Describe the Practice of Baptism
“Describe the practice of Baptism and analyse the significance of Baptism for both the individual and the Christian community.”
The term Baptism is generally defined as “a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration.” Throughout Christianity, Baptism is widely practiced due to its fundamentality to the individual as well as adherents. The purpose of Baptism is to indicate the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as well as the death and resurrection of the Lord. However, the significance of Baptism may be viewed in different perspectives depending on the Christian denomination. Certain variants of the Christian faith such as Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy may possess some variations in terms of the practice of Baptism nevertheless share two principal components which are the profession of faith and water. Within Christianity, there are four predominant reasons as to why Baptism is indispensable which are; the ties with the earlier Christian communities, theological reflection, salvation and formation of community, and most evidently a rite of passage for the individual. Although there are some profound differences in terms of the ways in which the denominations practice this rite, Baptism in all aspects of Christianity is of substantial importance for both the individual and Christian community.
The Protestant Church is divided into several variants which may differentiate in terms of particular aspects of the church and its practices for example, Baptism. In regards to this practice, there are two methods within Protestantism which are performed; these are identified as the Baptism of infants (paedobaptism) and the Believer’s Baptism (credo baptism). The Baptism of infants is practiced within the Anglican Church as well as other variants of Protestantism including Lutheranism and Methodism. This form of Baptism is similar to that of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches as an infant is being initiated
The term Baptism is generally defined as “a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration.” Throughout Christianity, Baptism is widely practiced due to its fundamentality to the individual as well as adherents. The purpose of Baptism is to indicate the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as well as the death and resurrection of the Lord. However, the significance of Baptism may be viewed in different perspectives depending on the Christian denomination. Certain variants of the Christian faith such as Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy may possess some variations in terms of the practice of Baptism nevertheless share two principal components which are the profession of faith and water. Within Christianity, there are four predominant reasons as to why Baptism is indispensable which are; the ties with the earlier Christian communities, theological reflection, salvation and formation of community, and most evidently a rite of passage for the individual. Although there are some profound differences in terms of the ways in which the denominations practice this rite, Baptism in all aspects of Christianity is of substantial importance for both the individual and Christian community.
The Protestant Church is divided into several variants which may differentiate in terms of particular aspects of the church and its practices for example, Baptism. In regards to this practice, there are two methods within Protestantism which are performed; these are identified as the Baptism of infants (paedobaptism) and the Believer’s Baptism (credo baptism). The Baptism of infants is practiced within the Anglican Church as well as other variants of Protestantism including Lutheranism and Methodism. This form of Baptism is similar to that of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches as an infant is being initiated