Ship of Fools: Drowning the old Adam

Thread: Drowning the old Adam Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :

I posted several weeks ago about Mrs Thurible "giving thanks for safe delivery after childbirth", as we decided the safest title for churching was.

Yesterday, the Boatgirl was baptised and it was very lovely. I had been very keen that she be baptised by full immersion, given that she's not infirm, and, after convincing Mrs Thurible (and the Vicar's wife!) that Father wouldn't drown her, she agreed.

It was very splendid and I was struck by one of the servers, a German Lutheran by birth and upbringing, saying how powerful it had been and how it was the first time that infant baptism had "worked" for him. Talking to friends and family afterwards, it was clearly the first time they'd witnessed an infant baptism by immersion. I was explaining that, really, this is the standard and sprinkling is really a concession.

How widespread is infant immersion, though? I think the Orthodox do it as a matter of course. What about Catholics - extraordinary form or otherwise? What about Protestant paedobaptists? Anglicans?

Thurible

Posted by Custard (# 5402) on :

Wow - never seen it!

We do adults by immersion, and reaffirm baptism vows "with as much water as possible" (to quote our bishop). Agreed that sprinkling is the concession and immersion the theological norm in the C of E.

Posted by daronmedway (# 3012) on :

My three sons were baptised as infants by full immersion, one in a full size baptistry! I can still argue from the bible for selective covenantal paedo-baptism, but I'm no longer personally convinced by the arguments.

In recent years I've moved away theologically from paedo-baptism, a move which makes Anglican parochial baptismal ministry a tad difficult for me.

It also creates an inner tension in me because I'm still emotionally attached to the baptism of my children, despite the fact that I can find no real theological justification for it. I'm waiting for the day when one of them expresses a desire for believer's baptism to see how I will react. I hope it will be with joy.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

Interesting topic, but like Baptism, it would be better for it to be a one-off methinks!

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