Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Coming of Age & Maturity
Religious traditions mark the transition from childhood to spiritual adulthood with formal ceremonies. Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, and other rites of passage confer new responsibilities and acknowledge the young person's growing capacity for moral agency.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- Practice
- Confirmation — affirming baptismal faith as a young adult
- Key Text
- Acts 8:14-17; Hebrews 6:1-2
Islam
- Practice
- Bulugh (puberty) — obligatory prayers and fasting begin
- Key Text
- Quran 4:6; Hadith (Abu Dawud 4943)
Judaism
- Practice
- Bar/Bat Mitzvah — son/daughter of the commandment at age 13/12
- Key Text
- Pirke Avot 5:21; Niddah 45b
Hinduism
- Practice
- Upanayana — sacred thread ceremony marks spiritual rebirth
- Key Text
- Manusmriti 2.36; Chandogya Upanishad 4.4
Buddhism
- Practice
- Temporary ordination — boys ordained as novice monks
- Key Text
- Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga 1; MN 82