Why are people christened at birth

The Godmother or Godfather are expected to offer spiritual support and guidance for the child if required. It is customary to present the Godparents with a small gift following the ceremony. There are a range of secular celebrations to choose from, the most popular of which is a Baby-Naming Ceremony. This is completely free of any commitment to the Christian faith.

You can opt to have the celebration organized in conjunction with the British Humanist Association where a licensed person can provide advice and preside over the event. The format is very informal and you can choose your own readings or music as long as they have no religious references. Naming Day ceremonies last on average minutes, which is about the same as a Christening.

Instead of a Godparent, parents usually choose a mentor who will support the child throughout life. Updated Feb During the infant baptism ceremony:. Christians believe that baptism welcomes the child into the Church, and removes from the baby original sin that was brought into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.

The baptism ceremony also allows parents and godparents to make a promise before God to bring the baby up within the faith of Christianity. Christian denominations that practise infant baptism include Anglicans , Roman Catholics , Presbyterians and Orthodox. The promises made in the ceremony to care for the child as he or she grows up, especially with respect to faith, are also similar to baby dedications.

The significance of Christening, beyond the spiritual meaning of baptism, is the receiving of a new Christian name and godparents to encourage and strengthen the faith of the christened baby in their life. Dionysius of Alexandria c. Although there is no official maximum number of godparents, three or four is usual For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark ESV. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians ESV. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew ESV. Acts ESV.