Baptism

epetitive, and symbolic enactment of a cultural belief or value; its primary
purpose is alignment of the belief system of the individual with that of
society.
1. The rites of initiation or rites of transition or rites of passages.
A rite of passage is a series of rituals that move individuals from one social
state or status to another as, for example, from girlhood to womanhood,
boyhood to manhood, or from the womb to the world of culture. Rites of
passage transform both society's perception of individuals and individual’s
perceptions of themselves.
Examples of Rites of Passages include: Puberty, marriage, funeral,
anunayanam, entering sanyasa, raaging, secret society initiations, and rotary
installation, graduation etc.
It is a seal. A seal is only an affirmation of what is contained. The seal has
meaning only if the document contains the matter after the fact. Otherwise,
the seal is really void
2. The rites of intensification
This is an ongoing process whereby the belief systems are reinforced by
rituals. Examples of this are: Prayer fellowship, worshiping together in
church, saluting the flag every morning, picnics, club meetings. It is in
coming together that motivation is established and the faith reaffirmed. Those
who miss the church regularly are often weak Christians.
Evidently baptism is a rite of initiation. This aspect is very important to
remember. Baptism is not the end, but a beginning. If baptism was the end of
the Christian growth or faith or sanctification then we will have to wait until it
is accomplished. Then baptism becomes graduation ceremony. Unfortunately
in Christian Growth we get our graduation only in heaven.
84