The researcher aimed to learn about and compare rites of passage in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Key rites include baptism/christening for babies, confirmation ceremonies for youth, marriage rituals, and funeral practices. In Christianity, infants may be baptized or dedicated, youth confirm their faith, marriage involves vows in front of clergy, and funerals include prayer and scripture. Similar rites occur in Judaism and Islam, such as circumcision for baby boys and wedding contracts, though details vary between faiths. The researcher concluded rites of passage mark important life stages and bring individuals into and through their religious communities.

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STATEMENT OF AIMS
The researcher aims to:
 Learn and also educate the reader about rites of passage in Christianity.
 Describe each rite of passage and compare them to those of Judaism and Islam.
 Highlight how each rite of passage is important to the religion.

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INFORMATION COLLECTED
HOW WHERE WHEN
New Step in Religious Education
Book 1 to retrieve information on
the rites of passage in Christianity.
Book was issued at the Old
Harbour Library (101 Almond
Drive, Old Harbour).
July 7,2014
Mastering World Religions to
retrieve information on the rites of
passage in Christianity, Judaism
and Islam.
Book was issued at the Old
Harbour Library (101 Almond
Drive, Old Harbour).
July 15,2014
BBC-Religion website to retrieve
information on the rites of passage
in passage in Judaism and Islam.
Internet July 20,2014
Religious Education for CSEC
Study Guide to retrieve
information on the significance of
each rite of passage.
Book was purchased at Kingston
Book Shop (10 King Street,
Kingston).
August 8,2014
BBC-Religion website to retrieve
information on the significance of
each rite of passage.
Internet August 20,2014

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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
“A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's transition from one status to
another in a religion,” according to BBC-Religion. Upon the birth of an individual until their
death different rituals are practiced to mark important milestones in a person’s life.
In Christianity, upon the birth of a child, the child is christened as a form of initiation to
the Christian community. In a typical Christening ceremony, parents or Godparents bring their
child to their congregation's priest or minister who baptize the new born child usually 3 months
old in a font ,the priest or minister may use holy water to sprinkled on the baby’s head. At the
moment of christening, the minister utters the words "I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Some churches do not believe in baptism of infants, so
there is dedication service where Christian parents make a promise to the Lord to do everything
within their power to raise the child in a Godly way until he or she can make a decision on his or
her own to follow God. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in
God's word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God's ways, and
praying earnestly for the child. .
In the Christian religion Confirmation Ceremony and Believer’s Baptism are practice to
show a person’s commitment to God. Confirmation Ceremony is performed in churches that
practice in the infant baptism. In this ceremony the child, upon reaching the age of 12 or older
renews and confirms the commitment that was made by Parents and Godparents at the
christening ceremony. During this ceremony priest repeats the same questions that were asked
during the christening ceremony. After this the bishop or priest lays his hands on the head each
candidate. Believer’s Baptism is practice in churches that do not believe infants should be

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baptized. This is where a person is totally immersed in water to symbolize the drowning of their
sins and baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. It is said that the person is
born again in Christ and are called “Born again Christians”.
Marriage is defined in Ray Colledge’s book ‘Mastering World Religions’ as the union of
a man and a woman in the sight of God. Accord to Colledge’s book Christians believe that God
designed men and women to live together faithfully in marriage. In Anglican churches banns are
read on each Sunday for 3 weeks before the wedding so that anyone with an objection can object.
It is the norm for the bribe to wear a white dress as a symbol of purity as marriage is the
atmosphere in which couples should have sex and raise children. During the wedding ceremony
the priest discusses the meaning of marriage and allows the bride and groom to exchange their
vows. The bride and groom promise to love, cherish, each other for better or for worse, for rich
or for poor, in sickness and in health till death do them apart.
Upon the death of Christian member it is up to relative decide whether the person should
be cremated or buried. According to BBC religion, Christians believe that when someone dies it
is simply just the end of their life on earth and that when someone dies, they are judged by God.
They believe that the righteous go to Heaven and the sinners go to Hell. Family and friends can
participate in the Lord's Prayer, the Word of God and Holy Communion. During funerals people
are reminded of the words Jesus said to his followers:
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”
John 11:2

