Why do people think rites of passage are bad?

Answer 1

Rites of passage certainly have their supporters and enthusiasts, as well as detractors and critics. The basic argument against rites of passage is that one can pass into some new status without a rite; for example, if you believe that a Jewish boy acquires the status of adulthood at the age of 13, that can happen with or without a Bar Mitzvah ceremony (much in the way that legally, Americans are considered to be adult at the age of 18, with no ritual being required, it happens automatically). Rites can be considered superfluous. But then, there are those who enjoy them.