Baptism

Older generations are more likely to believe that a baptised baby - if it was to die - will be accepted into Heaven whereas one who isn't won't because of Original Sin blah blah blah.

That's where the roots of "kiss it better" came from. Kisses have saliva in it. Nurses would perform very quick baptisms on infants who do not seem likely to survive during the night.

^ That's actually a pretty interesting fact! :tehe:

- - -

I was christened, which I actually quite like. I don't know why, it's just a nice thought that as a baby you can be brought into God's family.
I sort of want to be baptised as well, though (not entirely sure if that works... :shifty). I think it would be pretty awesome. Plus, I'd actually remember it this time and have the feeling that I'd chosen to do it.

I don't think it's necessary when it comes to getting into Heaven, though. That would be a bit ridiculous, if God said "Right. . .well, you believe and love me, good. Ahhh, but you were never baptised. Right, sorry, you can't come in." :|

Lestat:

I was christened, which I actually quite like. I don't know why, it's just a nice thought that as a baby you can be brought into God's family.
I sort of want to be baptised as well, though (not entirely sure if that works... Shifty). I think it would be pretty awesome. Plus, I'd actually remember it this time and have the feeling that I'd chosen to do it.

Isn't it the same thing?

I mean, I think you could probably renew it, like people renew vows or whatever. But I couldn't see that you'd need it, because I thought baptism and christening were the same thing.

Lestat:

^ That's actually a pretty interesting fact! :tehe:

- - -

I was christened, which I actually quite like. I don't know why, it's just a nice thought that as a baby you can be brought into God's family.
I sort of want to be baptised as well, though (not entirely sure if that works... :shifty). I think it would be pretty awesome. Plus, I'd actually remember it this time and have the feeling that I'd chosen to do it.

I don't think it's necessary when it comes to getting into Heaven, though. That would be a bit ridiculous, if God said "Right. . .well, you believe and love me, good. Ahhh, but you were never baptised. Right, sorry, you can't come in." :|

I think it would be more like: "Right... well, you believe and love Me, good. Ahh, but why didn't you want to be baptised?"
Baptism is not just about erasing the original sin, it's also a little about officially stating that you're Christian, showing everyone else that you are in a way- proclaiming your faith.

Aha!

There's a whole thing going on in England right now where atheists are demanding their baptisms to be erased from records and they are downloading utterly stupid "Debaptism" certificates from teh net.

I personally don't get this. I mean, if you're an atheist, why the hell would you care about baptism when you were at the year dot? Just forget about it. But hey, that's me.

Also, it is primarily the first 'baptism' that erases Original Sin. That's why Catholics and - maybe I dunno, they're weird - CoE have Confirmations. That's showing you're a Christian. Or whatever.

The Doctor:

Aha!

There's a whole thing going on in England right now where atheists are demanding their baptisms to be erased from records and they are downloading utterly stupid "Debaptism" certificates from teh net.

I personally don't get this. I mean, if you're an atheist, why the hell would you care about baptism when you were at the year dot? Just forget about it. But hey, that's me.

I think it has to do with principle of it. People are upset that they were baptised when they didn't have a choice. They find it a ridiculous tradition, and want to show that they don't want to have anything to do with it anymore.

debaptism certificate:

"I ________ having been subjected to the Rite of Christian Baptism in infancy (before reaching an age of consent), hereby publicly revoke any implications of that Rite and renounce the Church that carried it out. In the name of human reason, I reject all its Creeds and all other such superstition in particular, the perfidious belief that any baby needs to be cleansed by Baptism of alleged ORIGINAL SIN, and the evil power of supposed demons. I wish to be excluded henceforth from enhanced claims of church membership numbers based on past baptismal statistics used, for example, for the purpose of securing legislative privilege.”

kafka.:

I think it would be more like: "Right... well, you believe and love Me, good. Ahh, but why didn't you want to be baptised?"
Baptism is not just about erasing the original sin, it's also a little about officially stating that you're Christian, showing everyone else that you are in a way- proclaiming your faith.

Ah, that makes more sense, I guess. But does that mean you literally can't get into heaven without being baptised? :think:

- - -

To be honest, the whole revoking-baptism thing is a little insulting...

^Before I became an atheist, I was a Baptist (which might explain why I can't seem to get over my strong dislike for them... but that's a different story). According to the Baptists, if you're not baptised, you're not getting into Heaven. Of course, according to the Baptists, not many people will ever get into Heaven anyway, so y'know- whatever.

The Doctor:

Aha!

