Is there some kind of initiation in Buddhism similar to christening or somthn in Christianity?

Question

As far as I know, in Christianity, they take a baby to a church, spray it with water and murmur some incantations over it, and voila, this baby is Christian (Christians, please don't kick me for any inaccuracies, I just took it as an example, I have a very general notion of your rituals).
Is there some kind of ritual that makes somebody a Buddhist?

Answer 1

I would say, if you're looking for a formal ritual similar to the baptism of Christianity, it might be this:

A person "formally" enters a Buddhist path by saying: "I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha". Usually this would be said in the presence of the Sangha (fellow practitioners). It might be said formally in front of a Buddhist leader three times in front of a group of people witnessing it in a ceremony, or it might just be something done informally with one other person.

But don't be misled: it's not nearly as important to Buddhists to "say" this "correctly" as baptism is as necessary to Christian doctrine. Buddhism is not dependent on doctrine or rigid dogma like that.

Answer 2

Just adding on to "bentthebookseller's" answer, you can make a formal declaration that you will commit to practice with a sangha. What's really more important is that you practice what the Buddha taught so that you can experience it for yourself. I think the term is "ehi-passika" which means "come and see [for yourself]."

Answer 3

I guess so but it's not that important. Study buddhism for its insight.

Answer 4

Yeah you have to knock of a few hershy bars and a coke in the nude.