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Expressions of religious idensity Link Title, Holy Communion in different…

- - - - In the Roman Catholic tradition the act of Baptism is seen as a sacrament. This means it is a ceremony seen as imparting spiritual grace.This means that the simple act of using water in a cleansing ritual, through God’s grace, makes a profound and irreversible change to the person’’s spiritual existence. There is a strong element of mystery and symbolism in baptism which reflects its history as a mythical initiation into alternative spiritual experience.
      - Roman Catholic Christian’s believe that all humans are born with the stain of original sin, because the sin of Adam and Eve was passed on through reproduction. And the only way to free someone of this is sin, is to link them with Jesus Christ. Whose death on the Cross overcame the consequences of original sin. They do this, both by re-enacting death and rising again, and by joining the spiritual community of the Church. Both of these happen during a baptism service. And it is for this reason that Roma Catholics normally practice peadobaptism. Through a formal ritual which links the child with Christ the soul of the infant is washed clean of original sin. The key parts of the ritual are the Priest preforming the baptism, which makes the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead to symbolise that the child belongs to Christ. The Adults who bring the child for baptisms reject evil and sin on behalf of the child, through a declaration of faith in God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit on behalf of the child.This is formally accepting the terms of membership of the church. The person preforming the baptisms asks God to make holy water used for baptism through the Holy Spirit, son that the infant will be born of water and the spirit. The Baby may only be immersed three times in the water, or have water poured over its head three times, as the person preforming the baptisms says, “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit”. This symbolises both the washing away of sin, and also death (going under water), and resurrection (Coming out the water. Afterwards the Baby is then anointed with perfumed oil, consecrated by the Bishop, which is a symbol of the gift of the Holy Spirit. This means he or she is now a member of the church. The child is given a candle, lit from the Easter candle, to symbolise that the child has died to sin and risen to new life with Christ. The child may be dressed in new white clothes as a sign of a new life free from sin.
- - - - The Baptist Chruch is a Protestant Church, which grew out from the Protestant reformation. Baptists do not belive in Sacraments. They belive that symbols are not necessary, and taht Christians instead should read the Bible to learn about the life of Christ and then copy what Jesus did to live a life as God wants. The Baptist church teaches that Jesus led a life as God planned. Baptists especially belive in Jesus’s instruction to “Make disciples of all nations,baptising them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit”-Matthew 28:19.
        
        The normal practice for believer’s baptism in most Baptist Churches is that a sponsor who is a senior pre-existing member of the church, will present the person to the Church community. The person who is being baptised makes a short speech called a testimony, which outlines how they believe God has been working in their life. This may be a short biography , or they may describe a single event which led them to accept Jesus as Lord. The candidate enters the baptismal pool, usually fully clothed, and confirms that he or she turns from sin and accepts Jesus Christ as saviour. The Minister then says “I baptise you in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit”, and then pushes the candidate backwards and down right under the water, then pulls him her up again. Finally there may be clapping or cheering, and the newly baptised Christian climbs out the pool, dries off, and then joins the congregation for the rest of the service.
        
        because baptists try and live life like Jesus did, they do not practice infant baptism. They also do not believe in Original sin, so they do not belive it is necessary to wash away a persons sin. Instead they see baptism as a ceremony of membership and commitment, as someone prepares to start their adult ministry in the world. It is a pubic confirmation that a person believes and trusts in God, father,son,and the holy spirt.
- - - - In the Church of England it may be called Eucharist, from the Koine Greek word eucharizo which means “To give thanks”
      - In Roman Catholic chrurches it may be called Mass, which reflects and understanding that the people who have shared in the service take the effects to it out into the world in their own individual lives
      - In Orthodox Churches, Holy Communion is called the Divine Liturgy, that is, the holy work of the people in a ritual form. The focus is on the holiness and mystery of the communication with God that happens at Holy Communion.
      - In Baptist Churches, and in some other Protestant Churches, Holy Communion is usually called the Lord’s supper. This makes it clear that Baptists see it’s importance as a community meal which remembers the “Last Supper”-Jesus shared with his followers
      - In Pentecostal Churches, whose theological focus is on the work of the Holy Spirit, Holy Communion is often called “The Breaking of Bread”-This shows a focus on sharing the bread with others as members of a Christian community
- - - - During the prayer of consecration (making sacred), the priest makes symbolic actions which include cuppping hiss hand over the bread and wine as a symbol of a calling down the Holy Spirtit , which is referd to as epiclesis. They then rais the bread and wine above their heads in eleveation and keenling to show respect and revernance to the sacrement, this is referd to as genuflexion. As a result of these actions, and the words of Jesus which are repeated during the prayer, Catholics believe that the bread and wine are transformed into the body, and blood of Christ (The Royal presence)-This is called transubstantiation. After this the bread is broken (fraction)-to recreate the way Jesus’s body was broken on the death on the death of the cross. This is the representation of sacrifice. Members of the Congregation go to the front of the Chruch and the priest gives each one a wafer, sometimes into their hand and sometimes into their open mouth. In most Catholic Churches, they are also given a sip of wind from the Chalice.
- - - - From the earlies days people haste tried to persuade other people to become Christians, this kind of mission is known as “Evangelism”-One of the first evangelical mission was St Paul, who travelled around the Mediterranean visiting synagogues and communities, pursuading them to convert to Jesus Christ. A more modern example of a Christian Mission is that of the CME (Church Missionary society)-who sent men out to Africa,Asia,Middle East, and the pacific to try and convert the local people to Christianity. They also provided both financial and educational support to the local communities, helping to improve their lives.
      - Another organisation that engages in Christian missionary is TEAM, (The Evangelical Alliance Mission)-who are missionaries who are trained doctors, teachers, and nurses, who set up and improve local facilities in developing locations, as well as promoting Christianity through preaching and the construction of Chiurches.
      - The ALPHA course is another example of a Christian missionary group, that works through Churchgoers bringing neighbours and friends to Church. And each weekly course includes meals, testimony’s , and faith based discussions.
      - Other originations such as Christian Aid and the Children society, help cloths,educate,and house children at the bottom of Thayer social order. the Charity Christian Aid does not seek to convert people. Instead their bassi of work is to serve Jesus by helping the poorest in society.
      - Other Groups such as Fresh Expression help bring Christianity to the public, by setting up worship spaces in public areas.
      - Other religions suc as the Quakers belive that God ears directly to the hearts of people. And therefore Evangelism is wrong as it interferes with God’s work. Other groups however such as the Salvation Army sees its mission as serving the poor and needy, as well as their congregation. Finally Groups such as the Exclsuive Brethren belive that the world is contaminated by Sin, and so therefore to escape it, they must cut themselves off from society.