Monday, March 30, 2009

The Emerging Trend of De-Baptism

This Breitbart article addresses the trend of Britons and other Europeans formally renouncing their baptism:

The male nurse said he approached the Church of England to ask it to remove his name. "They said they had sought legal advice and that I should place an announcement in the London Gazette," said Hunt, referring to one of the official journals of record of the British government.

So that's what he did -- his notice of renouncement was published in the Gazette in May 2008 and other Britons have followed suit.

Michael Evans, 66, branded baptising children as "a form of child abuse" -- and said that when he complained to the church where he was christened he was told to contact the European Court of Human Rights.

The Church of England said its official position was not to amend its records. "Renouncing baptism is a matter between the individual and God," a Church spokesman told AFP.

My thoughts:

1. When I was thrown out of the ministry, standing before the District Committee of Ordained Ministry, I tore up my baptismal certificate. But I meant that as a formal and symbolic denunciation of the Church, not Christ, as many of these de-baptized people intend.

2. Still, like divorce ceremony liturgies, if de-baptism helps people heal from whatever has hurt them, good for them.

HT: The Corner

6 comments:

Theresa Coleman said...

Child abuse? I would love to hear the though process behind that. Sounds as if there is a lot more going on here than a renunciation of a baptism.

"CAPTAIN DAVE" said...

You really tore up your baptismal certificate in front of the dCOM? Dude! That's twisted! I can think of other things I might want to shred, but not that!

John said...

Well, I don't want anything to do with organized religion, so it seemed like a sensible course of action in that direction.

The committee members committed a ghastly sin with great premeditation, and I wanted them to know how seriously I took it.

Joe Harris said...

I find the idea of De-Baptism a little strange as what you believe is your own. I think that the guy was being a little over dramatic in regards to the child abuse.

I have heard some angry atheists talk about religion being child abuse but not baptisms unless the kids are being held under for far too long.

John,

You are hardcore and I respect you all the more for it. I think that ripping up your baptism was a great way to state your view of how you were being treated.

John said...

Thanks, Joe!

Hal said...

This is so sad. It breaks my heart to witness this.

I heard about it first on the Christian news portal http://faithtelegraph.com/

It simply amazes me that the church is failing in the Western world.

Maybe this news will wake up those who do have faith in Christ and give them impetus to put to work what they believe.