It's as much about where you get baptised as the act of going underwater.
I read a story in the local paper this morning about how a nearby church is going to a nearby lake to baptise its members and my first thought was, who would want to be baptised in that lake? I've been baptised in a pool at the front of a church and I didn't really think it was such a great place to be baptised, inside this small pool that wasn't even vacuumed on the bottom or anything. I've also been baptised, by myself, in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Seas which were the ones I feel the best about. Your sacred place of Baptism - should it be the place you feel your best being in - where you feel closest to the spiritual?
Thoughts?
I read a story in the local paper this morning about how a nearby church is going to a nearby lake to baptise its members and my first thought was, who would want to be baptised in that lake? I've been baptised in a pool at the front of a church and I didn't really think it was such a great place to be baptised, inside this small pool that wasn't even vacuumed on the bottom or anything. I've also been baptised, by myself, in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Seas which were the ones I feel the best about. Your sacred place of Baptism - should it be the place you feel your best being in - where you feel closest to the spiritual?
Thoughts?
Rivers seem to be the most preferred venue for baptisms.
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Campin_Cat
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^^ Yeah, this! I've been baptized in a river----I thought it was pretty cool, cuz it was suppose to symbolize (be like) Jesus' baptism, by John-the-Baptist.
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"What we know is a drop; what we don't know, is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
The site on the River Jordan in Israel where many of my fellow church-goers were baptized was bright green with algae, likely from the runoff from the horse farm on the other side of the river. Some of them came down with either an upper respiratory infection, a rash, vomiting and diarrhea, or some combination thereof.
When they got back, they told the rest of us that is was a "deeply spiritual" experience.
I find the most important thing to me is the water.
Why? There doesn't seem to be any theological/biblical basis for a preference. Is it an interest of yours?
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I find the most important thing to me is the water.
Why? There doesn't seem to be any theological/biblical basis for a preference. Is it an interest of yours?
I like salt water because it looks clean even when it isn't and I like the water in my own space as in pool, bath tub, hot tub, but the rest of it I don't want to submerge myself in. If the water isn't up to my specifications, it will not be a spiritual event for me.
Rain must be a pain for you.
Rain must be a pain for you.
I don't like the rain only because it's cold.
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I was baptized as an infant, by sprinkling. In the theology I was raised with, it's not about being able to make a choice, or the venue where it's done, but rather about how God uses the sacrament of baptism to bestow grace on us. That is, it's not about our choice, but God's.
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chapstan
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For the OP- ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo the elements and the place make it more special, more sacred. The church as a whole today (yes a vast generalization) doesn’t have as many sacred places as it once did, especially those on the Protestant side. Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Calvary- the Holy Land are probably more accepted as special places for Christianity. And even among the Christians, we can argue nuances of what Baptism means. I was an Army Chaplain, yes there are faith issues I disagree with in other denominations, but it was a Blessing to see that so many of us were alike in our faith in God.
Since it's the nature of Christianity to spread across the earth, there can be many sacred places, not just those in or near the Middle East. Where do you feel the most at peace, energized, and, generally well? For me it's been around the ocean and this might have something to do with ozone. I love the energy of the waves. It's invigorating.
I don't like the type of situation where the water is murky and the bottom cannot be seen, such as a lake and the lake they were in has a local reputation of being especially muddy and dirty, so much so it stains the clothes red. So, I thought, that is one of the last places I would want to be baptised. I don't even want to swim in it. If I were seeking a spiritual experience, I would look for that connection to the water so it would be very important to me. It's not just the act of going into a lake and reciting words in front of people. I look for transcendence and if it's lacking, it's lacking. No amount of words or people are going to bring that if it isn't there.
Well, at least in Catholic Church I attend; little babies scream
with discomfort, per water capriciously being
poured upon their heads;
it is only a first
of many
signs they are
born into a culture
of discordant human
cultural illusions and
true
insanity;
removing that
foreskin is no
fun either;
per volume
of screams
AND PAIN.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/myths-about-circumcision-you-likely-believe
Later on they will come to believe that men have rules
that supersede the rules of GOD of Nature;
and just part of a life of lies;
to keep them in
the congregation;
with shaming
and other ways
of controlling humans
with illusionary punishments.
My baby is born with multiple life threatening
congenital anomalies; and the only thing
the deacon is worried about is if
he does not discomfort the
baby more by pouring
water on his
head; the
baby will
go to hell;
I'm really not sure
why I go to church sometimes;
but Love is still more important
to me, along with forgiveness and
HOPE FOR CHANGE, ALONG WITH
BEING THE CHANGE I WANT TO
BE WITHIN THE CHURCH WALLS;
INSTEAD OF JUST COMPLAINING
about it outside; and I do change
stuff through the power of words;
as I have already stopped ignorant
words about hate towards homosexuals
and single mothers; by the power of my PEN
as is with or without the assistance of a 100% penIS
thanks to ignorant
RELIGION.
I am baptized once
as 'protestant';
and once
as Catholic
when young; I guess
that makes me
a holy
water
rolling
child of GOD;
but the water lives within
me as Baptized internAlly,
directly
by
the GOD of
Nature always now..
One of the best examples of the
height of human ignorance in what
religion can do to humans is my stay
with my child at Shand's Hospital, during
his stay there until he passes away in my arms.
There is a Fundamentalist Christian family there
with a child who also has congenital anomalies,
including micro-penis; and they insistently
argue with the doctor that they want
the foreskin of their child removed;
as if the doctor does not already
have enough to deal with;
and the Intern raises his
hands in frustration and
says OH MY GOD that
baby has a 'Won Ton
Noodle' for
a penis;
sometimes common
sense flys right
out with
the human
brain; when it
comes to the illusions and LIES,
propagated by culture and religion.
If GOD can laugh at human beings
GOD
will
CRY
AT stuff
like this.
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Last edited by aghogday on 06 Jul 2015, 11:58 am, edited 2 times in total.
with discomfort, per water capriciously being
poured upon their heads;
it is only a first
of many
signs they are
born into a culture
of discordant human
cultural illusions and
true
insanity;
removing that
foreskin is no
fun either;
per volume
of screams
AND PAIN.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/myths-about-circumcision-you-likely-believe
Later on they will come to believe that men have rules
that supersede the rules of GOD of Nature;
and just part of a life of lies;
to keep them in
the
congregation;
with shaming
and other ways
of controlling humans
with illusionary punishments.
My baby is born with multiple life threatening
congenital anomalies; and the only thing
the deacon is worried about is if
he does not discomfort the
baby more by pouring
water on his
head; the
baby will
go to hell;
I'm really not sure
why I got to church sometimes;
but Love is still more important
to me, along with forgiveness and
HOPE FOR CHANGE, ALONG WITH
BEING THE CHANGE I WANT TO
BE WITHIN THE CHURCH WALLS
INSTEAD OF JUST COMPLAINING
about it outside; and I do change
stuff through the power of words;
as I have already stopped ignorant
words about hate towards homosexuals
and single mothers; by the power of my PEN
as is with or without the assistance of a 100% penIS
thanks to ignorant
RELIGION.
I am baptized once
as 'protestant';
and once
as Catholic
when young; I guess
that makes me
a holy
water
rolling
child of GOD;
but the water lives within
me as Baptized internAlly,
directly
by
the GOD of
Nature always now..
You can start your own church.