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Initiation rite - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Acceptance, Admittance, Anchorage, Baptism, Beginning, Celebration, Ceremonial, Ceremony, Colonization, Commencement, Convocation, Debut, Elements, Establishment |
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Initiation rites are formalized, ceremonial rites of passage as an individual moves from stage to stage within a social career or formally acquires such status.
The term often relates to the transition from childhood to adulthood, and may involve secret or private procedures and/or painful and difficult trials before the initiate can become a "real" or "accepted" man or woman who the community is bonded to; and who is bonded to the community.
Hunter-gatherer societies have a reputation for dramatic pre-requisites before an initiate can become a full adult, marriageable member of society.
Some Christian churches offer a traditional sacrament of confirmation as an initiation rite recognizing full membership in itself and a re-capping of infant baptism; others are more strict.
In Judaism, a Bar mitzvah or a Bat mitzvah ceremony performs a similar religious coming-of-age function.
Many school systems feature a graduation ceremony as an initiation rite marking the end of a stage of learning.
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Example Usage of Initiation |
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TextNexus: TextNexus Update: New post: The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation (http://cli.gs/hXYVv) Site Link |
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MusicLovingSoul: Survived Initiation... |
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quietguy16: pretty phyched about ub, not to phyched about the Initiation tho |
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