Baptism

I've experienced both. I had to get baptized a couple of years ago in order to marry my wife in the church.

Our child baptised at 1 year in the chuch down in Peru. It's my opinion that any child baptised before they had a choice in the matter should be able to "opt out" when they are older and go with what they personally believe in.

 

I was baptised as an infant (sprinkled) and see that as a sign of my parents' covenant with Christ (and the church) to raise me as a Christian. Now that I'm an adult, I'd really like to be re-Baptised to reaffirm that I am upholding my end of the covenant. I have to admit though, part of the reason I want to be re-baptised is because I feel like getting dunked in the river would be an amazing spiritual experience.

 

Unless a snapping turtle mistakes your pee-pee for an eel.

 

That makes sense to me. However I take offense when I want to join a church and they refuse to recognize my infant baptism. Think they have to do it again. No thanks, God did it the first time. YOU don't need to RE-DO it, and I don't feel the need!

 

Agreed. 100%.

How about this one....my wife and I joined a church several years ago that required us to be dunked despite my having been baptized by my choice (sprinkling) when I was a teen. I had a long "discussion" with the head pastor beforehand about it, but finally caved (more for my wife than anything). I can still almost hear him....something to the effect of "Well, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your baptism, but we have to have you baptized by immersion if you're gonna be a member here."

That should have been a sign I guess. We only lasted as members there for a couple years (and that's only because we really liked our Sunday school class).

 

You join a fraternity or a church? Sounds like baptisms are becoming more of an initiation thing than a religious experience.

 

For some churches it really seems to be that way. This particular church was Baptist. It was the first Baptist church I'd ever really been to for any real length of time (and probably safe to say the last).

 

I do not believe in infant baptism. I think a person should be baptized after they accept Christ as a public affirmation of their faith. Obviously an infant can not do that. The only value I could see in infant baptism is for the parents if they treat it as a sign of their commitment to provide a christian upbringing for their child.

 

At my church we also had to make a beer pong table for the brothers. Jes sayin'.

 

What religion are you?

Do you not have the parents, godparents, and even the congregation commit to doing just that?

I was baptized as an infant and then confirmed at 13. Do most people not do both?