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

[Erebus]

A baptism is symbolic. So you can have none, or as many as you like.
It's not conditional.

To my mind that's probably the best way to view it. If somebody felt the need to have more than one baptism, that's fine. Somebody else might not feel the need for any baptism, that's also fine.

I've often felt that people often get too bogged down by the details of rituals while forgetting about their purpose. I'm not a Christian though, so take that as you will.

 

[Desert Snake]

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?

This is vague, and depends on interpretation , etc.

 

[Sees]

This is vague, and depends on interpretation , etc.

It's for you specifically...what is your interpretation? I made it pretty easy by way of vagueness.

 

[Desert Snake]

It's for you specifically...what is your interpretation? I made it pretty easy by way of vagueness.

I think that it's too vague. I don't know what ideas you have about Scripture, et.c,. it most likely isn't relevant to my beliefs.

 

[Muffled]

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.

I believe baby baptism is a belief in magic.The person is supposed to magically become a Christian due to the event but often that is not the case. What little can be said is that the person probably is raised in a Christian environment and influenced by it to some extent.

 

[Muffled]

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

I believe this is a case of doing something by tradition while forgetting the purpose of the event.

 

[Muffled]

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 believe I have no problem with that because my wife is in the same boat. I believe it is a psychosis and those things are very difficult to get rid of. However I believe you are in control of your conscious mind and ought to be able to view things rationally even if your psyche is screaming at you not to do it.

 

[Muffled]

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

I believe that isn't much of a claim to fame. I doubt it would get you into The Kingdom of God.

 

[Deathbydefault]

I believe I have no problem with that because my wife is in the same boat. I believe it is a psychosis and those things are very difficult to get rid of. However I believe you are in control of your conscious mind and ought to be able to view things rationally even if your psyche is screaming at you not to do it.

You'd be surprised how not in control I am.
Also, even though I have tried to get rid of these thoughts it's not as though I really care.
Not being biased is my only reason for trying to change my line of thinking.
But there are a few things I am biased on, and the religion (not its people) deserves people like me.

 

[Muffled]

You'd be surprised how not in control I am.
Also, even though I have tried to get rid of these thoughts it's not as though I really care.
Not being biased is my only reason for trying to change my line of thinking.
But there are a few things I am biased on, and the religion (not its people) deserves people like me.

I believe it is a good idea to care about your mental health. I overcame my fear of heights that came from a traumatic experience by trusting God to take care of me. That way I was able to ride a roller coaster with my wife.

I believe religion does not deserve anything but God does. The question is whether there is a belief that God let you down or was it people who let you down. People always fail but God does not.

 

[sojourner]

I believe this is a case of doing something by tradition while forgetting the purpose of the event.

Not in every -- maybe even most -- cases.

 

[Deathbydefault]

I believe it is a good idea to care about your mental health. I overcame my fear of heights that came from a traumatic experience by trusting God to take care of me. That way I was able to ride a roller coaster with my wife.

I believe religion does not deserve anything but God does. The question is whether there is a belief that God let you down or was it people who let you down. People always fail but God does not.

That goes on the mighty presumption that a God even exists.

I have 4 pills I take twice a day every day. That keeps my mental health in check.
Or me sane, at the very least.

 

[Muffled]

That goes on the mighty presumption that a God even exists.

I have 4 pills I take twice a day every day. That keeps my mental health in check.
Or me sane, at the very least.

I believe for me it is not a presumption but evident.

I believe that is like taking aspirin for pain. The cause of the pain remains and has not been addressed by taking the pain killer.

 

[Muffled]

Not in every -- maybe even most -- cases.

Perhaps that is because the RCC traditionally does not go by the true purpose but has invented its own. Baptism is a sign that the person has repented his sin.

 

[Deathbydefault]

I believe for me it is not a presumption but evident.

Well, I'm not you, so it's a presumption to me.

I believe that is like taking aspirin for pain. The cause of the pain remains and has not been addressed by taking the pain killer.

If I didn't have those pills much of my immediate family might very well be dead.
So those pills work quite nicely.

 

[Muffled]

Well, I'm not you, so it's a presumption to me.


If I didn't have those pills much of my immediate family might very well be dead.
So those pills work quite nicely.

I believe my testimony now becomes evidence for you so that you no longer need to makes presumptions.

I am glad they work but I am saying that they only solve the immediate problem instead of the cause of the problem.

