The Rites of Passage - Coursework Example

Rites of Passage Introduction Rite of passage, in broader terms would relate to the changes that are experienced by the human beings through the lifeand presumably after the death. Many anthropologists have defined this in their own versions. As commonly defined, the rite of passage is a ceremony, which will celebrate an important event in someone’s life, with regard to the social, biological or marital status change of the human being. (rite). As per the cultural anthropology, rites of passage are the ceremonial events that highlight the change of physical, marital or social status of any person. All societies that find a place in history have mentioned these rites in their own cultural or religious ways. However, to sum up, the rite of passage depicts the change in our human lives, which goes beyond the life itself. As in the ancient times, the developed societies in the current age do mark the transition of any human being from one stage to another, and such transitions are highlighted with ceremonies that modern anthropologists also call, “Rite of Passage”. Usually most of the known societies in the world have ceremonies that mark the passages like: 1. From conceiving to giving birth 2. From childhood to adolescence 3. Adolescence to youth or adulthood 4. Single status to marriage, while young 5. Youth to old age 6. Old age to death and beyond The ceremonies marking such changes are all defined as rite of passage, as can be the events involving social changes like change from student to an employer, a learner to master or a citizen to Governor.(Graham) This essay would like to throw some light on the different aspects of rite to passage. Anthropology and rite of passage If psychology pertains to the study of an individual, anthropology studies the relationship of various societies and cultures, on their interpretation of various events within a society or in relation to other civil societies. While anthropologists have explored the rituals and other traditional ceremonies of various known historical societies down the ages, Arnold Vann Gennep broke the ground by writing “Rite De Passage”, during late 19th century, to highlight the fact that all human societies have an urge to recognize, mark and celebrate certain transitional events in the life of any person. This included the events of birth, death, marriage and parenthood. While his piece of work has tried to depict the ceremonies connected with such change of a human personality from one phase to another, it has attempted, with a measure of reasonable success, the reason behind such ceremonies, with a description on how the events were celebrated and why it was so...(Leeuwen---para 8) While clearly describing the “initiation rites” Van Gennep explains about the rite of coming of age and rite of reception into a secret society. As the name suggests, there are many things that were kept under cover in many secret societies and the rite of passage for various ceremonies has also not been defined openly anywhere for such societies. However, Van Gennep has depicted such “primarily” rites in his work, which have been devoted to primitive, simple or semi-civilized societies.....( Leeuwen---para 9) During the mid twentieth century, Victor Turner did a study of religious and other society practices of an African tribe, Ndembu. During his investigation, Turner explored the rituals in the wake of rites of passage connected with such rituals. While teaching as a professor at the University of Chicago, he tried to understand the meanings of such rituals as applied to other societies and world religions. During this process, he explored the three-fold structure of rites of passage as given by Van Gennep. While expanding these theories, Turner described the three phases in simple terms as separation (pre-liminal phase), transition (liminal phase) and reincorporation (post-liminal phase). While explaining the meaning of liminality, Turner has defined it as a phase that occurs between two transitions and he explained it as a stage when the life is in limbo and in seclusion. As the individuals in this phase do not belong either to the society that they were part of before the change, or to the society, they would be re-incorporated after the transition. Hence, Turner has called this phase as a state of reflection. While examining the rituals and symbols in connection with the rites of passage, Turner has made a three-level examination structure to understand such symbols, which are: 1. Exegetical-- referring to what the common and ordinary people believe as the meaning of these symbols. 2. Operational—this referred to the action involved on the part of the people with relation to such symbols. 3. Positional--- relation of one symbol to other symbols of similar or other rituals and ceremonies. Edith turner, wife of Victor Turner also contributed to the development of innovative ideas that support his ideas of liminality and ritual process etc..(Theories—para 5) Nature and importance of rites of passage Most of the rites of passage are the result of biological changes in the human body, also called the crisis rites. These transitional changes are the result of certain natural forces, which are beyond one’s control. Therefore, the crisis rites include the rituals for events like birth, maturity, parentage and death. The social changes and other transitions that one experiences within the society, like marriage or employment are the by-products of the crisis rites only. French anthropologist Van Gennep has described the rite of passage as the means that can be used by any individual to make the transition from one role to another in a society, comfortably. While he has held that the main rituals of importance are the crisis rites, Van Gennep could see the significance of such rites as having socio-cultural importance, which is primarily man made rather than the natural biological events that are essentially natural...