There's a whole thing going on in England right now where atheists are demanding their baptisms to be erased from records and they are downloading utterly stupid "Debaptism" certificates from teh net.

I personally don't get this. I mean, if you're an atheist, why the hell would you care about baptism when you were at the year dot? Just forget about it. But hey, that's me.

Also, it is primarily the first 'baptism' that erases Original Sin. That's why Catholics and - maybe I dunno, they're weird - CoE have Confirmations. That's showing you're a Christian. Or whatever.

That is silly. The fact is, if you're an Atheist, baptism should be a meaningless splash of water. There's no way of going back in time and taking is back, so they should really just let go.

I've been baptised (and confirmed; so yes, Catholics do it too) and it means nothing to me. On the other hand, I think it was rather ridiculous to be confirmed at the age of 7 (as far as I know, Salford diocese is the only in England which does that) because at 7, you're hardly in a better position to decide. Which is why most other places leave it until later.

Bloodraine:

Lestat:

I was christened, which I actually quite like. I don't know why, it's just a nice thought that as a baby you can be brought into God's family.
I sort of want to be baptised as well, though (not entirely sure if that works... Shifty). I think it would be pretty awesome. Plus, I'd actually remember it this time and have the feeling that I'd chosen to do it.

Isn't it the same thing?

I mean, I think you could probably renew it, like people renew vows or whatever. But I couldn't see that you'd need it, because I thought baptism and christening were the same thing.

Well, they are pretty similar, but the way I see baptism is that is frees you of all the sin in your life, and is the beginning of a relationship with God.

Nah, I don't think I'd need to be baptised, either, but I sort of want to be.

I wasn't Christened or Baptised when I was a kid, even though my mum wanted me to be, because my dad wanted me to be able to choose what religion I am.
I'm very glad he decided to do this =D
I'm not sure I want to be baptised - it would be pretty hypocrytical of me at the moment, seeing as I'm a tad confused about where I stand on Christianity etc.

Baptism doesn't get you to heaven. It's a symbol, much like a wedding ring that shows people you've accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior (which is the only way to get to heaven by the way) It isn't necessary and it's a personal choice

^If you're a Baptist, you have to be baptised in order to get to heaven.

Dancing Caveman:

^If you're a Baptist, you have to be baptised in order to get to heaven.

Why? One denomination doesn't have to do different things to get to the same Heaven. They just think they do.
If there is a Heaven and there are a set of rules to get to it, then either everyone has to be baptized or no one does.
If you don't have to be baptized and you're and unbaptized Baptist, St. Peter isn't going to chuck you down to hell because of the denomination of church you belong to.

^But each denomination doesn't think like that. Each denomination thinks they're right and everyone else is wrong.

I think it's all kind of silly.

But then again, I am an atheist... ;)

Dancing Caveman:

^But each denomination doesn't think like that. Each denomination thinks they're right and everyone else is wrong.

That's just a stereotype.

In Lumen Gentium [the document of The Second Vatican Council] it says:
This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure.

Meaning that although Catholics believe they are right, they don't think everyone else is wrong.

Bloodraine:

I've been baptised (and confirmed; so yes, Catholics do it too) and it means nothing to me. On the other hand, I think it was rather ridiculous to be confirmed at the age of 7 (as far as I know, Salford diocese is the only in England which does that) because at 7, you're hardly in a better position to decide. Which is why most other places leave it until later.

Although I'm Orthodox and I was baptized as a child -and I got my Confirmation shortly after I was baptized, I have a friend who is Catholic and she only got her confirmation when she was around 13.

Dancing Caveman:

^If you're a Baptist, you have to be baptised in order to get to heaven.

No you don't just because your a baptist doesn't mean you need to be baptised. I am a baptist and I believe you get to heaven by asking Jesus to clease your sins and then if you choose to get baptised you can but it doesn't do anything

Dancing Caveman:

^If you're a Baptist, you have to be baptised in order to get to heaven.

No you don't just because your a baptist doesn't mean you need to be baptised. I am a baptist and I believe you get to heaven by asking Jesus to clease your sins and then if you choose to get baptised you can but it doesn't do anything

Bob's Lost Sock:

Dancing Caveman:

^If you're a Baptist, you have to be baptised in order to get to heaven.

No you don't just because your a baptist doesn't mean you need to be baptised. I am a baptist and I believe you get to heaven by asking Jesus to clease your sins and then if you choose to get baptised you can but it doesn't do anything

It did in all the Baptist churches I went to/talked to.