     When an individual experiences movement, or a vary from an affixedposition in society to a nonher position, that individual enkindle easily describetheir change as a passage into a new area of living. A new realm of living isthe behavior in which the individual and society views, ac goledges, and proceedswith their life. Their changes are monumental not only for the individual, butfor his/her society as well. Many changes declare set out during the span of apersons life. They become rites of passage and rituals of initiation-which aremore than save simple changes. A plethora of come with these rites and are foundin all corners of the globe. Going on vision quests, by the plains Indians ofNorth America, to circumcision by certain Australian cultures, rites of passagepresent a vast slacken of phantasmal comparisons(Eliade, p. 287-88).     This essay will examine two rites of initiation, by equivalence andcontrastin g their importance to each culture, and discussing how thatimportance affects that particular individual as well as their society. Finally,the essay will explore possible reasons as to why these initiation rites hold adeep meaning in their respective societies.     The Kurnai of Australia draw an initiation rite for the sons of marriedmen in their perspective villages. Within a section by A. W. Howitt, in Eliadesbook, From Primitives to point A thematic Sourcebook of the History of Religions ,a ceremony known as the "Showing the Grandfather" is described(Eliade, p. 288)In this initiation the Kurnai have a titular way of bringing a mans son into thehighest, and most secret realm of their religion. By incorporating the use ofthe father and son relationship, this particular ritual involves the disclosureof the central meaning, or "mystery" of their religion. The men and women areseparated. Secrecy is champion the most important traditions in thi s 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 day before the ceremony, while other men,who have already been through the ceremony, prepare by hunting for food and arranging 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.