Baptism And Rituals Of Christianity

Every religion has particular rites and rituals that are fundamental to the beliefs of the religion. Baptism is a ritual in which an individual will signify themselves as an adherent to Christianity. It signifies total submission to God and an individual’s initiation into the beliefs and practices of Christianity. Baptism is one sacrament that all denominations of Christianity have in common. It is commonly believed that the sacraments were specifically established by Jesus Christ and they convey a special ‘grace’ or spiritual blessing. As there are many denominations in Christianity, there are also many different forms of baptism for a Christian and those that choose to accept it. Some churches only baptise infants, whereas others only baptise

Orthodox Christians are baptised by a priest through 3 immersions in water. Confirmation occurs immediately after and the recipient is anointed with oil. In Orthodoxy, children are important members of the church from infancy.

Baptism in Catholicism is seen as the joining of the soul to the community of Jesus, and as a result is a point on the path to salvation. Infants are baptised to welcome them into the Catholic faith and it is believed they are released from sin that they may have been born with. During the ceremony the child also receives the Holy Spirit, through the laying of hands a symbolic presence of security is depicted with blessings given. The process of washing or being anointed with water is believed to be powerful. Many Christians see baptism as a practice done in obedience to the commands of Christ, as stated in the New Testament in Matthew 28:19-20 (New International Version); “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Baptism is an act of individual repentance and the washing away of sin;

Water signifies the symbol of purity and purification, oil, a traditional medium signifying healing, new garments, signifying the arrival into the church, candles emphasising Christ as the light of the world, and bread and wine are the entry into receiving the Eucharist, the Christian service, ceremony, or sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and