baptism

From a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and spiritual rebirth. Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and some other Protestants practice infant baptism while other Protestants insist that this sacrament or ordinance should only be administered to individuals who can make a self-conscious commitment to become a Christian.