by Allison Beldon-Smith

Created on: January 20, 2009

No of course it isn't necessary to be baptized in the name of Jesus, and to take such a stance is to use the name of one who came in love to unite, instead to cause hatred by division and condemnation.What a farce it then makes of all Christian teachings. The world has several major religions that have for over 2,000 years been trying to outdo one another; power and world domination through membership. It is time humanity grew up, we are no longer illiterate children, it is time to stop allowing ourselves to be manipulated like sheep, herded into one pen or another by those who pretend to 'know', they claim that their religious trainging and consequential wisdom makes them privy to the 'whole truth', and that we need them to tell us what to do. Total rot.... there is no 'whole truth'; yes there wisdom but unless it is used with an inner desire to serve the 'light', to do what is right, then it is as much a burden as a blessings.

Baptism is the Christian term for the naming ceremony, which I do believe to be in itself very necessary By his example Jesua pointed out that each person needs to affirm their allegiance with the 'light', that is to say, to choose which path they will follow. I do think it is necessary for parents to to choose for their baby, right from wrong, to walk in the light, until such time as it wishes to reappraise the situation. We know that 'like draws to like', it is a law of nature and as such by naming a baby for the light, all the positivity of ancestral spirituality is called upon to protect and nurture. Hence a 'child of the light' can be of any faith, certainly not just Christian, and a beautiful and very significant ritual can be made ecumenical and amenable to all. No special minister or priest is required, any mother can 'name her child for the light' without outside help. The requisite is just profound personal faith, with a spiritual belief that the Divine (however you perceive it) is listening and will hear. Just hold the child either in your arms or by one foot as it sleeps, in your other hand hold a candle (well away from the baby with no risk of dripping wax on it!) then say, "I name this baby i.e. 'Dawn' for the one true Light, may she walk gently upon this earth in love and harmony, choosing light from dark, right from wrong, from this day forth.' Simple as it sounds this adequate,and will remain so until such time as Dawn decides to choose for herself the fundamental direction of her spiritual journey.

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