Email this article 
Post a Comment 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Die vroeg-Christelike doop as kultureelrituele simbool
Koers - Bulletin for Christian Scholarship/Bulletin vir Christelike Wetenskap | Vol 67, No 3 | a374 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koers.v67i3.374
| © 2002 J. Groenewald, A. van Aarde
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 August 2002 | Published: 06 August 2002
Submitted: 06 August 2002 | Published: 06 August 2002
About the author(s)
J. Groenewald, Departement Nuwe-Testamentiese Wetenskap, Universiteit van Pretoria, South AfricaA. van Aarde, Departement Nuwe-Testamentiese Wetenskap, Universiteit van Pretoria, South Africa
Full Text:
PDF (125KB)Abstract
Early Christian baptism as a cultural, ritual symbol
This article describes baptism as a cultural, ritual symbol. Baptism is seen as a symbol consisting of reason, value and meaning. The reason why baptism functions as a symbol has a historical basis in the death and resurrection of Jesus. For the first Jesus followers the value of being baptized was that they became part of a new value system. This value system gave meaning to the lives of the baptized and others who stood in relationship with them. The initiation into this alternative lifestyle (through baptism) was made possible by an altered state of consciousness.
This article describes baptism as a cultural, ritual symbol. Baptism is seen as a symbol consisting of reason, value and meaning. The reason why baptism functions as a symbol has a historical basis in the death and resurrection of Jesus. For the first Jesus followers the value of being baptized was that they became part of a new value system. This value system gave meaning to the lives of the baptized and others who stood in relationship with them. The initiation into this alternative lifestyle (through baptism) was made possible by an altered state of consciousness.
Keywords
Altered State Of Consciousness; Baptism; Rite; Ritual; Symbol
Metrics
Total abstract views: 1398Total article views: 3574
Reader Comments
Before posting a comment, read our privacy policy.Post a comment (login required)
Crossref Citations
1. Ritual failure in Romans 6
Peter-Ben Smit
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies vol: 72 issue: 4 year: 2016
doi: 10.4102/hts.v72i4.3237