Aimed at students and teachers of World Religions, this study analyses the initiation rites of many different faiths and the beliefs underneath them. It produces accurate and broad information for the use of teachers and students of World Faiths, providing an insight into the faith and practise of their neighbours and a greater understanding of how it feels to belong to a culture different from their own.

An introductory chapter by Howard Marratt explains the generalities of the initiation rites and how the relationship between the school and the intercultural community that serves should be, and how the teaching of religion cannot alienate the pupils or interfere with the beliefs that they are being brought up with.

'Living Faiths' is a series on Rites of Passage in the major religions of the world, covering Marriage and the Family, Initiation Rites and Death. Together these provide a fascinating exercise in tolerance and understanding.

List of Contributors
Further Information
Foreword by John Prickett

Part 1: Initiation Into Religion
1.1. The Relationship of the County School to the Religious and Ideological Communities

Part 2: Statements and Extracts
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Baha'i Faith
2.3. Buddhism
2.4. Christianity
     The Baptist Church
     The Church of England
     The Methodist Church
     The Eastern Orthodox Church
     The Roman Catholic Church
     The United Reformed Church
     The Society of Friends (Quakers)
2.5. Hinduism
2.6. Humanism
2.7. Islam
2.8. Judaism
2.9. Sikhism

Editor's Postscript

• Foreword by John Prickett (PDF, 258 KB)
• Part 2.2: Baha'i Faith (PDF, 79 KB)
• Part 2.7: Islam (PDF, 232 KB)

John Prickett was a headmaster and Secretary of the Education Department of the British Council of Churches. He was also Publications Secretary of the Standing Conference of Inter-Faith Dialogue in Education.