Baptize
To baptize a person is to admit her or him to membership of the Christian religion. There are many further subtleties of meaning, practice and belief that lie behind the simple definition - and that may be disputed between different denominations. What is written here is intended as a simple outline for those that know nothing of the matter.
- Etymological note: 'Baptist', 'baptism', and 'baptize' derive from the Greek verb βαπτίζειν (baptizein}, 'to bathe', 'dip' or 'plunge'.
The sacrament (ceremony) of baptism (the noun to do with the verb 'to baptize') is in essence a symbolic 'washing away of [original] sin' to make a person fit to present to God and the Christian community. Baptism is most commonly nowadays (in all the mainstream churches) performed on babies soon after their birth. In this case, the celebrant, holding the baby over a font, or ritual water-holder, pours a small amount over the forehead, to indicate the washing away of sin. Other parts of the ceremony, which varies between sects, may include undertakings made on the child's behalf, by parents and god-parents; prayers; anointing with oil, with or without signing with the Cross; and various candles, symbolic white robes; and so on.
When baptism is performed on infants, it is known to some as christening. This word, which originally meant 'to make Christian', has moved on, first to mean 'baptize' and later, particularly among parents less dedicated to Christianity, merely 'to give a name to [usually with the ritual of baptism in a church]'.
Variations in the practice of baptism include
