Since my birth, I was raised Catholic. I believe in all the scriptures, traditions, and rituals of my religion. One tradition that is part of my religion is the welcoming of a new citizen into God’s kingdom. One of these rituals is baptism. Baptism has been a key rite in Christianity’s history. The individual who is baptized must be accompanied by a group of godparents. They will help their godson/goddaughter in this journey of acceptance. The godparents are chosen by the parents if the child is young. The priest pours water onto the person’s head as a sign of cleansing and to mark the end of baptism. My parents were only five months old when I was baptized. My baptism was influenced by my godparents, who are also aunt and uncle. Although I was not granted this rite by my parents, I am thankful that they made it possible for me. I believe strongly in God and Catholicism even today. I have also been baptized and experienced other milestones in catholicism, such as confirmation, communion, and confirmation. I feel closer to God because of being baptized. Arnold van Gennep defines “rites of passage” as any set of rituals which help to transform an individual’s personality (Robbins et. al. 2016, 61). The catholic religion considers baptism a very important sacrament. It transforms an individual from an average person to a citizen in God’s kingdom. Not only does a baptism perfectly match Arnold van Gennep’s definition, but it also includes the three phases of a rite-of-passage. These phases include seperation, reincorporation and liminality. Robbins et. al., 2016. The first stage in a rite is the seperation of an individual from their identity. 2016, 61). In Catholicism, each person born into this universe is considered a child by God. Your identity before you are baptized is one of God’s children, without any formal commitment to him. This rite of passage’s separation phase is where you will be before you can begin to form your new identity as a Catholic priest. Robbins et.al. (2005). 2016, page). With the help of the godparents and parents, the priest conducts the transition. The priest will first recite a variety of promises and prayers. The priest then applies special oil to the head of the person in the form a cross. To complete the cleansing process, water is poured over the head. The liminality is the final phase of a baptism. It includes all the rituals and prayers that were used to transform the subject’s life. After the ceremony is over, the individual will enter the reincorporation stage. After the ceremony has ended, the reincorporation is the final step in the process of a baptized individual maintaining their new identity. They must live up their Catholic Church title once they have been baptized. As a citizen, you must go to church every week, try to be more like Jesus, spread the gospel through speech and actions. The reincorporation is not only spiritual but also physical. Praying/communicating with God on a daily basis, by their self or in a community, keeps their relationship with God strong. According to Arnold van Gennep, baptism is a rite that marks a person’s passage. The subject is separated from God’s kingdom at birth, but after a short transitional period, their identity is transformed and they are able to continue living in God’s kingdom. A baptism that is performed as a ceremony of naming a child, such as when they are baptized in their infant state, could be considered a baptism. The baptism usually proceeds as usual. At the end of the ceremony, the parents will announce the name of the child to the priest. Christianity is not only the religion that has a name ceremony. The subject also experiences a spiritual journey. Namakarana, a Hinduism religion that names the child 12 days after his or her birth, is an example. The baby is separated from all family and friends for 11 days prior to Namakarana. The baby is vulnerable during the first 11 days and must be kept isolated to allow them to adjust to the new environment. The ceremony may begin at the baby’s home on the 12th. This is when the parents, grandparents and a few of their close friends gather. Similar to Christian baptisms, the baby wears special clothing and is dipped in water to symbolize cleansing. Namakarana is a ceremony of naming. It varies from one location to the next. The aunt, in most cases, Bengal and Gujarat, is responsible for choosing the name and whispering it into the baby’s ear before announcing it to the rest of the family. In most cases, the priest will recite a set chants while lighting a sacred candle and lighting the sacred fire. These chants strengthen the connection between the child (Raj and Rao 2013, 377). Namakarana, which is similar to baptism, can be performed on adults (Iwasaki 1963: 341). Namakarana cannot be performed on an individual who has converted to Hinduism. In this instance, the convert must repent of their previous religion and choose a Hindu name that reflects their devotion to Hinduism. Once they have declared their Hindu name, they will need to write the new name in uncooked rice. An adult can choose to be baptized in Christianity if they are already Christians. Namakarana and baptism are two of the many differences that explain this difference between Hindu and Christian traditions. The Christian faith allows for a person to be baptized at any age, but it is more common to do so in their first year. Namakarana in Hinduism must be performed 12 days after the child’s birth. The baptism must be performed in public in a church that has the priest, parents, godparents, and other involved. Namakarana is a ceremony that takes place at the baby’s home. Only a small number of people are invited and there are no godparents. A baptism is not always a ceremony of naming. It is more about establishing a person’s citizenship within God’s kingdom. Namakarana permits the Gods blessing the newborn, but it’s primarily a ceremony for naming the child, even if they are an adult. Every rite gives the subject a chance to regain their identity by being closer to God. While each ceremony is similar in its destination, each journey takes the subject to a different place. These traditions/rituals are what make each religion unique. Cite this Work
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