Rites of Passage

1. Rites of Passage Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies John Carroll University

2. Understanding Rites of Passage • Defining a “rite of passage” • What does a rite of passage do? • Three types of passage rites • Three phases of a rite of passage • Conversion / Initiation rituals • Life-cycle rituals • “Real life” connections Rites of Passage

3. What Are Rites of Passage? • Ceremonies associated with transitional moments in one’s life • Formal ritual enactments of a person’s shift from one status in society to another • From one level in the social hierarchy (societas) • Through communitas • To another level in the social hierarchy (societas) • Not merely a “passage” • In the USA, turning eighteen is a passage to adulthood • A cotillion or “coming out party” is a rite of passage marking a young woman’s eligibility for formal dating relationships Rites of Passage

4. What Does a Rite of Passage Do? Enact the participant's change of status within the formal structures of a society Top Right, a young bar mitzvah studying Torah Left, a ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) stipulating the rights and duties of the marriage partners Bottom Right, two graduates with the diplomas that express the rights and privileges pertaining to their new class status Rites of Passage

5. Three Kinds of Passage Rites • Rites of status elevation • Initiation rites • Puberty rites • Rites of status organization • Birth rituals • Death rituals • Rites of status reversal • Demotion rituals(e.g., de-frocking) • Retirement rituals Rites of Passage

6. Three Phases of a Rite of Passage • Separation • Departure from societas • Loss of rank in social hierarchy • Liminality (marginality) • Agelessness • Ambiguity • Being a "tabula rasa“ • Sexlessness • Impermanence • Temporary intensification of social unity (“communitas”) • Transcendence of routine social structure • Aggregation • Return to societas • New rank in social hierarchy Rites of Passage

7. Conversion / Initiation Rites • Rites of status elevation • Imagery of death and rebirth • Mark an individual’s formal entry into the “societas” of a particular religious community • Purpose of initiation rituals • Ensure boundary protection for group • Protect structures within group • Every member of group inhabits a particular “state,” a culturally-recognized stable or recurrent condition Rites of Passage

8. Conversion / Initiation Rites • Examples: • Baptism • Circumcision or Mikva • Recitation of Shahada • Questions: • What kinds of initiation rites have you witnessed or undergone? • If you were a visitor to the community, how did it feel to be an outsider? • If you were a member of the community, how did it feel to be an insider? • Were the initiation rites religious rituals? How could you tell? • Cf. Pledging a sorority or fraternity • Cf. freshman hazing • Would initiation rites be important to a society? How so? • Why would initiation rites be important to a religious community? Rites of Passage

9. Joining a Family Reciting the Family Saga, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “You Are Cordially Invited” Rites of Passage

10. Bris(Rite of Circumcision) (Bris from Jesus of Nazareth) Rites of Passage

11. Life-Cycle Rituals • Birth rituals • Puberty rites • Marriage rites • Funerary rituals Rites of Passage

12. Birth Rituals • “Rites of status organization,” they initiate individuals into community at first status level • Examples: • Bris • Naming of child • Questions: • Have you observed or participated in any of these kinds of rituals? If so, were they religious rites? How could you tell? • Why would birth rites be important to a society? • Why would they be important to a religious community? Rites of Passage

13. Puberty Rites • Rites of status elevation • Mark the division between childhood and adulthood • Ritualize societal expectations of adults, gender roles • Examples: • Exclusion of pubescent girls with elder women • Circumcision • Manhood “hazing” ritual • Video clip from The Emerald Forest • Video clip from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “You Are Cordially Invited” • Questions: • Have you observed or participated in any of these kinds of rituals? If so, were they religious rites? How could you tell? • Why would puberty rites be important to a society? • Why might they be important to a religious community? Rites of Passage

14. When to Do the Puberty Rite Swimming & “Spearing Fish”, The Emerald Forest Rites of Passage

15. Becoming a Man Manhood Ritual, The Emerald Forest Rites of Passage

16. Becoming a Woman? The Pre-marital Trials of Dax,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “You Are Cordially Invited” Rites of Passage

17. Marriage Rites • Control the potentially constructive/destructive powers of sexuality within the society • Ritualize establishment of new sub-community of persons within wider social structure • Examples: • Betrothal/Engagement • Wedding ceremony • Wedding party/reception • Questions: • Have you observed or participated in any of these kinds of rituals? If so, were they religious rites? How could you tell? What kind of rite is it? • Why would marriage rites be important to a society? • Why might they be important to a religious community? Rites of Passage

18. Proposal of Marriage Marriage Proposal, The Emerald Forest Rites of Passage

19. Prenuptial Preparation The Journey to Kalhaya, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “You Are Cordially Invited” Rites of Passage

20. Taking a Bride Bride Conquest, The Emerald Forest Rites of Passage

21. A Solemn Betrothal (Betrothal scene from Jesus of Nazareth) Rites of Passage

22. The Wedding Dance Wedding Dance, The Emerald Forest Rites of Passage

23. The Union of Two Hearts The Union of Two Klingon Hearts,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “You Are Cordially Invited” Rites of Passage

24. A Traditional Jewish Wedding (Wedding scene from Jesus of Nazareth) Rites of Passage

25. Funerary Rituals • Rites of status organization • Ritualize deceased’s permanent “translation” from communitystructures to wider, cosmic realm • Examples: • Wake • Funeral service • Burial and cremation ceremonies • Questions: • Have you observed or participated in any of these kinds of rituals? If so, were they religious rites? How could you tell? • Why would funeral rites be important to a society? • Why might they be important to a religious community? Rites of Passage

26. Death & Funeral Rites Death & Funeral [Cremation] Ceremony, The Emerald Forest Rites of Passage

27. Group Discussion Questions • Have you observed or participated in any of these kinds of rituals? • If so, were they religious rites? How could you tell? • What did you hope to gain from your participation? • What did you gain from it? • What commonalities do you find between these rituals and any you have observed at your religious community? • Why might rites of passage be important to a society? • Why might they be important to individuals? • Why would they be important to a religious community? Rites of Passage

28. Discussion Questions • What key symbols do you see in these rituals? • What commonalities do you find among all of these rituals? What key differences do you find? • How do communal myths and rituals work together? • How do the rituals illustrate the beliefs and values of the respective celebrating communities? Rites of Passage

29. Synopsis of Rites of Passage • Ceremonies associated with transitional moments in life • Not merely a “passage” • Rather, a formal, ritual enactment of a person’s shift from one status in society to another • Sustain hierarchical social structures • Institutionalize flexibility within established hierarchical social structures Rites of Passage