Baptism

joolsveer

I have always been of the opinion that baptism is a Christian ceremony. Lately I have come across suggestions that there is catholic baptism as opposed to other baptisms. Is there a difference between denominations or is there one baptism?

tommy2bad

Baptism is baptism, the difference is infant baptism and adult baptism. The RCC dose infant baptism and people sometimes use catholic baptism as short hand for infant baptism.

neemish

There are subtle differences in theology among the main Christian Churches. But they would recognise each others baptism as valid. Those Churches include the Catholic Church, Anglicanism, Presbyterian, Methodist, Orthodox. Basically, any church that says/accepts the Nicene Creed.

The Roman Catholic Church doesn't recognise the baptism of the Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches because there are such huge differences in understanding.

Nick Park

neemish wrote: »

There are subtle differences in theology among the main Christian Churches. But they would recognise each others baptism as valid. Those Churches include the Catholic Church, Anglicanism, Presbyterian, Methodist, Orthodox. Basically, any church that says/accepts the Nicene Creed.

The Roman Catholic Church doesn't recognise the baptism of the Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches because there are such huge differences in understanding.

Worth pointing out that most Pentecostal & Evangelical churches would also accept the Nicene Creed.

Different Christian denominations practice baptism differently. Some are happy to baptise infants, while others would reserve baptism for those who have trusted in Christ for themselves as an act of faith.

Some sprinkle water in baptism while others practice baptism by immersion.

The Quakers and the Salvation Army do not practice baptism in water at all (neither do they celebrate communion or the eucharist).

Jellybaby1

Nick Park wrote: »

......The Quakers and the Salvation Army do not practice baptism in water at all (neither do they celebrate communion or the eucharist).

That is very interesting, I never knew that. What are their teachings on baptism? And RC and Protestant baptism, that's biblical isn't it, or is it? Y'know I spent most of my lifetime within the Christian church and still I find out information 'they' never told us.

Nick Park

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

That is very interesting, I never knew that. What are their teachings on baptism? And RC and Protestant baptism, that's biblical isn't it, or is it? Y'know I spent most of my lifetime within the Christian church and still I find out information 'they' never told us.

As regards the Quakers and Salvation Army, their stance was a reaction to what they saw as an excess of ritualism and nominal Christianity. They were concerned that large numbers of people who had no personal faith or inner experience of God were thinking themselves to be 'Christians' because they had been baptised as babies or occasionally partook of the eucharist. Therefore they dispensed with the outward ceremony and tried to concentrate on the inner grace that the ceremony represented.

My own opinion is that they were mistaken in doing this, but I respect their motives for doing so and consider them to be genuine expressions of the Christian Church.

Mrs OBumble

neemish wrote: »

There are subtle differences in theology among the main Christian Churches. But they would recognise each others baptism as valid. Those Churches include the Catholic Church, Anglicanism, Presbyterian, Methodist, Orthodox. Basically, any church that says/accepts the Nicene Creed.

I've been told (haven't researched it myself) that the criteria is based on the church using a Trinitarian baptismal wording ("I baptise .. in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit").

Benny_Cake

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

That is very interesting, I never knew that. What are their teachings on baptism? And RC and Protestant baptism, that's biblical isn't it, or is it? Y'know I spent most of my lifetime within the Christian church and still I find out information 'they' never told us.

As Quakers don't hold to a particular creed, views on water baptism vary but the vast majority would reject baptism in water as an "empty form". Nick explained the traditional view pretty well and there is a question and answer with a Friend from the conservative tradition of Quakerism here which goes into a bit of detail about Quaker approaches to the sacraments:

http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/ask-a-quaker-response

Regarding the Salvation Army, my understanding is that it was considered to be a divisive issue as people were coming to them from a variety of traditions. So they sidestepped by neither requiring or offering baptism, while leaving it open to their members to be baptised in another church if they wanted to.

Jellybaby1

As I'm not fond of rituals just for the sake of it then a big thumbs up for the Quakers and Sallies. I would agree that baptism and communion can become just something of a habit people can get into without any thought about their true meaning. Same goes for responses in churches I suppose.......mumble, mumble, mumble, etc.

Absolam

I never knew the Salvation Army were a separate sect, I just assumed it was a Christian charitable outreach organisation. Opportunity for some weekend reading, I think!

I Heart Internet

joolsveer wrote: »

I have always been of the opinion that baptism is a Christian ceremony. Lately I have come across suggestions that there is catholic baptism as opposed to other baptisms. Is there a difference between denominations or is there one baptism?

One baptism afaik. It is a common/shared sacrament for MOST christian churches. Those people leaving the COI to join the RCC (for example) do not get re-baptised.

Jellybaby1

I Heart Internet wrote: »

One baptism afaik. It is a common/shared sacrament for MOST christian churches. Those people leaving the COI to join the RCC (for example) do not get re-baptised.

So if the RCC accept baptised COI members into their church no problem what is the problem with COI members receiving communion in RCC churches then? Did the COI Archbishop receive communion when he attended the last, Eucharistic Congress? I know at the time Diarmuid Martin said:

“If we work together, this Eucharistic Congress will not be simply an outward week-long spectacle or the triumphalistic celebration of an inward-looking Church. If we work together, it can become a moment of real renewal in the life of the Church in Dublin and a true celebration of what the Church authentically is and should be.”

Sorry I know this is a different subject but I'm curious. I do find a lot of this 'coming together' stuff can appear just window-dressing while other problems exist underneath.

I Heart Internet

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

So if the RCC accept baptised COI members into their church no problem what is the problem with COI members receiving communion in RCC churches then? Did the COI Archbishop receive communion when he attended the last, Eucharistic Congress? I know at the time Diarmuid Martin said:

Sorry I know this is a different subject but I'm curious. I do find a lot of this 'coming together' stuff can appear just window-dressing while other problems exist underneath.

The problem is that COI memebrs tend not to acknowledge the actual presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. COI has a different understanding of the Eucharist to the RCC. But our understanding of baptism is the same - so it is shared.

hinault

joolsveer wrote: »

I have always been of the opinion that baptism is a Christian ceremony. Lately I have come across suggestions that there is catholic baptism as opposed to other baptisms. Is there a difference between denominations or is there one baptism?

In the Catholic church there are three forms of Baptism.

Baptism by (holy) water is the most common form of Baptism where a person, usually a baby, is anointed by (holy) water.

Two other forms of Baptism includes Baptism by martyrdom where a person is martyred for the faith before they have the chance to be baptised.
And Baptism by desire. Whereby a person may wish to be baptised but they have not undergone the baptism by water or baptism by martyrdom.