Amish rite of passage: Rumspringa
Does the event meet the definition of a rite of passage?
Demonstrate how the event meets all three stages of a rite of passage
Describe the ritualistic symbols associated with the rite of passage
Describe the purpose of the rite of passage from three perspectives: anthropologist, sociologist and psychologist
Briefly compare/contrast how the rite of passage has changed over time
1. Rite of Passage Definition
A ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, especially birth, puberty, marriage, and death.
Rumspringa is a ceremony where the Amish youth turn 16 and are finally able to enjoy, the term refers to a limbo period in every Amish life when they are entering adulthood. During Rumspringa, they are encouraged to enjoy whatever pleasures they like. The purpose of this period is to give Amish youth the opportunity to see and experience the world beyond their own culture. Returning to their community and way of life after they experience the rest of the world is entirely their choice. Those who return are then baptized and become committed members of the Amish church and community, marking the end of Rumspringa.
2. The three stages
Separation: When Amish teenagers turn 16, the teenagers are free from parental control and because they aren’t baptized yet, they don’t follow the rules from the church because they have not pledged submission to the church. They essentially have freedom to try out new things and
In general, when a member of the Amish community dies, their body will be embalmed. Unlike most of the more conservative religions, the Amish believe in using both arterial embalming (The process of injecting chemicals into the arterial system of the body) and visceral embalming (The process of injecting chemicals into the viscera or organs). In most modern circumstances, the Amish family will use an English funeral home (There are VERY few Amish funeral home) for the preservation of
3. Characterize the initiation ritual. How do you think it compares to the “real” ritual – if such a ritual exists?
Analyse how Christian religious practices influence the lives of adherents. In your answer, refer to baptism.
In the Metropolitan Museum of art there is a wide verity of objects for the Northwest tribes. In the Northwest coast music is highly associated with ceremonies and feasts known as the potlatches. Potlatches were held by a host to establish or uphold his status position in society. Other times they were to signify a significant event in his family like the birth of a child, a daughter's first menses, or a son's marriage. Potlatches are to be successful and guests are invited to a potlatch to share food and receive gifts or payment. The host provides everything from food, drink, entertainment and, also his gifts to each of his guests. The value of the gift depends on the social status of the recipient, the higher the respect for him the more valuable the gift is. If his gift in not that valuable or wanted it would look bad for the provider. If this happens the host must add another gift to satisfy his guest. A potlatch can last for several days when celebrating a passing spirit that contains feasting, singing, performing ritual dances, competitions and other events.
Amish children are considered to be done furthering their education after 8th grade. At this point, the young women are to learn how to manage the household. Likewise, the young men learn how to manage and maintain the farm. Amish people do not allow people to join the military, because “they follow the biblical aspect of love thy neighbor and forbids violence and active military service” (AmishCountry.org, 2015). Alternative treatments are what they use instead of seeking professional help, but when that fails they do what is necessary (AmishCountry.org, 2015). “Amish pay state, federal and county taxes and usually refuse Social Security benefits” (AmishCountry.org, 2015). Their faith and religion makes it mandatory for them to care for their
In modern years have changed a bit since when they first started their culture. For example, instead of completely not allowing contact or running around, they have an exception which allows the teenagers and young adults to go out for a few years to test the waters you could say. The things they occasionally do are drink, date, and drive cars. This way before they accept baptism and their responsibilities start within the community, they can see what the outside world is like. This is different from when the reformation started because the Amish had a set of rules everyone was to follow otherwise there would be consequences for these actions.
Roles in the Amish community are largely based on gender. Males are the leaders within the Amish community. Life is based on religion. The church is responsible for enforcing rules, conducting ceremonies like burials or baptisms. Adolescence is also a very important time for the Amish. It is a very important time as it is the last times of youthful freedom and the time before their adult baptism. Even though parents know their children are dating, it is rarely talked or encouraged at home. Amish communities allow adolescents to experience the world of non Amish. As a result there have been several court cases over the last few years where Amish youth have been convicted of drug distribution among Amish communities.
