I was baptized when I was about 8, in a river out in the country. It was my choice at the time, and though my parents were encouraging I knew I really wanted to be baptized. Since then I have been glad for it- being able to look back and know that I made my decision has gotten me through some pretty dark times in my life since then- the inevitable "dark nights of the soul". I have had my issues with various churches and general religiosity and stuff. I went through a phase where in retrospect I was actually quite angry with the state of organized religion for a while. But I guess having an active relationship with God has always been too important to me to abandon the church completely.

 

As far as my personal beliefs about baptism, while there are now Catholics in the family and I'm trying to learn to be very respectful of their beliefs because I do really respect their faith, I'm definitely not catholic. I don't really believe in denominations, though I guess some people would describe me as somewhat baptist-ish. Although I can understand why questions of an infant's afterlife would bring about infant baptism (we have baby dedications instead), I believe that baptism was meant to be a very personal public proclamation of faith. It's a physical symbol that you are surrendering your life into God's hands- symbolically becoming a part of Jesus' death and resurrection as Paul puts it. So I do think it needs to be a personal choice that is made once the person is old enough to make that choice themself and to understand it. If a parent makes that choice for them, what is actually being demonstrated? The child's faith or the parents'? Without active conscious faith, baptism just becomes an empty forgotten symbol of childhood to be walked away from later, as many people in this thread have found out.

Not baptized. Both my parents were brought up in a religious environment, my dad Catholic, my mom reformed Protestant, but both of them left their church after moving out.

I'm not religious myself, but I'm appreciative of the fact that faith can provide for support in difficult times. I guess religion or faith in the religious sense just don't come naturally to me. Besides, aversion to the rigidity with which organized religions approach faith has always stopped me from inquiring any further.

And I also like living my life without knowing all the answer. Some questions are best left unanswered. Otherwise, what's there left to find out?

 

@ Space Cadet (sorry, I don't know your real name!): I agree with you on parents baptizing their children being more important to them. I do think that it doesn't make the baptism useless though; at least it shows that the parents cared about the spiritual well-being of their child ;)

 

 

i'm no expert but apparently the last sacrament when one is about to die, if you are honest and be sorry for your sins and so, then you are 'saved'. :thinking:

i don't think it mean you accept christianism then, and personally i'm of the belief that priests aren't that necesary.

and anyways i don't see that priest go to grounds to check, yeah that dude is christian that one isn't.

personally some 'atheist' i know decide to not go for the ground.

(ew that talk is pretty dark :| )

all the stuff is meant to be for the spirit, so apparently if you do the last sacrament you go to heaven if you don't then not... who knows, nobody's been back to tell the 'truth'.

 

 

I think the consurcrated ground thing is an old rule and isn't really enforced today at all as now it isn't vital as part of society to hold Religious beliefs, whereas in say Medieval times it was very frowned apon not to be a strong beliver in God and Excommunication from the Church was considered a very serious punishment, but nowdays I think it's just up to the persons family whether thier buried in a Church Yard or not:confused:.

I think the consurcrated ground thing is an old rule and isn't really enforced today at all as now it isn't vital as part of society to hold Religious beliefs, whereas in say Medieval times it was very frowned apon not to be a strong beliver in God and Excommunication from the Church was considered a very serious punishment, but nowdays I think it's just up to the persons family whether thier buried in a Church Yard or not:confused:.

thankfully for christianity is not that important to rule their lives stricly according to religion, rules and all that mevieval crap where there weren't any difference between law, politics and religion (in general, we have it yet in other ways though).

no doubt society is more free and productive since are not forced to those things anymore. (i'm thinking things as the forced punishment at the main squares where villains had to attend it, so nobody worked).

yeah is upto the family yet the 'tradition' is the first to be done.

i remember my uncle, was an atheist and got burned, family refused to allow the cross to be near him and so didn't allow the priest to get any close to say a word, it felt a bit violent for both sides. :|

 

anyways all that is a personal belief and is based today more in the person experience and closeness to spirituality more than following rules, imo.

Yes, but I'm an Athiest now.

 

 

My mother came from a very Italian, very religious family, so that's why.

im baptised

 

im catholic and am a big believer

yes, as a Muslim and I am a believer. :)

 

anyways all that is a personal belief and is based today more in the person experience and closeness to spirituality more than following rules, imo.

 

I agree:).