Baptism

Baptism is a rite or ceremony performed by Christians and Sikhs. It is done as a symbolic cleansing. For Christians it shows that the person being baptized has become a follower of Jesus, and it can represent the joining of the Christian family. For Sikhs, taking Baptism or Amrit Sanskar is most important and it represent followers of Sikhism.

Methods

Roman Catholics baptize infants to mark their becoming members of the church. It is a sacrament usually performed by a priest. Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians also baptize babies. Baptists and many other churches, baptize only when the person is old enough to decide that they are ready to declare their faith in Christ.

Some religious groups practice baptism by sprinkling a small amount of water on the person, usually their head. Other groups put the person under the water. Almost all Christians baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A few baptize only in the name of Jesus.

Baptism in early Christian art. This is a fresco in the catacombs of Rome.

Biblical era

In the Old Testament, a similar washing ceremony was done when priests were ordained. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist before he began his ministry. The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the person to be immersed totally or partially. But sprinkling, or pouring, was also practiced at an early day with sick and dying persons when total or partial immersion was not practical.

Baptism Media

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  Baptism by immersion in the Jordan River.

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  The Al-Maghtas ruins on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River, traditionally considered the location for the Baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.

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  Excavated mikveh in Qumran, West Bank

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  Men lined up to be baptized by immersion in the Jordan River.

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  Baptism of a child by affusion

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  Baptism by submersion in the Eastern Orthodox Church (Sophia Cathedral, 2005)

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  The Holy Baptism in a Syriac Orthodox Church in India

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  Baptism of a child solemnized by George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

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  Catacombs of San Callisto: baptism in a 3rd-century painting

• An Orthodox baptism of an adult

Other websites

• "Baptism." Encyclopædia Britannica Online.