Valuables Traditions Rites of passage - 624 Words

In a BBC article, Dr. Janssen, a sociologist, asserts, â€Å"People thought rituals were fixed and never hanged but of course they do†¦they get reinterpreted all the time† (Smith-Spark). Unfortunately, the changes referred to in these quotes are for the worse. Almost all cultures have rites of passage that evolve over time, and these have become harmful to their culture and society. After establishing the difference between helpful and harmful rites of passage, it will be easy to see why they need to be changed. Once these factors have been analyzed, it will be obvious that rites of passage are culturally important, but those that have crossed the line of appropriateness should be modified to restore the benefits of these valuable traditions. Rites of passage that inspire positive change can lead to substantial benefits, and are necessary in our world. An example of a religious rite of passage that has major benefits is the Bar Mitzvah. In preparation for the ceremony, I learned to recite many prayers, how to read part of the Torah, and more about myself as a person and Jew. In this transition, the ceremony is not where the actual transition takes place, but the celebration of going through the change and the recitation of what one has learned and done in the process. Major transitions do not take place instantaneously, they gradually occur. Bar Mitzvahs are very beneficial rites of passage, because of how they evoke positive change from adolescent Jews who want to express theirShow MoreRelatedBreaking the Disney Spell2039 Words   |  9 Pagesaddresses many issues, including those of context, society, and alteration of plot. He accuses Walt Disney of attacking the literary tradition of the fairy tale (344). While many s cholars disagree with Zipes accusations, his essay makes very solid and well-presented points that he promptly backs with fact. Regardless of what the scholars say, Zipes was right: Oral tradition is important, and Disneys representations of historical folktales damaged fairy tales as we know them. When Walt Disney began hisRead More My Big Fat Cultural Wedding Essay1602 Words   |  7 Pages The wedding ceremony is a celebratory event romanticized by couples nationwide for its ability to unite creativity and tradition in a convenient package. One need only observe the plethora of wedding trends, from outlandishly alternative to stringently orthodox, to understand how important representing individuality remains among contemporary couples. In retrospect, much of the symbolisms attributed to these trends come from centuries of applied social significance; couples see the most value inRead MoreSyria Is A Secular State Of The Middle East1437 Words   |  6 Pagesin the heart of the Middle East known for its diversity, and old inhabited city. The people of Syria find themselves amongst Greek ruins form early mosques in the history of Islam. The past play a major role in modern Syria in how it defines its traditions and religious practices despite its lack of government since 1946 ; Syria has a long history of culture. The people of Syria place their importance on religion, family, self- discipline, education, and respect. Syrians identify with their religiousRead MoreThe Massain and the Nuer Peoples of Africa1705 Words   |  7 Pagessolely on pastoralism as an adaptive strategy for survival. After numerous discussions with informants from both groups, it is extremely clear how valuable cattle are to both societies and how they feature in almost every aspect of their lives. Cattle not only provide the groups with a variety of essential food products, they are also extremely valuable both religiously and economically. The Maasai are a race that have adapted extremely well to the unforgiving climate of the African continent. NotRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Grief And Bereavement1941 Words   |  8 Pagesand their cultural traditions. In each culture, rituals and customs surround death helping people mourn and grieve. Rituals help people express their grief and proved opportunities for family members, friends, and community members to support the bereaved. Death can crate sadness, chaos and confusion and rituals provide a sense of normalcy, and a set of directions that help structure the time around death, people’s roles, and expectations. The ancient Greek religion had a tradition and rituals thatRead MoreAnalyzing Smith ´s The Meaning and End of Religion2136 Words   |  9 Pagesstates, â€Å"If religion or a religion is anything at all, it is not only in fact but in theory something in which actual living, historical persons are involved† (1838). Therefore, he offers his theories of examining â€Å"faith† and â€Å"cumulative tradition† as more valuable for any intellectual analysis of the religious experience of mankind. With these two separate, albeit, related concepts, Smith theorizes that religious studies can better grasp both the mundane and the transcendent aspects that make up theRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Incas Through Spanish Eyes Essay1394 Words   |  6 Pagesstate-based agrarian civilization, Aztec and Inca empires, played a huge role by making up the population of the Americas. With this being said, a lot of the Americas history lies within the boundaries of the empires. This history includes literary tradition, records about the civilizations culture, and observations of the Spanish who conquered them in the early sixteenth century. 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The manager having a positive attitude and being able to influence their employees’ attitudes makes them a valuable asset to the company and its employees. Like attitudes, moods change often and are easily influenced. Moods are usually positive and negative like attitudes but they can also be neutral. Moods are a feeling as opposed to a collection of feelingsRead More The 2nd Vatican Council Essay2708 Words   |  11 PagesThe 2nd Vatican Council Starting with the First Council of Nicaea in 325 the Catholic Church established a tradition of ecumenical Council meetings to help decide on and shape the future of the Church. The most recent Council, called Vatican II, is considered to be both the largest ever in scope and also the most ground breaking in the amount of change it yielded. The changes in doctrine, dogma and procedure they enacted had major effects both inside and outside the Catholic Church and continue