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ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF INFORMATION COLLECTED
Most of the religions present today have a lot in common, the researcher has highlighted
similarities and also the differences that Christianity has in common with other religions,
particularly Judaism and Islam. When a baby is born the parents may believe that at this time,
soon after birth the child should be committed to God and grown in his way. In Christianity upon
the birth of a child there is a christening ceremony to welcome them into Christian community
similarly in the Judaism upon the birth of a baby the baby is welcomed into the Jewish
community by the means of a Brit Milah ceremony. In the Brit Milah ceremony, eight days after
birth, the baby is circumcised by a Mohel. The circumcision of the child is means of welcoming
the child into the covenant between God and Abraham. If the child is a girl the father announces
the babies name and reads from the Torah in the Synagogue. Muslims also believe that upon
birth the child should be welcomed in to the religion and so as soon as a baby is born the Adhan
prayer is whisper into the babies’ ear. Muslims believe that these word mark beginning to the
child’s spiritual learning. After the Adhan prayer is whispered the baby is fed a small piece of
date1 and prayers are said in hope that the child will grow up sweet. This is known as the Tahnik
ceremony.
At the age of 12, Christians believe that children are accountable for their sin; This is
usually the age that baptism or confirmation service takes place. Similarly, in the Jewish culture
at the age of 13 it is believed that children are accountable for their sins and seen as adults. This
is where the boy has a Bat mitzvah ceremony and the girl has a coming of age ceremony. In
Islam, a child is considered a Muslim from birth but it is acknowledged that individuals must
1
Date is a fruit from a date palm, a tree native to Northern Africa and theMiddle East, although it is also cultivated in other parts
of the world.

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make their own conscious decision to follow Islam but there is no special initiation ceremony to
mark this.
In Christianity, Judaism and Islam it is believed that marriage is the context in which
couples may engage in sexual relations and raise children. In a Christian wedding both parties
recite vows or say "I do" in response to a clergy-led recitation of the vows while in a traditional
Jewish ceremony, the vows are recorded in the ketubah and not recited out loud by the couple.
The ketubah is read to the congregation by a guest or the Jewish clergy. During a Muslim
wedding verse from the Quran are read and the bride and groom agree three times to the terms of
their Nikah. They then sign a contract which after they are blessed by the congregation. However
all these religions seek to include scriptures from their respective holy books in the ceremony.
As death is evitable each religion has prescribe ways of preparing for it. Christian’s when
dying may seek to take Holy Communion and repent from their sins. Similarly, Jews recite the
Shema while Muslims recite the Shahadah and repent. Upon the death of a Christian it is
believed that they either go to heaven or hell based on how they lived on earth and devoted they
were to God. On the other hand Jews believe that after they die there is judgment, punishment,
forgiveness and reward. There is said to be no confirm teaching in Jewish scriptures about life
after death. Muslims, similarly to Christians, believe in jannah 2 and jahannam3
. Both Christians
and Muslims believe that one day the dead will raise and live in paradise as a reward for their
good living
2 Muslimword for heaven.
3 Muslimword for hell.

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CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the researcher has done an in-depth research into Christian rites of passage
and the researcher has looked at what is done at each stage in a Christian’s life to mark
milestones. The researcher has summarized major milestones which Christians participate in
from birth to death. The researcher has also notice that some of these rites of passages in
Christianity vary based on denomination but they are all practiced for the same reason. At birth
babies are welcomed into the Christian family either through a christening or an infant baptism
ceremony. Further along in life these individuals believe that their dedication to God should be
further confirmed with either a confirmation ceremony or a believer’s baptism.
Additionally, Christians believe that marriage is the context in which they should have
children, many opt to marry and with this comes a special ceremony. In a Christian marriage
ceremony, Christians are required to accept their partner in the presence of God, and this is done
during a Christian wedding ceremony.
Moreover, upon the death of a Christian it is required that the Lord's Prayer, the Word of
God and Holy Communion are all done by the family. Also, during the funeral, scriptures
relating to how Christians should react to death are read.
In this School Based Assessment, the researcher opts to compare the rites of passage in
Christianity to those of Judaism and Islam, and highlighted both the similarities and differences.
Christians welcome the new-born in the religion with Christening ceremony and Infant baptism,
it is the same way that Jews welcome their new-born into the religion with a circumcision.
Muslims also use the Adhan ceremony to welcome their new-born into the religion. As
individuals grow in the religion they may be required to reconfirm their faith. In Christianity the

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persons either participate in a confirmation ceremony or believer’s baptism, while in Judaism
there may be Bat Mitzvah ceremony for boys and for the girls, Coming of Age ceremony. In
Islam, there is no particular ceremony for this stage in life, but instead allow individuals to
decide to continue their faith. Furthermore in all religions discussed throughout this School
Based Assessment, it is believed that marriage is the context in which children should be brought
into the world. The wedding ceremonies however vary in the practises.
Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe partaking in a religious declaration of faith and
repentance before they die. Upon death of individuals Christians and Muslims believe that one
day the dead will raise and live in paradise as a reward for their good living. In Judaism
however, there are no specific scriptures about death, so Jews believe in living their lives in a
way pleasing to God until the time comes.

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BIBLOGRAPHY
Keene, Michael, New Step in Religious Education Book 1, United Kingdom, 2003.
Colledge, Ray, Mastering World Religions, United Kingdom, 1999.
Carman Lucy, Durn Pippa, Pauline Raymond, Religious Education for CSEC Study
Guide, Nelson Thrones, United Kingdom, 2012