[HPforGrownups] Re: Baptism/Christianity in HP

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 153762

Tonks:
> It is true that the child, once of age, has to publically  affirm 
> their faith, which is what confirmation is about. However  baptism in 
> the Anglican church, which I suspect that JKR may be have in  her 
> mind as a model, is more than a dedication of the child.
>  
> The rubrics (instruction) for Baptism as found in the Episcopal Book  
> of Common Prayer (1976) used in the Episcopal (Anglican) (both high  
> and low) church in the U.S. says:
> 
> "Holy Baptism is  full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into 
> Christ's body the  Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism 
> is  indissoluble. 

>Geoff:
>The BOCP almost seems to suggest  that the vows made by the godparents 
are speaking as the child, which seems  to suggest that a person can 
vicariously become a Christian. In fact, some  of the wording implies that 
the ceremony of receiving the child into the  Christian church is 
indissoluble 
which seems to contradict the need for the  infant to later affirm their 
faith 
by  Confirmation.

<snip>
>I stand by my comment quoted above that  infant baptism per se does not 
make a person a Christian.

Nikkalmati:
In the Roman Catholic Church baptism irrevocably marks the soul as a  
Christian for all etemity.At that moment the soul is purified of original sin.  That 
is why parents are so anxious to have their children baptized ASAP.   Yes, it 
is done through proxy by the parents and godparents and the child  is stuck 
with it.  Whatever the child may choose to do later, the mark  is indelible.  
(In the Church's view).  Part of the whole split  of Christendom was over 
baptism, when and how it should be done and its meaning,  so I doubt we can solve it 
here.<g>.  
Re Harry Potter, if we assume Lily and James were High Church, the mark on  
Harry's forehead could be a reminder of his baptism and the purity of his  
soul.  I wouldn't go further than that.   
Nikkalmati   



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