Judaism & Baptism

Honza · #1 20-12-2011, 03:19 PM

Is Baptism a part of Jewish tradition? Perhaps it has a different name, but the principles are the same?

John The Baptist was Jewish after all. How important is it?

#2 20-12-2011, 05:06 PM

I certainly am not an expert on the subject, but I think John the Baptist's "baptism" of Jesus was actually a type of ritual bath used to wash away ritual impurities. It's only later in Christianity that it gained more significance, i.e. the Holy Spirit descending upon a person and initiating them into the Spirit of God, more or less.

Honza · #3 20-12-2011, 09:21 PM

So it is purely a Christian thing?

I'm so immersed in Christian culture that I cannot see the wood for the trees.

Honza · #4 20-12-2011, 09:40 PM

Is there a Jewish equivalent which goes by a different name?

RabbiO · #5 20-12-2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honza

Is there a Jewish equivalent which goes by a different name?

H -

I'm out the door for vacation until after the new year. Between now and then hopefully Yamah or another will have time to address your question. I just don't.

In the interim, think mikvah.

B'shalom,

Peter

#6 22-12-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honza

So it is purely a Christian thing?

I'm so immersed in Christian culture that I cannot see the wood for the trees.

Yeah. The whole idea of Baptism is a Christian one. Because the reasons behind it are purely Christian.

#7 24-12-2011, 08:09 PM

The closest concept in Judaism is the Mikvah (as RabbiO stated). It is a ritual bath whose purpose is to remove 'tumah' or 'negative energy'. Grown men and women immerse themselves whenever they need to purify themselves either at proscribed times or whenever else you feel like it. At times it is to rid yourself of a specific known negative energy or at times it is simply because you require/desire a higher level of purity for some other reason.

It is, however, very different from the christian concept of baptism. Christians only immerse once to rid themselves of the 'original sin'. We however don't place any emphasis on the connection between the original sins and our lives but instead immerse because of our own sins (and, as stated, for other reasons as well).