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T he R ites of P assage. Ryan White. Resources. The Rites of Passage by Arnold Van Gennep Ancient Israel by Roland De Vaux The Threshold Covenant by Henry Clay Trumbull The Bible by God What is Liminality? http://www.liminality.org/about/whatisliminality
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The Rites of Passage Ryan White
Resources • The Rites of Passage by Arnold Van Gennep • Ancient Israel by Roland De Vaux • The Threshold Covenant by Henry Clay Trumbull • The Bible by God • What is Liminality?http://www.liminality.org/about/whatisliminality • Betwixt and Between: The Liminal Period by Victor Turner (http://www2.fiu.edu/~ereserve/010010095-1.pdf) • The Ritual Process by Victor Turner (Excerpts: http://faculty.dwc.edu/wellman/Turner.htm) • Enthronement of Yahweh by Jeremy J. Stewart • What Do Shaving Rites Accomplish and What Do They Signal in Biblical Ritual Contexts? by Saul Olyan • The Leper in Leviticus by Jeff Schulman • Circumcision as a Rite of Covenant by Erich Isaac • Graded Holiness by Phillip Peter Jenson
What are the 'Rites of Passage'? They are a process that occurs during times of significant change, because there is such a big difference between the two states or areas, there is a need for rites to be performed in order to ensure proper transition.
When were the Rites of Passage performed? Betrothal Childbirth Marriage Transition to a New Country Social Puberty Change in Social Status Adoption Death Occupation Specialization Religious Conversion Change in Season
Rites of Passage Old Man New Man Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Preparation for incorporation • Isolation from normal society • Training period • Trials and test • “set apart” • Typically 7 days (but not always) • State of ambiguity • Separation from the old • Death & rebirth (symbolic) • Purification from old self • Leaving the old ways • Integration into the new • Sacrifice often involved • Consecration into new renewal • New name given
“In buildings, only the main door was the site of entrance/exit rites, perhaps because it was consecrated by a special rite or because it faces a favorable direction”
Rites of Passage ANE Marriage Unmarried (Child) Married Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Separation from the old • Betrothal – Anointing head with oil • Shaving bride’s head • Living with groom’s family • Veil on wedding day • Preparation for incorporation • Learning to live as a wife • Mourning for parents (Deut 21) • Preparation for wedding day • Integration into the new • Wedding ceremony & feast • Carrying over the threshold • Consummation of marriage with sign of blood
Rites of Passage Abram The Pagan Abraham The Hebrew Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Preparation for incorporation • Walking to Cana’an • Trial’s and tribulations in the land • Egypt • Lot • Hagar • Binding of Isaac • Separation from the old • Leaving Mesopotamia • Leaving idolatry • Falling into a deep slumber • Integration into the new • Circumcision • Covenant of the pieces • Renaming ‘Abraham’ • Redemption of Isaac (new life)
Passover Israelite Slaves Vassal kings To yhvh Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Integration into the new • Circumcision • 10 Commandments – Suzerainty treaty • Boundaries on the mountain • Covenant meal with leadership • Sprinkling of blood in Exod 24 • Separation from the old • Lamb’s blood on doorpost • Restriction & removal of leaven • Trial by Ordeal/Purification in the Red Sea • Preparation for incorporation • Passage to Mt Sinai • Trials/testing en route • Preparation for meeting YHVH
The Exodus Israelite Slaves Vassal kings To yhvh Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Separation from the old • Passover • Crossing through the Red Sea • Receiving Torah/Shunning idolatry • Preparation for incorporation • Learning Torah • Trials and Tribulation for 40 years • Minimal historical accounts • Ambiguity – not yet received inheritance • Integration into the new • Covenant renewal at Mt Gerazim and Mt Ebal • Crossing the Jordan • (re) circumcision
Levites (sons of Aaron) Priesthood (Exod 29, Lev 8-9) Priests unto yhvh Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Integration into the new • Altar purification • Purification of priests with blood • Consecration of the altar • Index to altar • Official garments signifying office • Separation from the old • Wash with water • Anoint with oil • Removal of old clothing • Preparation for incorporation • 7 day training period • Priests, but not yet able to officiate
Purification Lev 14 Restored Covenant Israelite “Leprosy” defilement Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Separation from the old • Cleansed of disease (corpse defilement) • “Scape-bird” ritual of cleansing • Shave, bath, wash clothes (repeat on day 7) • Preparation for incorporation • Live inside the camp, but outside the tent • Preparation for integration into normal Israelite society • Integration into the new • Purification with blood and oil upon right side appendages • Re-index with altar • Anointed with oil
The Tabernacle Unclean World Clean Physical World Courtyard Spiritual World Holy of Holies Altar Holy Place Cf. Mt. Sinai Importance of boundary maintenance Liminal Zone
Rites of Passage – The Zebach ShelamimThe Legal Means to Approach YHVH Elevated Holiness Communion with God Common Common Animal fully eaten Slaughter of the animal pg 22, Sacrifice: its nature and functions
Rites of Passage – The Calendar Liminal Period Elevated Holiness Old Season/Month New Season/Month Rites of Integration Rites of Separation
Rites of Passage – Mourning for the Dead State of Ritual Defilement Common Common Corpse Defilement Enter a state of mourning Cleansed by waters of chatta’at (Red Heifer)
Other Examples • Numbers 31:12-24 -> Purification after battle • The Nazarite vow • Bondservant: Exodus 21:2-6 • The "abbuttu lock," the marker of the slave in some Mesopotamian contexts, is imposed by means of shaving when the slave is separated for slavery; cutting the abbuttu lock frees the slave (Laws of Hammurabi, Eshnunna) • Parturient • Pesach for a ger who wants to become native born • Deuteronomy 22 -> War bride • Coronation of kings • David’s ascent to the throne • 2 Sam 12 -> David weeping for his son for 7 days. => Don’t mar your beard
Importance of Rites of Passage “The Rites of Passage satisfy psychological needs of the individual undergoing a life crisis, as well as the needs of the community for creating and maintaining throughout its generations an agreed set of values and ways of life” "It is dangerous to cross boundaries, since the transgression of a norm can provoke a reaction from whomever or whatever is associated with the preservation of the order, whether demons, God, nature, or society. You must have permission to cross boundaries and also to perform the proper protocol to cross the boundaries.”
Legal Passage of Yeshua Yeshua, Son of God: Messiah Yeshua, Son of Joseph Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Separation from the old • Mikveh in the Jordan river • Legal Adoption by YHVH through adoption language from heaven • Preparation for incorporation • Led by Spirit (i.e. the Tutor) into the wilderness for 40 days • Trials/testing by hasatan • Yeshua overcame the test that Adam failed. • Integration into the new • John the Baptist dies before Yeshua starts his ministry • Anointed with oil (Mark 14)
Legal Conversion Israelite citizen Gentile Pagan Rites of Separation Rites of Incorporation Rites of Transition • Physical circumcision – partake in Passover • Position/role in community • At Yeshua’s return: • Renewed covenant, marriage supper • Circumcision of heart • New names, new garments • Legal adoption – Mikveh and confession of faith in Yeshua • Separation from idolatry – Acts 15:3, 19-21 • Rom 6, Eph 4:21, Col 3 • Separation from society – John 15:19 • Weekly Torah study – Acts 15:21 • John 16:7, 13, Heb 5:12, Gal 3:21-28 • Trials of life, learning Holiness, preparation to be the Bride • Yeshua is the Door (liminal)
More from Paul Romans 6:11-16 Ephesians 4:30 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Galatians 4:1-6
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