baptism
noun
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In Christianity, baptism is the sacrament of admission to the church, symbolized by the pouring or sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion in water. The ceremony is usually accompanied by the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the doctrine originated by St. Paul, it signifies the wiping away of past sins and the rebirth of the individual into a new life. Judaism practiced ritual purification by immersion, and the Gospels report that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Baptism was an important ritual in the early church by the first century ce, and infant baptism appeared c. 200 ce. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches practice infant baptism. The Anabaptist reformers insisted on adult baptism after a confession of faith; modern Baptists and the Disciples of Christ also practice adult baptism.
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Examples of baptism in a Sentence
Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2024
Fellow Globe rider Mesa has a five-month-old baby, and the families are considering a joint baptism.
—Gina Ryder, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
We’d been invited to a baptism, a birthday party, and dinner at my in-laws.
—Kathleen Felton, SELF, 27 Sep. 2024
In 2019, Circus Vargas hosted six baptisms and six confirmations in one ceremony.
—Gina Ryder, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
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“Baptism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptism. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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baptism
noun
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