Religijny charakter inicjacji plemiennej

Abstract

Psychoanalytical interpretation of tribal initiation rites, in its classical form, departs from the Oedipal complex and from its consequent ambivalence of sentiments in relationships between father and son. Initiatory tests and tortures, as well as the symbolic death of the initiands are interpreted as a hostile reaction against unconscious desires of the son to eliminate the father and to take his place in relationships with the mother. One of the main functions of initiation is to prevent an open, violent revolt against paternal authority. As compared with the classical interpretation, neo-freudians have introduced marked modifications: they either discount wholly the universal character of the Oedipal conflict or they go back to the earliest period of childhood; besides they may not accept the exclusively sexual character of tension between father and son. The initiation, according to the sociological theories, plays a cardinal social role, since it makes the initiand break with the world of women and introduces him to the men’s community as its full-fledged member. The theories mentioned emphasize the role of the tribal initiation in forming social solidarity bonds and group integrating, as well as in transmitting tribal social values to the initiand. The exclusively psychoanalytical and sociological approach to the nature and functions of initiation seems to be a merely partial solution. In primitive cultures there is no distinction of the social and the cosmic; and both are deemed inseparable from the sacred. The family and tribal life is deeply penetrated by religion. The main aim of the initiation rites is to transfer the sacred life power and to make the human nature participate in the sacred. The research done by the sociology and psychology of religion as well as by the history and phenomenology of religion leads to conclusion that the tribal initiation is not only a social phenomenon but it is religious and cosmic in its very structure. If we take in consideration that the primitive man exists, functions, and views himself primarily and essentially as the integral member of Cosmos, we can understand the enormous significance of the initiatory rites – their cosmic character consisting in the integration of the younth into the Cosmic Totality.