Reply #17: Why pick on baptism? [View All]

[shimmergal]

A baptism is basically just a rite of passage, signaling/symbolizing the child's inclusion in the community, which in the Christian tradition is represented by the church.

All cultures have rites of passage. In fact baptism is probably less painful or harmful than many of them. One can also argue that one reason teenagers in our society have so much angst and conflict is that there's no agreed upon "coming of age" rite of passage. Getting one's driver's license or turning old enough to drink legally don't quite do it.

Sorry, I can see where you're coming from, but I've been lucky enough to grow up without being hijacked by a religious mafia which says, "You have to think THIS way." It's possible to think _both_ rationally and metaphorically; in fact I feel that doing so enriches life.