In the religious world, a rite of passage is a sign of maturity and progress into a person’s desired faith. In the Christian religion, Confirmation, is the sacrament which shows that the person being confirmed is reaffirming his or her baptismal promises. In comparison, the Jewish faith has either a Bar Mitzvah (male) or Bat Mitzvah (female), which officially marks their entrance into becoming a mature member of the Jewish faith. Both of these celebrations carry with them a large amount of responsibility, because they are both a sign of maturity and growth in their respected faith. Both Confirmation and Bat/Bar Mitzvahs have differences distinct in their respected religion, as well as shared similarities between the two of them.
In the Christian faith, Confirmation, is a special sacrament that proves that a person wishes to “strengthen or deepen one’s relationship with God.” When a baby is baptized in the Christian faith, his or her guardians agree to raise them and guide them through life following Jesus’ example. “We became members of Christ's Body when we were baptized (Luebering).” Since the child is not old enough to understand the responsibility that being a follower of Christ entails, Confirmation is needed. When a child reaches a mature age of approximately 14, he or she, is invited to continue to accept Jesus and follow in his teachings. If the child wishes to continue to follow Jesus’ teachings and become a more mature member of the church, he or she must go through Confirmation and accept the responsibility of being a consenting and practicing Christian (Confirmation).
On the other hand, in the Jewish faith, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is the celebration of a child reaching the age of approximately thirteen for boys an...
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...ities and differences about them which are reflected by their origins and traditions.
Works Cited
"Confirmation." BBC News. N.p., 23 June 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. .
Luebering, Carol. "Confirmation by Carol Luebering." Catholic Update. AmericanCatholic, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. .
"Origins of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah." Reform Judaism. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .
Pelaia, Peter. "Bar Mitzvahs for Beginners." About.com Judaism. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. .
"Seven Sacraments." St. Francis of Assisi Church. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .
...t many Jewish people celebrate the occasion and have incorporated the same sorts of celebratory elements that are part of other life-cycle events. Just as a wedding ceremony is more important than the reception that follows, the Bat Mitzvah party is the celebration following the religious implications of becoming a Bat Mitzvah, and is most common among liberal Jews, but not as much among the Orthodox communities of Jewish people. Gifts are commonly given to the Bat Mitzvah (any time during the ceremony or celebration). Any present fit for a thirteen year old girl is acceptable, but cash is common as well. It has become tradition to many families to donate a portion of any monetary gift to the charity of the Bat Mitzvahs choice, with the remainder often being added to the child’s college fund or contributing to any further Jewish education programs she may attend
Rich, Tracey R. "Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation." Judaism 101. 2005. 15 November 2007.
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Canada, T. R. (1998, October 31). In Whose Name? The Baptismal Formula in Contemporary Culture. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from www.united-church.ca: http://www.united-church.ca/files/partners/relations/ecumenical/report_rc_01.pdf
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