Compare and Contrast examples from the same religious rites from two

traditions. Including symbols and sacred texts

A rite refers to a formal act in a religious observance. Religious rites are significant
acts performed or undertaken by believers in celebrating, symbolising and making
present central beliefs of the religious traditions. Religious rites can be divided into
three different categories. That is rites of passage, Rites of personal devotion and rites
of Public worship. For the sake of this essay symbols, sacred texts, similarities and
differences will be discussed in relation to the rite of passage in two Semitic religions
of Christianity and Judaism. A rite of passage can be defined as an act of celebration
going from one stage of ones life to another.
Christianitys first rite of passage is baptism. Baptism is an initiation ceremony
welcoming the child into the Christian community. A baptism must always occur on a
Sunday which is the Christian day of worship. In most denominations of Christianity,
the act of baptism usually occurs when the person is an infant. This is also referred to
as infant baptism. However this does not always occur in every denomination within
Christianity. For example the Baptist Church does not have baptisms till a child is in
their teens. This is because the Baptists community believe that a person should chose
their own religion and at the stage of adolescence a person is mature enough to decide
which faith they would like to be part of. Another exception is the Rite of Christian
Initiation of adults (RCIA) which exists for adults who wish to convert in
Catholicism. This always needs to occur throughout the duration of the Easter Liturgy.
Like Christians, the religious traditions of Judaism also have rites of passage. The first
rite of passage is only offered to males. That is the male child is circumcised. The
main difference between this rite of passage and baptism is that circumcision is not a
formal stage of initiation but is an act which allows Jews to fulfill their Covenant with
G-d. This tradition of fulfilling the Covenant first began when Abraham circumcised
Isaac. The covenant is evident in Genesis 17:9-12 where G-d commands Every male
among you shall be circumcised the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a sign of
the Covenant between me and you He that is eight days old among you shall be
circumcised. This reference from the Pentateuch also suggest like Christian Baptisms
a child must be circumcised on a certain time. For Christians baptism it is all
celebrated on a Sunday however for Jewish circumcisions this must always occur
eight days after the male is born.

Pidyon ha-Ben is a celebration that accompanies circumcision for the child of

a family if it is a male.
This ritual is performed on the 31st day after the child is born. Child with
Orthodox Jews usually becomes a priest to serve in the temple
The first child in a Christian community does not have any special ceremony.
However in the Orthodox denomination in Christianity after 40 days of being
born the child comes to church. (This is occur before being baptized) the male
baby is taken into the alter behind the iconostasis however the female does not
go behind the alter. This is an official welcoming into the church community.
The male only goes behind the alter because there is a possibility that when he
grows up he may become a priest. This is similar to the idea on Pidyon HaBen

Orthodox Christians also have various procedures that both male and female
children undergo. That is at time of baptism the child receives communion,
baptism, reconciliation and confirmation.

Similarities are that both traditions have celebrants that conduct the ceremony:
Christians have priests and Jews have Mohels.

Christians have a priest or celebrant

With orthodox Jews or Sephardic Jews the Mohel uses his nail to cut the
foreskin of the penis and alcohol as antiseptic. However with reformed Jews
or Ashenazic Jews the Mohel uses surgical instruments such as a scalpel and
antiseptic. The significant action that is taken by Christians is that the child is
dunked head first three times. (die first and live again)

Both have god parents. Kvatterin and Kvatter

Both have a Blessing and naming ceremony. On the 7th day the Jewish child
receives their name. On Baptism the child receives their middle name.

Christians believe that a child is born with original sin however Jews do not
believe in the concept of original sin.

With circumcision only males take place in the ceremony but with baptism all
are welcome.
Orthodox Jews need a minyan for a bris but reformed Jews dont need one.

SYMBOLS:
Throne of Elijah: Elijah as the patron for circumcision and needs to be present
at every bris. Therefore the chair acts a symbol of Elijah.
Sandak: person who hold the baby. This is the highest honor
Reader of the blessing: often a rabbi or Mohel recites 2 blessing before the
bris.
Symbols:

Baptismal font
Oil
Wine blood of Jesus connection the blood in circumcision
Water-new birth
Anointing with oil of chrism- salvation
Clothed in white- rite of passage/ Christian dignity
Baptismal candle

Sacred writings: Jews

As above. Genesis 17: 9-12

Sacred writing:

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be
condemned Mark 16: 15-16