Christening
Baptism Versus Christening
There is a lot of confusion in regards to baptism and christening. Often, the words are used separately. It is often believed they are two different things, and at one time, they were. Now, though, it is important to understand that they are fundamentally the same. That is due to changes that have been made. Now, both words can be used interchangeably and mean the same thing.
When christening first began, it was a ceremony in which a child was given a Christian name and then baptized. The christening referred to the naming ceremony. However, because of the baptism, many people thought the child was being christened when he was baptized. Therefore, baptism was rarely a word associated with infants.
Now, children are named prior to the baptism. Since they are no longer given Christian names while being baptized, there is no need for a traditional christening. Therefore, children and adults now just get baptized. However, it is still often referred to as a christening. It is important to realize, though, that a christening and a baptism are the same thing.
When parents get their child baptized, they are showing they are going to start their child off on a path toward faith. They promise to instill the teachings of God into their child and work with him so he will live his life as he should as a person of faith.
Adults can also get baptized or christened. When they choose to get baptized, they are showing their belief in their religion and their acceptance of God.
This is a very powerful ceremony, and it is widely accepted. While not all religions baptize infants, most agree that some form of baptism should occur at some point during life. Catholics baptize near birth, but other religions wait until people are able to make the decision on their own. In both cases, it is a symbol of having a belief in God and a willingness to move forward on a spiritual journey.
Baptism is a practice that dates back to biblical times. It is a way for someone to surrender themselves to their religion and asked to be saved. Many religions believe it is not possible to be saved prior to baptism. However, after someone is baptized, it is believed they will be forgiven of all of their sins.
-- The author, Adherents, runs the website adherents.com which collects and presents statistics and other information on religion. Adherents.com is the leading authority when referencing religious statistics for the TV news and print media. © 2008 http://www.adherents.com - All Rights Reserved
Related Christianity Articles that you may find interesting:
- The Christian Bible: Is a Literal Interpretation the Right Interpretation?
- Christian Singles: Finding Love the Christian Way
- Using the Christian Bible as a Moral Compass
- The Evolution of Christian Books
- Jehovah's Witnesses
- Learning about the Christian Movement
- Learning with Catholic Books
- A Christian Store: The Way to Get all the Tools You Need
- Spiritual Guidance at a Christian Bookstore
- The Beliefs of the First Baptist Church