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I baptize thee in the name of...whatever
The Waffling Anglican ^ | 4/13/2006 | Mike the Geek

Posted on 04/13/2006 10:39:54 PM PDT by sionnsar

From an article on the decline in the number of baptisms in USA Today.
There are now baptism-style ceremonies where God is never mentioned by parents seeking to initiate their children into a world of all faiths, says Ema Drouillard of San Francisco, who runs the website Ceremonyway.com.

She conducted such an event for Kirsten and Farnum Alston of Marin County, Calif., for their baby, Greer, in 1998. "We just wanted a larger spirit to guide our daughter, but we didn't want to get specific. I wanted all her bases covered," says Kirsten Alston. The couple grew up Presbyterian, but now "we just do Christianity L-I-T-E" for Greer, who "believes in angels and fairies, leprechauns and Santa Claus."

Marin County; where else?

“Baptism-style ceremonies where God is never mentioned.” What’s the big deal? I’ve had to sit through plenty of church services where God is barely mentioned. I once suggested taking down the silly cross from over the altar and putting up a big mirror so we could see whom we were actually worshipping. (Sorry - that’s too snarky for Holy Week. Mea maxima culpa.)

Even if I were not Christian and just wanted “a larger spirit to guide my daughter,” I think I’d at least have some interest in just what kind of spirit I was invoking. I am always amazed at the unspoken assumption that most “spiritual” people seem to adopt unawares – namely, the assumption that all “spirits” are somehow equivalent. Just because you are in touch with the “spiritual,” why do you assume that that the spirit you’re in touch with is actually good?

I also have a question. If you “just do Christianity L-I-T-E," do you wind up finding “salvation L-I-T-E?” Lite religion is like lite beer – less filling, tastes bad. Why bother? Hundreds of thousands of mainline American Protestants have asked that question, come up empty, and either switched to the real thing or just quit drinking entirely.


TOPICS: Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: moralabsolutes

1 posted on 04/13/2006 10:39:57 PM PDT by sionnsar
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To: wagglebee

List?


2 posted on 04/13/2006 10:52:03 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Tolerating evil IS evil.)
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To: sionnsar
From her kooky-ass website:

I seek to promote understanding, harmony and love by emphasizing the universal truths in the teachings of many spiritual paths and faith traditions. I embrace all religious paths, cultures and races.
3 posted on 04/13/2006 11:09:59 PM PDT by Jaysun (If anything is possible, then it's possible that nothing is possible.)
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To: Jaysun

***I embrace all religious paths, cultures and races.***

Someone is going to have a rude awakening one day.


4 posted on 04/13/2006 11:14:29 PM PDT by Gamecock ("I save dead people" -- God (Eph 2:5))
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To: Gamecock
Someone is going to have a rude awakening one day.

No joke. There is but one name under heaven whereby salvation may be obtained....Jesus Christ.
5 posted on 04/13/2006 11:18:00 PM PDT by Jaysun (If anything is possible, then it's possible that nothing is possible.)
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To: sionnsar
She conducted such an event for Kirsten and Farnum Alston of Marin County, Calif., for their baby, Greer, in 1998. "We just wanted a larger spirit to guide our daughter, but we didn't want to get specific. I wanted all her bases covered," says Kirsten Alston. The couple grew up Presbyterian, but now "we just do Christianity L-I-T-E" for Greer, who "believes in angels and fairies, leprechauns and Santa Claus."

Marin County photo from today. Caption away.

6 posted on 04/13/2006 11:55:09 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: sionnsar
...San Francisco...believes in ...fairies

'Nuf said.

7 posted on 04/14/2006 2:24:46 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Build the fence. Sí, Se Puede!)
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Ping to read later


8 posted on 04/14/2006 5:53:43 AM PDT by Alex Murphy (Colossians 4:5)
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To: nina0113
ping

This is pathetic.

9 posted on 04/14/2006 7:23:21 AM PDT by Steve0113 (Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. -A.L.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
...San Francisco...believes in ...fairies

'Nuf said.

True, as they say, "by inspection". No problem believing in fairies there.

10 posted on 04/14/2006 9:43:07 AM PDT by Lee N. Field
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To: sionnsar

**"We just wanted a larger spirit to guide our daughter, but we didn't want to get specific.***

Here is one! (Micaiah's vision) I Kings 22:22.. I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his (Ahab's)prophets.

What better spirit guide can you ask for?


11 posted on 04/15/2006 2:36:11 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (ISLAM is STILL the religion of the criminally insane!)
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