Editing Christianity (section)

=== Baptism ===
{{Main|Baptism}}
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| image1            = Christening celebration - Celebración de bautizo.JPG
| caption1          = [[Infant baptism]] by effusion in a [[Catholic Church in Venezuela]]
| image2            = Baptism at Northolt Park Baptist Church (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = [[Believer's baptism]] of adult by immersion, [[Northolt]] Park Baptist Church, in [[Greater London]], [[Baptist Union of Great Britain]]
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Baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which a person is admitted to membership of the [[Christian Church|Church]]. Beliefs on baptism vary among denominations. Differences occur firstly on whether the act has any spiritual significance. Some, such as the Catholic and [[Eastern Orthodox churches]], as well as Lutherans and Anglicans, hold to the doctrine of [[baptismal regeneration]], which affirms that baptism creates or strengthens a person's faith, and is intimately linked to salvation. [[Baptists]] and [[Plymouth Brethren]] view baptism as a purely symbolic act, an external public declaration of the inward change which has taken place in the person, but not as spiritually efficacious. Secondly, there are differences of opinion on the methodology (or mode) of the act. These modes are: by [[Immersion baptism|''immersion'']]; if immersion is total, by ''submersion''; by [[affusion]] (pouring); and by [[aspersion]] (sprinkling). Those who hold the first view may also adhere to the tradition of [[infant baptism]];<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1213|quote=Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.}}</ref><ref>"Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God" ([https://anglicansonline.org/basics/catechism.html#Holy%20Baptism Book of Common Prayer, 1979, Episcopal)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219062846/http://anglicansonline.org/basics/catechism.html#Holy%20Baptism |date=19 February 2022 }}</ref><ref>"Baptism is the sacrament of initiation and incorporation into the body of Christ" ([https://www.backriverumc.com/userFiles/1257/by_water_and_the_spirit.pdf By Water and The Spirit – The Official United Methodist Understanding of Baptism (PDF)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313053601/https://www.backriverumc.com/userFiles/1257/by_water_and_the_spirit.pdf |date=13 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>"As an initiatory rite into membership of the Family of God, baptismal candidates are symbolically purified or washed as their sins have been forgiven and washed away" ([[William H. Brackney]], [https://www.baptisthistory.org/pamphlets/baptism.htm Doing Baptism Baptist Style{{snd}}Believer's Baptism] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107183031/https://www.baptisthistory.org/pamphlets/baptism.htm|date=7 January 2010}})</ref> the Orthodox Churches all practice infant baptism and always baptize by total immersion repeated three times in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.<ref>"After the proclamation of faith, the baptismal water is prayed over and blessed as the sign of the goodness of God's creation. The person to be baptized is also prayed over and blessed with sanctified oil as the sign that his creation by God is holy and good. And then, after the solemn proclamation of "Alleluia" (God be praised), the person is immersed three times in the water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" ([https://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=51 Orthodox Church in America: Baptism).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012021946/https://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=51 |date=12 October 2010}}</ref><ref>"In the Orthodox Church we totally immerse, because such total immersion symbolizes death. What death? The death of the "old, sinful man". After Baptism we are freed from the dominion of sin, even though after Baptism we retain an inclination and tendency toward evil.", Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, article "[https://www.greekorthodox.org.au/general/faq/faqbaptism Baptism] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930002357/https://www.greekorthodox.org.au/general/faq/faqbaptism |date=30 September 2014 }}".</ref> The Lutheran Church and the Catholic Church also practice infant baptism,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Olson |first1=Karen Bates |title=Why infant baptism? |url=https://www.livinglutheran.org/2017/01/why-infant-baptism/ |publisher=[[Living Lutheran]] |access-date=11 May 2022 |date=12 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|403}}</ref><ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1231,1233,1250,1252}}</ref> usually by affusion, and using the [[Trinitarian formula]].<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1240}}</ref> [[Anabaptist Christian]]s practice [[believer's baptism]], in which an adult chooses to receive the ordinance after making a decision to follow Jesus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eby |first1=Edwin R. |title=Early Anabaptist Positions on Believer's Baptism and a Challenge for Today |url=https://www.pilgrimministry.org/literature/early-anabaptist-positions-on-believer%E2%80%99s-baptism-and-a-challenge-for-today |publisher=Pilgrim Mennonite Conference |access-date=11 May 2022 |quote=They concluded according to the Scriptures that baptism must always follow a conscious decision to take up "following Christ." They believed that a regenerated life becomes the experience of an adult who counts the cost of following Christ, exercises obedience to Christ, and is therefore baptized as a sign of such commitment and life. |archive-date=11 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511071751/https://www.pilgrimministry.org/literature/early-anabaptist-positions-on-believer%E2%80%99s-baptism-and-a-challenge-for-today |url-status=dead }}</ref> Anabaptist denominations such as the [[Mennonites]], [[Amish]] and [[Hutterites]] use [[affusion|pouring]] as the mode to administer believer's baptism, whereas Anabaptists of the [[Schwarzenau Brethren]] and [[River Brethren]] traditions baptize by [[immersion baptism|immersion]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kurian |first1=George Thomas |last2=Day |first2=Sarah Claudine |title=The Essential Handbook of Denominations and Ministries |date=14 March 2017 |publisher=Baker |isbn=978-1-4934-0640-1 |quote=The Conservative Mennonite Conference practices believer's baptism, seen as an external symbol of internal spiritual purity and performed by immersion or pouring of water on the head; Communion; washing the feet of the saints, following Jesus' example and reminding believers of the need to be washed of pride, rivalry, and selfish motives; anointing the sick with oil – a symbol of the Holy Spirit and of the healing power of God—offered with the prayer of faith; and laying on of hands for ordination, symbolizing the imparting of responsibility and of God's power to fulfill that responsibility.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kraybill |first1=Donald B. |title=Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites |year=2010 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=978-0-8018-9911-9 |page=23 |quote=All Amish, Hutterites, and most Mennonites baptized by pouring or sprinkling.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Nolt |first1=Steven M. |last2=Loewen |first2=Harry |title=Through Fire and Water: An Overview of Mennonite History |year=2010 |publisher=MennoMedia |isbn=978-0-8316-9701-3 |quote=...both groups practiced believers baptism (the River Brethren did so by immersion in a stream or river) and stressed simplicity in life and nonresistance to violence.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Brackney |first1=William H. |title=Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity |date=3 May 2012 |publisher=Scarecrow |isbn=978-0-8108-7365-0 |page=279 |quote=The birthdate in 1708 marked the baptism by immersion of the group in the River Eder, thus believer's baptism became one of the primary tenets of The Brethren.}}</ref>