Baptism or Christening?

[Twinkie]

What is the difference - am having arguement with someone at the moment as to what one pertains to what religion and I need someone to clear this up!!

um... as far as I know they are the same thing... bestowal of grace on baby and entry into Christian church. Different names... isn't christening now more likely to be used in Anglican church, baptism in non-conformist churches?

I'm RC and my kids were baptized.

Isn't christening fully dressed, with the water done in a cross on the babys head and baptism the naked full immersion?

TBH I'm not too sure - we say that we christened ours, but they had the naked dunking one, so I'm wrong somewhere in this!

I'm sure it's the same thing - I'm RC and we call it a baptism.

Exactly the same thing, a vicar or minister is more likely to call it a Baptism, and in the prayer book it is The Public Baptism of Infants, but both words mean exactly the same thing

I thought you called it Baptism if it was in the Catholic faith and Christening if it was everything else??

well dd1 was christened and this was in a catholic church. buggered if i know, only did it to appease the inlaws.

I go to visit people who wnat their babies baptised in our C of E church and we are refferred to as teh Baptism Team, but when you get into peoples houses they all say Christening.

no they don't, some say 'done'!!

Twinkie I'm with you on this - I always thought Baptism was catholic and christening anything else.

We are MN twins afterall

sorry, was thinking of the Baptists! my bruv had the full Baptist immersion

DD was baptised - Catholic. She was in a gown and her head crossed; no full immersion.

Cousin recently had his little boy christened - CoE.

As far as I know, biblically, Baptism is the full immersion ceremony which was performed on adults who made the choice of their own accord. Christening is the Christian version of welcoming a child into the faith of their family although the wording of the ceremony involves baptism. No matter what the name of the ceremony, it's a lovely occasion if you choose it for you baby.

I didn't mean to offend or sound like a know it all. I had the full immersion version when I was 18.

DD & DS were baptised we are also RC, always called a baptism in RC churches as far as I know.Don't actually know the difference though sorry.

No full immersion for baptised dd.

Found these on a google search:

"What is the difference between Baptism and Christening?

Nothing. Christening is the old name for Baptism. When babies are baptised, their parents promise to help them grow up as Christians. Water is poured on the baby to symbolise a fresh start with God. "

"Q. What is the difference between a Baptism & a Christening?

There is no difference, although a Christening tends to refer to the baptism of small children. Nowadays many people are baptised as adults. But you can only be baptised once - baptism is the entry into the Christian family."

"Q What is the difference between baptism and christening?

A None. Baptism is the proper name. Christening is a name that became common several centuries ago. It means ?Making Christ?s?."

These all come from various Church and diosese websites.

Baptism is what happens (ie the formal admission of a child into the Christian faith through the use of oil and water that has been blessed), Christening is the "ceremony" that surrounds this act, at our C of E church.

Baptism is the church name for the sacrament; christening the "common" name, probably extending to the party afterwards in addition to the sacrament.

Our C of E church always refers to it as baptism, whether using the font or the pool.