Why are Anglican babies Christened, and Catholic babies Baptised?

[LynetteScavo]

What's the diffence, if any?

[Tortington]

catholics go to heaven

the others think they do

[Niecie]

No difference. Our C of E baptise - that is the word used in the order of service.

[MascaraOHara]

I went to a baptism today.. I bought a christening card and a christening gift and wrote somehting about the christening on the card.. have I just committed social suicide through ignorance? I thought it was the same thing

[LynetteScavo]

Custardo

Was it Catholic, Mascara?

Baptism makes me think of adults going under water. Do Catholics ever use the word "Christening"?

[Tortington]

they do yes - but its usually for the heathens

[Tortington]

they do yes - but its usually for the heathens

[Niecie]

My MIL (a methodist) disapproves of the term 'christenings' - apparently it has to be a baptism. I have asked DH why it matters to her so much and he hasn't a clue so no help from him.

My FIL is a methodist minister so it is something they have knowledge of, not just an affectation - or maybe it is?

[bossybritches]

Baptism I think is technically when they submerge someone as in a Baptist ceremony,

......but Catholics don't do that so they so really I should shut up& wait for someone who KNOWS!!!!

[blithedance]

It means exactly the same thing as far as I know. Baptism is technical and Biblical term for infant or adult/believers baptism. Christening is a more colloquial term and usually only applied to babies. you would have to be a bit pedantic to disaprove of term "christening" if kindly meant.

Bit like "marriage" and "wedding"

[Niecie]

Just googled it -

The most succinct answer said that technically baptism is the rite in the Christian Church by which immersion in water symbolizes the washing away of sins and admission into the Church, whereas to "christen" is to name (a baby) at baptism as a sign of admission to the Christian Church.

They are generally used interchangeably for children but adults aren't christened only baptised.

Makes sense to me.

[GrimmaTheNome]

If you google 'baptism christening difference' you will get a whole load of answers. Which vary from 'none' to 'totally different'. You pays your money (or chooses your denomination) and you takes your choice.

[LynetteScavo]

Niecie - that does make sence.

[DumbledoresGirl]

Baptism is one of the sacraments in the RC church, so the real thing iyswim.

Christening is...well, not sure really.

[GrimmaTheNome]

PS. And of course, Baptist babies are NOT baptized. They are dedicated.

PPS and of course, theres no such thing as a Catholic baby or an Anglican baby or a Baptist baby. Theres just babies who's parents may hold particular beliefs

[LynetteScavo]

I've read some Catholic literature which says all babies are Catholic when baptised; they only become Methodist/CofE/whatever when they are old enough to decide what religion they wish to be.

Not sure if htat's current thinking, though.

[Tortington]

unless your catholic - then your kids are catholic and all other 'christian' demonination are 'watered' down wanna be versions.

[wehaveallbeenthere]

Raised Catholic, my children are not Catholic.
Baptism is one of the holy sacraments in the Catholic religion. It isn't just a ritual of bringing into the christian religion.
As with so many other religions, just because you practice...it isn't a belief. Do you get my meaning?
A child isn't a Catholic just because the parents are. They are to be baptised and follow that teaching to be a Catholic.
If two parents are say...German descent, or English or whatever then yes, their children will be that too.

[wehaveallbeenthere]

Christening is a ceremony of bringing a child, or baby or adult into a christian religion.
They do resemble each other though.
I think the definition of christening is immersion of the head or body in water? The Baptism is three blessings done by a priest of the Catholic church during the sacriment using holy water across the babies forehead. It's a big deal, sometimes as big as a wedding (which is another Catholic sacriment) but weddings happen outside the Catholic church too.
If Catholic a marriage by the jp (license etc.) isn't recognised by the church unless held in the church and there are lots of stipulations that must be followed before that can happen.
That is my experience anyway. Correct me if I am wrong or have left anything out.

[wehaveallbeenthere]

Mascara, I think that is a beautiful gesture. Your gift. If anyone considered it "social suicide" for whatever reason then they aren't deserving of you as a friend.

[Elasticwoman]

I was christened Catholic.

[wehaveallbeenthere]

I think Elasticwoman that it would depend on which church you belonged to.

I'm trying to copy this question from a Catholic forum that may help answer the question.

forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=4105639
forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=862 02

[SqueakyPop]

Anglican babies are baptised.

Baptism is one of the two sacraments, the other being Holy Communion. It is a very important ceremony.

At my Anglican church, we do full immersion baptism for teens and adults, and pouring for infants and young children.

Nowadays, baptism and christening mean the same thing to lay people, but baptism predated Christ (John the Baptist baptised lots of people before he baptised Christ), and the Greek word is basically baptize (maybe with a couple more letters).

[Elasticwoman]

I was christened in a Roman Catholic church, but have always been familiar with the term Baptism as meaning the same thing, and now I attend an Anglican church I find the same ceremony is described as Baptism.

[wehaveallbeenthere]

So perhaps the terms are interchangeable now. I was "baptised" in a Roman Catholic church but I'm probably quite a bit older than you Elasticwoman. It could well be that my old church also "christens" into it using the Baptism sacriment.
It was drilled into us that the sacriment was to remove "original sin". I don't know if there was anything similar that would separate christening from baptising though. Just my experience and those in my family before me. After me, I really don't have a clue. I think a lot has changed to try to get more involved in the church etc. From that point though I really don't know.
In other christian religions perhaps the term is used interchangeably also.

[wehaveallbeenthere]

This is somewhat off the topic...but how many sacraments does the Anglican church have?
When I was very young I thought the Catholic church had eight. I see (on that Catholic forum or some other site I was researching ) that seven are listed.
I'm probably mistaken.