Do you know why you get babtised, or get your baby christened?

Question

I was invited to a baby's christening. I asked why are you getting your baby christened? She said, "Because it's tradition!"

I laughed, and asked her if she knew why. She said she didn't. Her Mother didn't even know!!!!! Is that pitiful, or what? Why would a person not know why they are doing that? If it's their own religion, and they don't know, why do they even claim they are religious in the first place? For good measure? Because they are told they have to, and never research to find out why?

I told her, if she didn't know why, then there was really no reason for me to go. If she figured out why she was supposed to do that, to call me, and I would go, even though I am not a Catholic, and don't believe in christening a baby.

How common is it for people to do things in their life that somehow reflect their religion, yet they don't know "WHY" they are doing it?

Answer 1

well when a baby get's christened that means it is officially becoming a christan. when you get baptised that means you are washing your sins away so that you can start a fresh new relationship with Jesus Christ. as for that mother refer her to mark ch. 7. in it Jesus talks about how traditions should not come before God.

Answer 2

I can tell you why. First, a "christening" of a baby isn't baptism, though some people call it that. When a baby is annointed with water by a minister, it's more of a dedication affirming that the parents will bring up their child to the best of their ability and with God's help to know Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, a baptism is a symbolic gesture that someone does after they have been saved by dedicating their lives to living for Christ. It can take place in pretty much any body of water-lake, ocean, swimming pool, etc . . .the pastor, minister, whomever dunks the new Christian under the water and raises him or her back up. It symbolizes someone leaving behind their old life and entering into a new life with God. The dunk is "down with the old man" and the raising back up is "up with the new." That's baptism.

Answer 3

That is a most unusual case. Most people know exactly why they were baptized, and why they would have their children Christened as well. This is particularly so in the Catholic faith--where most babies are Christened before they are even one month old.

I was raised as a Lutheran, and did not get baptized until my younger brother did (I was 3 years old, and he was about 6 months old). In the Catholic faith, most people don't even take their babies outdoors until they are Christened.

Baptizing babies is to insure, that if anything were to happen to them, that they would go to Heaven. Later, when the children are old enough to understand, they take Confirmation Class, and become Confirmed.

Answer 4

The Catholic understanding of baptism, as instituted by Christ, is to remove Orginial Sin from the soul of the one being baptized. Heaven then becomes possible for that soul.

As for why we baptize babies? Christ Himself rebuked his disciples for keeping children away from Him when He exhorted, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God." This is recorded in two Gospels: Matthew 19:13-15 and Luke 18:15-17 (which is what I quoted). When Catholics are older (teen+), the Sacrament of Confirmation is all about the person himself/herself saying yes to Christ and His Church.

As for why your friend didn't know. That is very, very common among Catholics who grew up between the 70's-90's. Catechesis (religious instruction) was (in general) not taught as it had been because of mistaken interpretations of Vatican II, which IMO amounted to "catechetical malpractice", resulting in exactly what you described: people doing things of an eternal nature and having no clue as to why (not good!). As we all possess an intellect, we are called to knowledge, understanding, wisdom, etc, and learning all that we possibly can about Christ and His Kingdom (the Church).

Praise be Jesus Christ, John Paul II changed much of the sentiment of the people for their Church, and Catholics are now waking up to the fullness of the Truth and re-learning from the ground up the "why's" behind the "what's" of what we do. Check out www.ewtn.com or watch the channel if you are curious; it's a wealth of information.

But basically, it removes Original Sin--which is a good thing, no matter how old you are.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Answer 5

I am LDS (mormon):
Baptism by immersion in water by one having authority is the first saving ordinance of the gospel and is necessary for an individual to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to receive eternal salvation. All who seek eternal life must follow the example of the Savior by being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This is what we believe about infant baptism:
From latter-day revelation, we know that little children are redeemed through the mercy of Jesus Christ. The Lord said, "They cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me" (see D&C 29:46–47). They are not to be baptized until they reach the age of accountability, which the Lord has revealed to be eight years of age (see D&C 68:27; Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 17:11). Anyone who claims that little children need baptism "denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption" (Moroni 8:20; see also verses 8–19, 21–24).

Answer 6

I am non-denominational, we dedicate our babies to God meaning that we promise to raise the child in a house of faith.The dedication is just a little olive oil that the Pastor places his/her thumb into and he makes the sign of the cross in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost onto the baby's forehead.A God -Mother & God -Father are named . The family get a certificate.After the child is older they can be baptized by immersion into and under water. This signifies, the death(The decision,before going under the water) burial ( going under the water)and rebirth.( coming up out of the water)It is just a show of your faith. One can be baptized and then not live the lifestyle that go's along with it and the baptism meant nothing.

Answer 7

Religious people follow tradition blindly. The reason we have so many unmovable and unshakable christians in their beliefs today is because the child's parents forced religion on them, as their parents forced on them and so on and so on. I personally never forced religion or inherited beliefs on my children and they grew up to be well educated and morally adjusted people. Even though the local minister told me they would be bad kids if I didn't get them to sunday school. I think for what he said, I decided to keep them away from religion. I told them they were free to worship whatever god they wanted when they were old enough to make there own decision. Now, twenty some yrs later, they thank me for giving them freedom of choice. By the way. They don't attend church. Ever.
Now, I bet you know what they mean by blind faith.
Don't question what I say, just do it.

Answer 8

I honestly don't know. I'm a Catholic, and baptism is about dedicating your child to God, and making him or her His child. It is what officially marks you as a Christian whatever denomination you get baptized in. Hope this helps!!

Answer 9

no I don't we should not do it cause babies can not commit sin. however when we are adult we can do it cause it is a testomory that we accepted Christ and that we nailed our sins to the cross.

Answer 10

Babtised? Come on. You can't even spell it...