Neuenschwander - Rites

8/4/2019 Neuenschwander - Rites

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Designing Rites of

Passage for BoysBy Robert Neuenschwander


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Current Problem

Few (if any) true initiations into adulthood areactive in the West

Ones that remain are Small

Ineffective

Limited to closed groups


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World Without Rites

Solid sense of adult identity needed for a healthy society

Absent rites cause

Diffuse ritualization Knowledge gained from any available source

Peer initiation

Unconscious self-initiation

This leads to Distorted self-images

Violence

Lack of vocational direction


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What is a Rite?

Ronald L. Grimes - While rites-of-passageprograms are partly intended to build self-esteem,

they also focus on practical matters that can be achallenge to young men and women. Instruction isoften provided in topics such as financialmanagement, sex education, nutrition, personalhygiene, and decision making.


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Remaining Rites

Religious Baptism, confirmation, bar mitzvah, christenings, firstcommunion (often occurring at a younger age), visionquest

Group Graduation (high school, college), completion of BoyScouts, athletics and sports, military

Personal - Teen Quinceaera / Sweet Sixteen / major birthday,start/end of puberty, dbutante balls

Personal 18+ Moving out of home, first major job, marriage

Negative Gang initiation, hazing, random risk taking


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Anatomy of a Rite

Part 1 Separation A focused detachment from a previous way of living Cutting away of childish actions and beliefs

Part 2 Transition Longest/most intense phase Learning about life, responsibilities, work with mentors

Part 3 Ceremony/Incorporation A public declaration that rites test have been completed New adult is ready to be a full adult member in the

community This is the main (and mostly remaining) focus in modern

West


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Constructing A Rite

When is it time?

Often around the onset of puberty

Are you making these statements or questions? I want more out of my life.

I am struggling with issues or problems I do not know howto solve. I do not even know if there IS an answer.

I do not like the way the men I see act and I want to find a

way to be different. I would like to have a place where I can be totally myself

and be respected for it.

I want to be a leader.


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Rite Teachers

Boy is provided with anumber of successful andpowerful mentors, well-

known community leaders

Some adult womeninvolved in the beginning,mostly men at the end

Mentors becomeresponsible for characterdevelopment


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Rite Tests

Boy is provided with ongoing challenges

Physical

Constructing, exploring, adventure into the unknown

Being a man involves work and effort

Mental

Puzzles and situations where thought is neededbefore action

Being a man involves wisdom and foresight


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Rites with Heart

Emotion-laden challenges

Though with a guide

Often a mentor that hasbonded with the boy

Mentor there to provideencouragement and on-the-spot insights

Emotions/values to face:fear, grief, empathy, love,valor, courage, honor,sacrifice, peace


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Rites Involve Groups

Not a solo act

Rites take place in groups

Trusted set of brothers-in-arms

Someone to lean on, goingthrough same experience

Later ability to recognize

who has passed rites tests


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Secret Knowledge

Traditions/instructions are passed down

Family, community, religious

The roles of a successful man:

Community leader

How to add value to his home and neighbors

Husband

How to relate to women

Father

How to raise sons properly


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Names

Boy is given or decides on anew name

Mikey becomes Mike

Bob becomes Robert

Childhood nicknames aredropped

Part of discarding the boy

New identity to confirmnew role


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Victories

Boy earns physicalrepresentations of hissuccesses

A reminder of a test beingpassed

Emblem, badge, item fromthe test itself

Example Boy Scout

badges


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Rite Completion

A community ceremony, where boy is judged andencouraged by parents and mentors

Young man makes a public declaration of: Who he is

What he seeks

His goal in life / what he has to offer the world


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Post-Rite

When the rites are done,they are done

Boy joins the men as anequal and is treated as such

New man can now

Build his own home

Find a wife Raise a family

Add his voice tocommunity discussions


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Rite Impact

If rites of passage are emphasized, the result will be:

Men who can define their role in life

Men who know who they are and where they aregoing in life

Men who are independent but can still acceptguidance from elders

Men who can properly relate to women

Men who are fit and prepared to raise children

Men willing to pass on their knowledge to the nextgeneration


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Current Models

The following websites are some of theorganizations attempting to revive modern rites ofpassage:

http://www.aliveadventures.com/

http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/

http://www.thecornerstonespath.com/ http://www.thresholdpassages.org/

http://www.ymaw.com/
http://www.aliveadventures.com/http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/http://www.thecornerstonespath.com/http://www.thresholdpassages.org/http://www.ymaw.com/http://www.ymaw.com/http://www.ymaw.com/http://www.thresholdpassages.org/http://www.thresholdpassages.org/http://www.thecornerstonespath.com/http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/http://www.aliveadventures.com/http://www.aliveadventures.com/


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Works Consulted

Crossroads: the quest for contemporary rites of passage. (1996).Open Court: Chicago.

Grimes, R. (2000). Deeply into the bone: re-inventing rites of

passage. University of California Press: Berkeley.

Gurian, M. (2009). The Purpose of boys. Jossey-Bass: SanFrancisco.

Hill, J. and Daniels, P. (2008). Life events and rites of passage.Omnigraphics: Detroit.

Lewis, R. (2007). Raising a modern day knight. Tyndale HousePublishers: Carol Stream, IL.

Websites on previous page also consulted.

Documents

Neuenschwander - Rites