A water rite is a rite or ceremonial custom that uses water as the central feature. Typically, a person is immersed or bathed as a symbol of religious indoctrination or ritual purification. Examples include the Mikvah in Judaism, a custom of purity, and baptism, a custom that represents purity and indoctrination, in Christianity. Rites that use water, but not as their central feature, for example, that include drinking water, are not considered water rites.
Famous quotes containing the words water and/or rite:
“Reasoning with a drunkard is like
Going under water with a torch to seek for a drowning man.”
—Tiruvalluvar (c. 5th century A.D.)
“Every ceremony or rite has a value if it is performed without alteration. A ceremony is a book in which a great deal is written. Anyone who understands can read it. One rite often contains more than a hundred books.”
—George Gurdjieff (c. 1877–1949)