 

[Deathbydefault]

I believe my testimony now becomes evidence for you so that you no longer need to makes presumptions.

Don't think it works quite like that.

I am glad they work but I am saying that they only solve the immediate problem instead of the cause of the problem.

The cause of the problem is permanent.
Anti-psych meds are all I have to deal with it.

 

[sojourner]

Perhaps that is because the RCC traditionally does not go by the true purpose but has invented its own. Baptism is a sign that the person has repented his sin.

It's more complicated than that. It's not that cut-and-dried biblically, nor is it that simple or clear in the ongoing Tradition (of which the bible is part, BTW). Baptism contains layers of meaning, and those meanings change over time. There is no one, "true" meaning.

Christianity is pan-cultural, and not all meanings are universal culturally. A meaning can't be forced onto a culture for whom the meaning is not important. For more on this phenomenon and how it affects the church, you should pick up a copy of Vince Donovan's Christianity Rediscovered.

 

[Meriweather]

I believe baby baptism is a belief in magic.The person is supposed to magically become a Christian due to the event but often that is not the case. What little can be said is that the person probably is raised in a Christian environment and influenced by it to some extent.

No, a baptism isn't supposed to magically become a Christian, any more than an adult is supposed to magically stay a Christian. Baptism is a sacrament of initiation where the purpose is to live freely as a child of God rather than remain entrapped in the slavery of sin. The baptized receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I was baptized as an infant, and though I miss not remembering the event, I can look back to as early as age three and note where the Holy Spirit was working in my life.

Perhaps that is because the RCC traditionally does not go by the true purpose but has invented its own. Baptism is a sign that the person has repented his sin.

Indeed, the Catholic Church does go by the true purpose of Baptism which is for the remission of sins, rebirth into the family of God, and to receive the gift of graces and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That spark of faith that is within everyone's heart receives an early start. Catholics believe in all sacraments there are visible signs of the invisible reality. With baptism, we simply acknowledge this invisible reality early.

Some are concerned about the remission of sin part. How can a baby with no personal sin receive remission of sins? Same way as an adult who sins after baptism. Sin, meet baptism. Baptism isn't merely a one time only event. It seals us with the spiritual mark of belonging to the family of God, and that seal is everlasting.

 

[Muffled]

No, a baptism isn't supposed to magically become a Christian, any more than an adult is supposed to magically stay a Christian. Baptism is a sacrament of initiation where the purpose is to live freely as a child of God rather than remain entrapped in the slavery of sin. The baptized receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I was baptized as an infant, and though I miss not remembering the event, I can look back to as early as age three and note where the Holy Spirit was working in my life.

Indeed, the Catholic Church does go by the true purpose of Baptism which is for the remission of sins, rebirth into the family of God, and to receive the gift of graces and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That spark of faith that is within everyone's heart receives an early start. Catholics believe in all sacraments there are visible signs of the invisible reality. With baptism, we simply acknowledge this invisible reality early.

Some are concerned about the remission of sin part. How can a baby with no personal sin receive remission of sins? Same way as an adult who sins after baptism. Sin, meet baptism. Baptism isn't merely a one time only event. It seals us with the spiritual mark of belonging to the family of God, and that seal is everlasting.

I believe there are times when this happens and times when it does not. I already had the Holy Spirit before I was baptized.

I believe the Holy Spirit works in every ones life to some extent but only works as a resident when the person receives Jesus as Lord and Savior. Usually a person makes that choice and then is baptized. A person not making that choice does not have the Holy Spirit resident. a baby can't make that choice. Baptism as practiced in many churches today does not reflect the Baptism of John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul considered that to be insufficient because they needed to be baptized into the Holy Spirit. So one could say that Paul believed in re-baptism.

That is what John TB taught that repentance brings the remission of sins. Jesus taught that His blood brought the remission of sins. If baptism lacks repentence then it is not a remission of sins.

I believe this is a false hope since a baby is not capable of making choices and young children tend to change much over the growing years. Usually society today believes that a child is not capable of choosing for himself until age 18. Jewish tradition sees it as age 13 for a male.

I once believed babies are innocent but now that I believe in re-incarnation I believe babies are born with an inclination to be saved or to sin that comes from previous lives. This way babies don't automatically go to Hell when they die because that judgement has not yet come and the likelihood is that the child will receive another life and thereby another opportunity for salvation.