Exam prep

• Intro Pt 1

  The purpose of life-cycle rituals are to guide us to see the deeper meaning in our ordinary lives. They help us to respond to life changes and enable us to sanctify our time, as well as connecting us with the unseen presences of those who have come before us. Rituals demonstrate that religion is not only about what people believe in, but also what people do to practise and enhance their belief.
• Intro Pt 2

  They’re generally communicated on two levels; between people and God/higher being, or between an individual and fellow believers. Overall, they help us foster our personal, family and religious identity. The three categories of lifestyle rituals are initiation rites, rites of passage and rites of cleansing and healing. Both Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and Upanayana are highly significant and influential on their people, society and culture.
• P1 Judaism Pt 1

  • Monotheistic Abrahamic religious tradition
  • Yahweh, believed to create worlds + revealed himself to Abraham, Moses and Hebrew prophets is only divine being.
  • live in accordance with the Hebrew scriptures (Tanakh) and Rabbinic traditions
  • Yahweh made covenant with Abraham + descendants were the chosen people to create a great nation -> basis of faith
  • 4 main rituals (reflect key life stages); birth, adolescence, marriage + death
  • initiation ritual -> Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, also known as ‘son of the commandment’ or 'daughter of the commandment’.
• P1 Judaism Pt 2

  • marks coming of age in adolescents, boys=13, girls=12
  • highlights importance of sacred texts -> studying, remembering + reading Torah, + following commandments of the faith
  • young person is able to fulfil the mitzvot
  • time of celebration 4 community
  • origins aren’t clear ->Talmud mentions adolescence male=13
  • Sacred law (halacha) is 1 of most important aspects after celebration
  • Mitzvahs support core beliefs of fulfilling covenant
  • After ritual, adherent is full member of community + covenant-> central tenet of Jewish faith.
• P1 Hinuduism Pt1

  • believe in the doctrine of samara (continuous cycle of life, death, rebirth and karma)
  • ultimate purpose to achieve moksha -> concept that’s liberation from samsara
  • when soul completes duties (dharma) + rid of all karma, it’s free from struggles & pain of moral world
  • Each ritual marks important transition through varnashrama dharma (duties which a Hindu is bound) based on their varna + ashrama
  • Upanayana -> only boys introduced to guru and given a sacred thread made up of 3 strands symbolising 3 vows he’ll follow in life
• P1 Hinduism Pt2

  • Process -> piece of deer skin on loop of cotton placed around neck -> worn for rest of his life + renewed annually
  • Practices of Upanayana mentioned frequently in Vedic texts
  • Complete -> boys can begin formal + spiritual education
  • ritual obliges participants to take on 5 daily dharmas
  • believe people born twice; a spiritual birth and transition from child to adult.
• Separation- Judaism

  • initial departure from childhood + transition towards adulthood
  • Study and Preparation-boys trend classes given by Rabbi to prepare for new responsibilities
  • He’s taught to wear tefillin and tallit, studies the scriptures and Jewish history + recites passages from Torah
  • Girls read from Torah but in Orthodox synagogues
  • Girls attend classes in scripture + history and learn how to keep kosher food laws and prepare for Shabbat
• Transition- Judaism

  Central point of the Bar Mitzvah ritual -> candidate undergoes symbolic transformation from childhood to adulthood. Bar Mitzvah Ceremony.
• Incorporation- Judaism

  Integration of candidate into adult role within the Jewish community. Celebration and continued Journey.
• Separation- Hinduism

  Removed from society by being accepted + introduced by either a preceptor or guru. Ritual is usually performed by boy’s father or most senior male member of family
• Transition- Upanayana

  • marks the rebirth into the world of the Vedas. Boy’s head is shaved, bathes and wears special white clothes
  • Offerings made to Agni, god of fire
  • Boy given new clothes + piece of deer skin on loop of cotton placed around his neck. 2 strands of white cotton, tied with sacre knot are placed over left shoulder and hung diagonally across chest: thread is worn for rest of life and renewed annually
  • Recites hymn, takes vow of celibacy + make promise to obey father, guru and family priest + concentrate on studies
• Incorporation- Hinduism

  Boy returns to normal world with his new status and responsibilities. He’s then presented with staff to follow the right path. On the ceremony, the boy and mother share meal from same plates symbolising end of childhood and reliance on mother as his main teacher and caregiver
• Compare 2 Analysis!
• P3- Judaism Significance

  • biblically liable to punishment.
  • Brings community together (happy to have another fully obligated Jew as they’re dependent on each other)
  • Intimate true birthdays; days they become true emissaries of G-d charged with fulfilling commandments.
  • Mitzvah means connection -> true connection with G-d
• P3- Judaism influence

  • Transition to adulthood: strengthen initiate’s sense of belonging
  • Religious Obligations: expected to fulfil commandments and obligations of faith
  • Spiritual Development: more active role in religious practice
  • Transmission of Tradition: involves passing down of Jewish traditions + values ensuring continuity of faith
• P3- Hinduism Significance

  • Signifying readiness to take on Dharma
  • moral and ethical foundation
  • guided by principles of truth, discipline and purity, and social responsibility (post-ceremony)
  • formal initiation into study of Vedas and responsibilities
  • Uphold values of dedication to spiritual growth as prescribed by Vedas
  • Sacred thread is symbol of spiritual and educational initiation
• P3- Hinduism Influence

  • Spiritual Initiation: twice-born tradition transition signifying transition
  • Caste System: reinforces hierarchical structure
  • Religious tradition: importance of studying Vedas
  • Samskaras: 1 of major samskaras, performance in other ceremonies requires this 1 1st
  • Social Identity: to distinguish castes within Hindu society
  • Spiritual purification: way to connect individual with divine