Baptism
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
¢¡¤£¦¥¨§©¢ £¦ ¡¦<br />
CHAPTER FOUR<br />
WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM?<br />
Then what is it?<br />
1. <strong>Baptism</strong> as an initiation ceremony<br />
Here baptism is an initiation into the family of the organized institution of the<br />
church. Evidently it was an initiation ceremony. Every religion had and still<br />
has their own initiatory rites, which is considered sacred, mystical and given<br />
to the elect only. <strong>Baptism</strong> was one like that. Such open confession was<br />
necessary during the period of persecution and Christian hunting to safeguard<br />
the members. This was the only way one could make sure of the truthfulness<br />
of the brethren.<br />
What are some of the initiation ceremonies used by other religions?<br />
Graduation ceremony, puberty rites, marriage ceremony, burial ceremony<br />
and subsequent rites, club and secret society initiations, raging in college’s etc<br />
are examples we are all familiar with.<br />
<strong>Baptism</strong> is a naming ceremony, where an individual is given a new name and<br />
accepted within the community as an identity. In <strong>Baptism</strong> of the new<br />
converts, even today a new name is given. Bishops and kings are given a new<br />
name during their ordination.<br />
In any society there are two types of ceremonies. A ritual is a patterned,<br />
83
Change language