(Religious Rites) The British anthropologist, A.M. Hocart (1884-1939) was of the view that the transition from one role to another of any individual, within a society, was the result of such ceremonies and not the cause of having such rites. (Religious Rites) However, going deep into the understanding of rites of passage, the Advaitha (non-dual) philosophy of India stresses the role of non-duality in the life of an individual and beyond it, while highlighting the passage of soul, from one form to another, in a non-destructive manner. It further stresses on the fact that the rites of passage are imposed on the body from outside, as the individual may not have any control on the changes and the timings, when such changes occur in the life cycle of any person. ....( Spiritual morphology.. para 5-6) While maintaining that the rites of passage of the body are insignificant and sometimes imposed on an individual by the society, it specifies that the true rite of passage is the one that involves the spirit. It has quoted the following in support of this: “Crucifixion is a passage necessarily undergone by the Spirit.” (Spiritual morphology.. para 8-9) Describing the passage of spirit, it has detailed three primal experiences, when the spirit transits from one stage to another. The first primal passage is when the spirit turns towards God. The second passage is the destruction of self-ego and the third experience is the emergence of the spirit in the Absolute. (Spiritual morphology.. para 11 to 21) Rite of passage as seen by modern anthropologists Most modern scholars are in agreement with the views of Van Gennep that mention the significance of rite of passage as a tool that can be used by any individual to make the passage from one phase in life to another, and from one social role to another, without the accompanying stress. These scholars have given importance to such rites, as they have a positive affect on the life of an individual. For example, such rites make it easier for a man to take responsible role as a marriage partner or as a parent, while getting the passage to adulthood or parenthood, in his life. Therefore, such rites are seen as a means to socially support the individual during such phases of passage, to relieve the person of any psychological or emotional burden or stress, caused by the relevant changes.....(Rites of Passage---para---4-5) While most of the rites and rituals connected with the rite of passage have found their base in religion, modern scholars are exploring these ceremonies on a secular basis. Most of the modern anthropologists find such rites like the rite of initiation and even the rite of marriage as very secular....( Rites of Passage---para---5-6) The rite of passage can be classified into various categories, which relate to the social or religious ceremonies attached to it. A few of these groups are briefly detailed here. Ceremonies involving biological changes in our life cycle These rituals include the ceremonies of baby showers, childbirth, baptisms, birth and death rites.( Religion –4.9.3.1) Events involving social transition These include the rites and celebrations marking the change in the society of any person’s status. This will include the ritual or ceremony to mark the appointment of a person on a higher position of status in the society. This will also include the kind of social status change of a person, in the event of his father’s death. (Religion –4.9.3.2) Ceremonies highlighting the religious transformation Such rituals and rites will include the ceremonies that are accompanied by the change of the religious status of a person. This would include, for example, a person who may undertake the responsibility of a church functionary to facilitate certain religious functions. Similarly, a person responsible for formation of a religious sect, will also have such rite of passage...( Religion –4.9.3.3) Conclusion Although primarily the rite of passage has been a religious act, the modern scholars have interpreted it as a secular function to mark the life cycle and biological changes in the life of a human being. However, as these passages may be beyond the control of an individual and thus called the crisis rites or the biological passages; the accompanying social transformation ceremonies like that of marriage is certainly man made and within the control of an individual. Yet, apart from the rites of passage as classified above, the need is to explore more deeply the final rite of passage, when the soul leaves the body leaving it as a heap of five elements without life. While the rite of passage from life to death finds mention in any anthropologist’s review, the passage beyond death remains largely a mystery only. __________________________________________________________ Bibliography In-text citation references Graham, R. David, “Spiritual Mythology”, Para 5-6,available at: http://www.adwaitha-hermitage.net/reminisc/morph01.html (accessed on 11th. Jun 2009) Graham, R. David, “Spiritual Mythology”, Para 7-11available at: http://www.adwaitha-hermitage.net/reminisc/morph01.html (accessed on 11th. Jun 2009) Leeuwen,B.R.V, “A separate reality—Anthropology rituals and today’s Mason” Available at: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ritual-masons.html Religion, “Religious rites”,--“Rites of Passage”, Chapter 2,3, available at: http://www.cyberspacei.com/jesusi/inlight/religion/rites/Passage.htm, (accessed on 12th Jun 2009) Religion, “Religious rites”,--“Rites of Passage”, 4.9.3.1-5 available at: http://www.cyberspacei.com/jesusi/inlight/religion/rites/Passage.htm, (accessed on 12th Jun 2009) "rite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Jun. 2009 .9accessed on 10th. Jun 2009) “THEORIES ON RELIGION” –Pursuit for truth, available at http://pursuitfortruth.org/theories.php ( accessed on 12th Jun 2009) Sources used “THEORIES ON RELIGION” –Pursuit for truth, available at http://pursuitfortruth.org/theories.php "rite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Jun. 2009 . Spiritual Mythology”, available at: http://www.adwaitha-hermitage.net/reminisc/morph01.html “Religious rites”,--“Rites of Passage”,available at: http://www.cyberspacei.com/jesusi/inlight/religion/rites/Passage.htm, “A separate reality—Anthropology rituals and today’s Mason” Available at: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ritual-masons.html Read More