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Archiver > TMG > 2005-03 > 1109860039


From: Lee Hoffman <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Baptisms and Christenings
Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2005 09:29:40 -0500
References: <6.2.1.2.2.20050302231656.03717eb0@popd.ix.netcom.com><000001c51fef$21a4f230$6800a8c0@PARAATHHQ1>
In-Reply-To: <000001c51fef$21a4f230$6800a8c0@PARAATHHQ1>


SIDERATOS, DEBBIE \(PARALLON-ATH\) wrote:
>I've noticed and have wondered for a while now that TMG has both a
>baptism and a christening tag. Because I don't distinguish between the
>2, I've been using both and now, 6 months later, I see that of the 14
>ppl who I've actually had the time to create such a tag for, half are
>baptisms and half are christenings but I meant them in the same way.. as
>in take a naked screaming 6 month old baby and have a 100 yr old priest
>(or better a monk) submerge it in an equally old 100 year old golden
>swimming pool.. (yeah my big fat greek christening hehe)
>Why would I use one instead of the other? If it's just a matter of
>preference, I'll choose one and stick with it.

Both Baptism & Christening Tags are provided because to some people they
have a significant difference. When the Bible was first translated into
English, the translators came to the Greek word "Baptise" (and its various
tenses) in the New Testament and instead of translating it, they
transliterated it making a new word in English. They did this to
essentially get around the argument growing then among various churches
(denominations) (and still going on today) as to whether immersion (the
Greek meaning of "baptise") was the same as sprinkling.

Today some churches practice christening (some form of sprinkling or even
full immersion) and some practice baptism (usually immersion and rarely
sprinkling). Then there are a few churches do both sprinkling and
immersion and use the same terms for both. In my experience and in talking
with members of other churches, the term christening is usually associated
with sprinkling and baptism with immersion. This is not universal although
it seems to be divided more and more that way.;

I have both Tags in my projects/data sets. Most because I follow what the
records say and use the appropriate Tag. But in all practicality, there is
not much difference -- depending on who you talk with.

Hope this helps -

Lee Hoffman/KY
TMG Tips: <http://www.tmgtips.com>;
My website: <http://www.tmgtips.com/lhoffman>;
A user of the best genealogy program, The Master Genealogist (TMG)


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