Women's Rites of Passage grew out of Abigail Brenner s desire to answer some fundamental questions about the role of rites of passage in contemporary women s lives. Relying on a research study involving over 50 women, Brenner shows how women today understand the need to take responsibility for their lives and for directing their own paths, and are beginning to do so by creating their own very personal rites of passage.

Providing a personal, informed and cultural perspective on rites of passage for general readers, this text illustrates the power of rites to help us navigate life's troublesome transitions.

Van Gennep was the first observer of human behaviour to note that the ritual ceremonies that accompany the landmarks of human life differ only in detail from one culture to another, and that they are in essence universal. Originally published in English in 1960. This edition reprints the paperback edition of 1977.

The customs and symbols of major life-cycle milestones, including cultural, secular, and religious traditions observed in the United States. Features important life events from the nation's major religious and ethnic groups.

"Listening to the story is even more dramatic than reading it. It should be purchased by every public and school library." - School Library Journal

""Father"" is a verb, and fathering is the highest calling of God on men. Man Maker Project is a guide for fathers to intentionally usher their sons into godly manhood. Now more than ever, the reality of unfinished men confronts us at every turn. Without intentional fathering, a boy's core question--Am I a man?--forever echoes in his soul. Every boy needs to hear his father's clear ""yes"" in response. While many fathers know they should do something for their maturing sons, they have little idea how to create such an initiatory process. Man Maker Project offers a practical roadmap that equips fathers to create a unique, modern-day masculine initiation experience for their sons. Rather than a single event or ceremony, fathers can guide their boys through a yearlong process, with the support of a cadre of hand-selected men. This book also challenges fathers to investigate their own stories, as God's mutually redemptive design is for us to be fathered ourselves as we father our sons. Through this modern-day rites of passage process, fathers fulfill their calling, sons find their footing, and society receives solid men ready to strongly and kindly restore the world. For the back cover: ""From incarceration to abuse to just plain missed opportunities, so many boys in our country become 'chronological men' who never arrive at manhood. Chris Bruno has given us the kind of book to carry into the terrain where boys become men. This book is for fathers, mentors, grandfathers, teachers, and anyone who cares about even just one boy."" --Keith Anderson, President, The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, Seattle, WA ""Chris Bruno has given men a great gift in Man Maker Project. This is a stunning work, borne of Chris's own story and his passion for his son. It is a feast of narratives that prove the struggle into manhood is not only worth it, but can display the kindness of God. This is a meaty feast, worthy of all men and fledgling men."" --Jan Meyers Proett, author of The Allure of Hope For the frontmatter: ""For centuries, men in most cultures knew they had a sacred responsibility to guide the boys of their community into healthy manhood. This practice is largely unknown in our own culture. Most men intuitively know they want to pass on some significant teaching about masculinity to their boys, but they have no idea what. In Man Maker Project, Chris Bruno invests his own passion, insight, and experience into this crucial topic. He provides tangible, long-term, meaningful experiences that dads will immediately connect with and use. This book is truly a gift to those boys, their dads, and our culture."" --Craig Glass, president of Peregrine Ministries, Colorado Springs, CO ""Man Maker Project is an answer to many fathers's prayers. 'How do I lead my son into becoming a man?' is a question I've heard from men for many years. I now have a book I will enthusiastically recommend to all the fathers I know. Chris not only outlines a practical path for fathers to follow, but he also reveals how fathers can step into the fullness of who they are as men. You will be enlightened, inspired, and connected to God's powerful plan for you as a father. I'm excited for the many sons who will become men of God through the influence of this important book."" --Bob Hudson, founder and director of Men at the Cross Ministries, Golden, CO ""Every man should read Man Maker Project because it speaks into the struggles and doubts of all men. As a pastor and father of two pre-teen boys, I found myself challenged and provoked. It is here that most books on manhood end, but Chris goes further to give practical steps for creating a learning and experiential environment for sons. This book has given me the tools to be a better man and a better father."" --Brent Rood, pastor at Seed Church in Lynnwood, WA, and founding member of 3Strand Church Network ""I knew from experience that Chris Bruno is a fine therapist. He gently and profoundly guided me thr

For generations, other religions and cultures have put their children through a rite of passage to adulthood. Many people are aware of the Jewish practice of the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, for example. The reality, however, is that many children today don’t learn how to become adults on purpose; rather, they ride the wave of adolescence toward an unknown adult future. Moms, dads, and other perfectly placed adults have the unique opportunity to guide the teenagers in their life toward adulthood. This is not a privilege to be taken lightly, but neither is it an impossible task. Jim McBride, executive producer of Fireproof and Courageous, brings wisdom, experience, and practical examples to his guidebook for leading those burgeoning adults in your life through a real-life Rite of Passage.