Defining rites of passage

[jay]

Given a debate in the hallways at work today with hopeforyou, over someone's celebration this evening ... I just don't see how celebrating the onset of an icky, unpleasant bodily function that causes half the population to be cranky and require chocolate and paper products one out of every four weeks is a rite of passage, other than as an affliction. Might as well design a ritual to celebrate, say, acne as the door to adolescence.

In this culture, IMO the things which most clearly delineate children from adults are gaining independent mobility and finances. So I think that a first paid outside job and gaining a driver's license are the true rites of passage in the US, both usually happening around age 15-16.

Comments

[coyote3502.livejournal.com]

Also, realize that this was a religious rite, every bit as solemn and important as First Communion or even Baptism. So, I suppose I could comment that it seems pretty silly to take a child who has no choice and dip his/her head under water to signify entry into the Church and all the messed up psychological things that go along with it.

But I won't, because I still have a deep love for the rites and traditions of the Church, if not its opressive teachings.

My daughter found it humbling and empowering to realize that she's part of a community of women (and men) who celebrate the parts of what makes us human that our society keeps telling us is wrong, messy, dirty and should be somehow eliminated or, at the very least, hidden and made an object of shame.

I'm glad I have a strong daughter surrounded by strong women.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(nods) and the religious aspect would have precluded my own attendance even if I had had the correct set of plumbing. Which also ties into delimiting cyan_blue's use of the term "community" below... "welcomed by other female Pagans" would have been more accurate.

[coyote3502.livejournal.com]

Ah, but are there not "women's" and "men's" organizations within the Church? I don't see a problem, frankly. We all have our functions within our community. The challenge is finding that function and not pining for that which we aren't. Many parts, one body.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

In some churches, yes... in some faiths, men and women even have to sit gender-segregated. Personally, I boycott gender-limited organizations and events as a rule, rebuffing several attempts by my local pastor to get me to join their men's organization (or at least visit).

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

Um, I have to assume that while being pagan friendly and open to being a part of ritual were a requirement, self-defining as pagan were not. Otherwise, my invitation to this event was possibly misplaced.

[karenbynight.livejournal.com]

huh? I am not Pagan, and I seriously doubt I was the only non-Pagan in attendance, either.

I also have attended Catholic and Jewish wedding ceremonies in my life. I don't have to be part of a religion to share the importance of its ceremony.