Christian Baptism
Baptism, the ritual of water immersion or sprinkling initiating Christians, exists in two major forms: believer's baptism (administered to conscious adults confessing faith, practiced by Anabaptists, Baptists, Pentecostals) and infant baptism (administered at birth, practiced by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans). Both claim biblical and theological grounding.
Real World
When Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church baptises thousands of adult converts by full immersion in its outdoor baptismal pools, it enacts believer's baptism — a conscious public profession of faith that contrasts with the infant baptism performed in Westminster Abbey at royal christenings.
Exam Focus
When 'compare' questions ask about baptism, always name specific denominations and link each practice to a distinct theological justification.
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