Shouldn't you have to get 'baptized again', every time you leave/ reenter/Xianity?

[Muffled]

Because there is a difference between getting your head dunked under water and being baptized in the Spirit.

I believe Baptism in the Spirit is a tad different but there is no rule that a spiritual experience can't run concurrently with the baptism experience. All that is require in baptism is mental assent to leave sin and follow that which is Good.

 

[Deathbydefault]

I left Christianity, and according to everything I have ever heard, my baptism is still in effect according to the Church.
It is mildly annoying to know I can't get it annulled actually, but since I think it has no physical or spiritual effect, I'm not losing sleep over it.

I was baptized as well.
On other forums, Christians getting this information was quite annoying.
"so you do know the word of the lord in your heart" and blah blah blah.
It was as though all my arguments against their points became lies to them, because I was dunked in water.
As a baby, at that.

 

[Desert Snake]

What's it supposed to be conditional upon? The baptism is a sacrament of the church -- not a personal ceremony. It is administered by the church and is celebrated within the community. Therefore, if the church considers one to be baptized -- they're baptized, no matter what they do afterward. Baptism isn't contingent upon subsequent action.

So baptism isn't a personal ceremony, that is interesting , I didn't know that you held that opinion. It does seem like it would be conditional on whether one remained a Christian, however. /if it has ''meaning'', aside from symbolic/.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

In my case, sure. Lol.

I remember the bishop who baptized me being surprised that I continued going to church. He said "wow, it took!" (he was joking). Boy, if he could see me now...

 

[sojourner]

So baptism isn't a personal ceremony, that is interesting , I didn't know that you held that opinion. It does seem like it would be conditional on whether one remained a Christian, however. /if it has ''meaning'', aside from symbolic/.

It may, so far as the individual is concerned, but not insofar as the church is concerned.

 

[Desert Snake]

It may, so far as the individual is concerned, but not insofar as the church is concerned.

What does that mean in the religious sense.

ie is the person still a de facto ''christian'', etc...

 

[sojourner]

What does that mean in the religious sense.

ie is the person still a de facto ''christian'', etc...

In the eyes of the church? Yes (with the caveat that it depends on the particular judicatory). As far as the historic, confessional churches (RCC, Anglican, etc.) are concerned, once baptized always baptized. The person may "stray from the Faith" -- like the prodigal in the parable. But, upon her/his return, that person is still a Christian and still baptized at the end of the day. In fact, I've known some who left, returned, requested baptism, and were turned down because such an act was "unnecessary." Baptism is eternal and can't be "undone" by human beings, because it is an act of God. In such cases, there's usually some kind of "reaffirmation" ceremony.

 

[Desert Snake]

I believe a true baptism is much better than a pretend one. I tripped over the baptismal classes thinking that I had to believe all the doctrine before I could get baptized. Thank God later I realized that my Baptism was just a confirmation of my accepting Jesus and not a testimony that I adhered to a churches doctrine. I could have been baptized under the false pretense of filing a church requirement but the holy Spirit led me into a true baptism instead.

Good point.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Do you wear a pentagram as a symbol of your faith?

Yeah, and a Sigil of Baphomet, among other things.

 

[Deathbydefault]

Does it give you some comfort that you could ''return'' to your faith?

None.
My experience with Christianity, as a child growing into a man, was horrible.
Not to mention the things my parents did without my consent. (baptism and circumcision)
I know very well that not all Christians are like my parents, but the idea of being one makes me somewhat sick.
They are obviously to blame for it.

If I ever come off as anti-Christian, it's my childhood responding to a post.
It's an very biased against perspective, and not one I enjoy entertaining.
But it's really who I am, as objective as I try to be.
I do not like Christianity whatsoever, and I've tried to change my biased view to no avail.
Sorry if it offends anyone.

 

[Desert Snake]

None.
My experience with Christianity, as a child growing into a man, was horrible.
Not to mention the things my parents did without my consent. (baptism and circumcision)
I know very well that not all Christians are like my parents, but the idea of being one makes me somewhat sick.
They are obviously to blame for it.

If I ever come off as anti-Christian, it's my childhood responding to a post.
It's an very biased against perspective, and not one I enjoy entertaining.
But it's really who I am, as objective as I try to be.
I do not like Christianity whatsoever, and I've tried to change my biased view to no avail.
Sorry if it offends anyone.

I've never been a Christian, /well I did incorporate Jesu into my beliefs for a bit/, however, I agree with some Xian ideas, and disagree with Xians on some topics, as well. Clearly you aren't going to return to Xianity, at least from these statements. I am interested in Xianity because it shares some adherence /textual and ideas/, with my religious beliefs.

 

[Sees]

I've never been a Christian, /well I did incorporate Jesu into my beliefs for a bit/, however, I agree with some Xian ideas, and disagree with Xians on some topics, as well. Clearly you aren't going to return to Xianity, at least from these statements. I am interested in Xianity because it shares some adherence /textual and ideas/, with my religious beliefs.

What about Christianity do you disagree with? I've always seen you as a Christian who doesn't use the label.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

So once youre baptized youre baptized for life, even though you might not believe in christianity.

That's right, which means I'm still technically a Roman Catholic.

 

[Sees]

I think that the differences tend to be in the interpretation of certain Scripture, mostly.

I suppose in the ways that non-Xians aren't totally in agreement with Xianity. //?/

Maybe...there are definitely widely varying degrees of how much we disagree with or even oppose.

 

[Sees]

*shrugs*, merely because I disagree with some aspects of religions, does not mean that I necessarily oppose the other argument; It depends on what the specific topic is.

Do you think Jesus was very unique, on a mission to guide and/or save people, and is the best possible example to heed/follow?

 

[Deathbydefault]

I've never been a Christian, /well I did incorporate Jesu into my beliefs for a bit/, however, I agree with some Xian ideas, and disagree with Xians on some topics, as well. Clearly you aren't going to return to Xianity, at least from these statements. I am interested in Xianity because it shares some adherence /textual and ideas/, with my religious beliefs.

I am uninterested in anything that has the possibility to enable someone to kill their personality.
If my parents were atheist, Buddhist, jainists, or anything of that nature, I wouldn't have been disowned.
They would not feel as though they had to disown me. Nor would they have "disciplined" me so harshly.

So, while Christianity might have some pretty ideas, we can't just put on rose colored glasses and say the religion is amazing.
As you surely know by now.

 

[Desert Snake]

I am uninterested in anything that has the possibility to enable someone to kill their personality.
If my parents were atheist, Buddhist, jainists, or anything of that nature, I wouldn't have been disowned.
They would not feel as though they had to disown me. Nor would they have "disciplined" me so harshly.

So, while Christianity might have some pretty ideas, we can't just put on rose colored glasses and say the religion is amazing.
As you surely know by now.

I don't have a negative opinion of Xianity, like that.

 

[Glaurung]

In Catholicism a valid baptism is irrevocable, even if the baptised apostatizes. A person wishing to be reconciled with the Church can do so though the sacrament of penance.

 

[Glaurung]

I've heard the Catholic church has a ritual of reconciliation. I've never been Catholic, so I don't know the details.

Penance. If one is conscious of mortal sin (such as apostasy) then it is necessary to make a formal declaration of guilt before a priest. You confess what you've done and if you are contrite the priest, who acts in persona Christi, will grant absolution. He will usually ask you to perform some kind of penance but in any case obtaining absolution is to be considered as a formal reconciliation with the Church and a state of grace before God.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Well, someone is only an atheist until their next religious experience.

Ice Cream is a religious experience but it doesn't involve God.