Initiation Ceremonies

Initiation Ceremonies
   These ceremonies, no matter from what part of the world they originate, have a tendency to resemble each other in outline. There are usually three stages: Katharsis, corresponding to baptism; Paradosis, corresponding to confirmation; and Epopteia, corresponding to ritual death and rebirth. The first two of these still exist in the Christian Church. The third stage, that of rebirth, is the period of meditation and temptation which all the great religious leaders of the past have had to undergo: Buddha sitting under the Bo-tree, Christ spending forty days in the wilderness. In many ceremonies the third stage included passage through a ring of fire, as with Brynhild, Menglad, and Skirnir.

Who’s Who in non-classical mythology . . 2014.

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  • INITIATION — L’emploi du terme «initiation» s’est généralisé aujourd’hui pour signifier le fait de mettre au courant un individu aussi bien d’une science, d’un art que d’une profession (par exemple: initiation aux mathématiques), alors qu’il désignait… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • INITIATION — Anciens mystères.     L origine des anciens mystères ne serait elle pas dans cette même faiblesse qui fait parmi nous les confréries, et qui établissait des congrégations sous la direction des jésuites ? N est ce pas ce besoin d association qui… …   Dictionnaire philosophique de Voltaire

  • initiation — UK [ɪˌnɪʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n] / US noun Word forms initiation : singular initiation plural initiations 1) [countable/uncountable] a process or ceremony in which someone becomes a member of an organization or group a secret initiation initiation… …   English dictionary

  • Initiation —    Shamans are sometimes distinguished from other religious or cultural leaders by a particular style of initiation. In contrast with priests, who are normally educated by other priests in the technical procedures and necessary knowledge for… …   Historical dictionary of shamanism

  • initiation — in|i|ti|a|tion [ ı,nıʃi eıʃn ] noun 1. ) count or uncount a process or ceremony in which someone becomes a member of an organization or group: a secret initiation initiation rites/rituals/ceremonies 2. ) uncount FORMAL the act of making something …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • INITIATION — n. f. Admission à la connaissance de certaines choses secrètes. Il se dit particulièrement de la Cérémonie par laquelle on était initié à la connaissance et à la participation de certains mystères chez les païens et qui se pratique encore dans… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 8eme edition (1935)

  • INITIATION — s. f. (On prononce Iniciation. ) Admission à la connaissance de certaines choses secrètes. Il se dit particulièrement de La cérémonie par laquelle on était initié à la connaissance et à la participation de certains mystères, chez les païens. Les… …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • initiation — /i nish ee ay sheuhn/, n. 1. formal admission or acceptance into an organization or club, adult status in one s community or society, etc. 2. the ceremonies or rites of admission. Cf. rite of passage. 3. the act of initiating. 4. the fact of… …   Universalium

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