The sacrament of baptism is integral to a majority of Christian denominations. When the baptized are anointed with holy water, they are symbolically cleansing themselves of the original sins of the past and welcoming a new start with Jesus. While most people who are familiar with Christianity know a bit about baptism, there are plenty who aren’t aware of the finer details of the practice. Explore these facts and gain a better understanding of this important milestone in a Christian’s journey. 

Baptism Is Ubiquitous and Varied Throughout Christian Denominations

The practice of baptism originates within the Bible itself. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, his cousin, in the Jordan River. Later, when telling his disciples to go forth and find new followers for their movement, Jesus would explain that those they brought into the fold must be baptized. Due to these moments recorded within the New Testament, baptism became a foundational element of Christianity. However, all denominations tend to have their own unique twists on the basic concept. 

An example of differences between denominations can be found in the practice of asking people to act as a baptized child’s godparents. While Catholics and Lutherans typically follow this tradition, it is not as commonplace within other sects. Additionally, adults who are baptized rarely have anyone take on the honorary titles of godfather or godmother. 

Other Sacraments Involve Blessed Liquids

Interestingly, baptism is not the only sacrament that involves using blessed liquids to anoint the body. A similar tradition can be found in Eastern Christianity, known as chrismation. Typically, this sacrament is conducted right after baptism and involves anointing several parts of the baptized individual’s body with a mixture of balsam and olive oil. This holy mix is usually referred to as chrism or myrrh, and is traditionally one of the Magi’s gifts to baby Jesus. This ritual is conducted to finalize the person receiving the Holy Spirit. In Western Christianity, this goal is accomplished through the sacrament of confirmation.

Baptism Has Origins in Judaism

Though it is never referred to as baptism, there are similarities between the sacrament and several Jewish traditions. One example is the purification rite of “tvilah,” which involves cleansing a person or item with naturally sourced water. It makes sense that the practice originates in Judaism, as John the Baptist would have been raised in the Jewish faith and would have been very familiar with these cleansing rituals. Though John the Baptist began using the term baptism, its importance in Christianity is typically attributed to Jesus requesting to be baptized to further connect with humanity.

The Soul Plays a Big Part in Some Baptismal Beliefs  

For Catholics, Anglicans, and a few other denominations, baptism is about more than purifying a person’s soul. In the eyes of followers of these faiths, baptism is a necessity for a person’s soul to ever transcend to a higher plane. Without baptism, many believe that a person is doomed to either eternal damnation in hell or an infinite bout of waiting in purgatory. However, this is actually viewed as somewhat of an archaic belief within these denominations. Previous generations seemed to have stricter views on the soul, which has faded significantly in the last fifty years. 

Animals and Baptism

Another interesting point about baptism and the soul involves animals. Though people do everything for their pets from throwing them birthday parties to hosting funerals and memorials services after they pass, there are not as many cases of dogs and cats being baptized. This connects to another outdated belief that animals do not have souls. Many young Christians do not agree with this belief, with many theologians suggesting it is due to recent generations having closer connections with nature, pets, and other concepts from other religions about humanity’s role in the animal kingdom. 

A Truly Interesting Ritual

There are plenty of fascinating facts surrounding baptism. By learning more about this sacrament, you may realize why it is so important to those who follow Christianity.