Many people have experienced a Rite of Passage at least once in their lives without recognizing it. Experiencing a Rite of Passage is necessary to becoming an adult. A Rite of Passage can be both formal and informal, they both indicate a shift from one state to another. Formal Rites of Passages are weddings, Quinceañeras, and Bar Mitzvah, whereas informal Rites of Passages are a person’s first kiss, first job, and or the loss of a person 's virginity. Julia Alvarez focuses on the process and idea of Quinceañeras in her article "Selections from Once Upon A Quinceañera." Also included in this article is Jaider Sánchez that witnessed the sexual part of the ritual and Isabella Martinez Wall who talks about the benefits of the ritual on her life.Although many people believe that experiencing a Rites of Passage is not directly related to one 's self identity, these rituals both informal and formal do in fact affect one 's personal identity.
Rumspringa is an important element of the Amish teen life, a time to explore different lifestyles, along with dating.
Before a wedding ceremony is thought of or takes place the couple preparing for marriage usually separate from their families and begin to make a home together. During the separation phase from each of his or her families an engagement occurs. A typical engagement consists of the man
The Amish are one subculture that has certain beliefs that separate them from other Christian denominations. The Bible influences their idea of the way they should dress;Therefore they believe that modesty is humility and what they wear helps display their faith. Amish men and boys only wear dark solid color clothing with cut vest jackets. They do not wear belts, buttons, and jewelry because of its flashy appearance and boastfulness it displays. Females of the Amish community are to wear calf-length solid color dresses with either a black or white aprons. On their heads, they have to wear prayer caps.These prayer caps allow the women to pray whenever they want to, because they are not allowed to pray by men without it. Amish women are never to cut their hair and the Amish men do not grow their hair out; however,they can grow facial hair once they get married. There are many rules on what the Amish can and cannot wear . Modesty is great, however to that extent other Christians will disagree. Other Christians believe that no matter what you wear, God will not love you less.
Individual accounts of psychology in the readings, despite negligible difference, are evidence that an individual’s behavior or experience can be reflective of a greater societal trend. Karen Armstrong’s work “Homo Religiosus” analyzes the transformation of the religious institution over time and the various practices performed by individuals and groups. Armstrong describes a spiritual Palaeolithic hunter tradition to transition a boy into manhood:
* Does the ritual seek to have practical outcomes (health, safety, prosperity)? Social outcomes (a change in status)? Emotional outcomes (feelings)?
The Amish, who are also called “The Plain People” or Old Order Amish, originated in Switzerland in approximately 1525. They originated from a movement called the Anabaptist movement. Jacom Amman was the leader. This happened during the reformation in the16th Century Europe. They believed in holding on to traditions and keeping themselves separated from the world. He was stricter about this than other Anabaptists of that time. The Anabaptists were against the union of church and state and also against infant baptism. They felt that each individual should make this choice for himself when he or she is old enough. They felt the age for baptism was about 18 years. This disagreed with the laws of the time. It was
The general study of humans and their ways of life is called Anthropology. Anthropology have four classic subdivisions: Cultural (or socio-cultural) Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistics Anthropology and Biological (or physical) Anthropology. He or she who typically had some training in each of these four classic subdivisions in fact, have connected them to one another within a large field anthropology study. Moreover, he or she can use the theoretical knowledge and findings of anthropology to solve real-world problems surrounding human beings or human customs. Anthropologist has an idea that the beliefs and practices of a culture should be understood within the context that particular culture’s background, history and current events surrounding it called Cultural relativism. The main objective of this final research paper is examining my own culture from etic (i.e. outsider’s) perspective and another culture from emic (i.e. insider’s) perspective to clearly show my personal understanding of cultural relativism. Specifically, I will examine the rites of passage in African American girls/women lived reality and effects of the intersectional race, class and gender oppression in America coupled with discussing Japanese different rituals comparison to American outlook into death and the afterlife. All in all, rites of passage are done differently and makes a difference in its own society.