A religious ceremony that uses water to show that a person is joining the Christian faith or being spiritually cleaned. It can also be used figuratively for someone’s first intense or challenging experience of something.
It comes from Greek “baptisma,” meaning immersion or dipping in water, from “baptizein,” to dip or wash. The word entered English through Latin and Old French church language.
The core of “baptism” is simply “dipping in water,” but it became loaded with ideas of rebirth and new identity. That’s why we still speak of a “baptism by fire” when someone is thrown straight into a tough new role or test.
Baptism is a religious rite embedded in traditions that often assign gendered roles to clergy, parents, and godparents, historically limiting women's authority in officiating or theological interpretation. Some communities have also linked baptismal naming practices to rigid gender categories.
Discuss baptism with sensitivity to diverse beliefs and avoid assuming only men can officiate or that names and roles must follow binary gender norms. Respect individuals' self‑described identities and roles within their traditions.
["christening","initiation rite","religious ceremony"]
Women have played central roles in transmitting baptismal traditions, teaching, and pastoral care, and many have advocated for fuller recognition of their leadership in religious communities.
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