Baptism

Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and has its origins with the Jewish ritual of tahara. The word baptize derives from the Greek word βάπτειν (the infinitive; also listed as the 1st person singular present active indicative βαπτίζω), which loosely means "to dip, bathe, or wash". To some groups it is a matter of religious conviction to assert that baptism is precisely equivalent to, to plunge something entirely into the water, so that the water closes over it.

Other baptisms

Non-christian religions

Although baptism as a rite, is Christian, many cultures practice or have practiced rites similar to baptism, including the ancient Egyptian, the Hebraic/Jewish, the Babylonian, the Mayan and the Japanese cultures. In some, such evidence may be archaeological and descriptive in nature, rather than a modern practice.

Related Topics:
Ancient Egyptian - Hebraic - Jewish - Babylonian - Mayan - Japan - Archaeological

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Mandaeans, who abhor Jesus and Moses as false prophets, revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism.
• The Sikh (a hindu-muslim-christian syncretism) baptism ceremony, dating to 1699, was established when the religion's tenth leader (Guru Gobind Singh) baptised 5 followers of his faith and then was baptised himself by his followers, similar to Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. The Sikh baptism ceremony is called Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Sanchar. The Sikh is said to have taken Amrit once they have been baptised. In Sikhism, the baptised Sikh is also called an Amritdhari literally meaning Amrit Taker or one who has Taken on Amrit.

Non-religious baptism

Although even the use of water is often absent, the term baptism is also used for various initiations as rate of passage to a walk of secular life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• In Dutch, for example, the only word for academic hazing is schachtendoop ('pledge baptism'), while it generally involved more soiling ("baptizing" with objects such as rotten food) and other abuse than cleansing.
• See also baptised by fire