Hi Ray and others, I ran into this when I was compiling a genealogy in which the forebearers were DRC and there was a choice in the program I was using of christening or baptism. I agree that technically the words are the same but usage within a religious group has changes this somewhat. Christening is never used in reference to the baptismal ceremony in some churches and baptism is not used in others specifically when the ceremony involves an infant. It is then called Christening and sometimes Sprinkling with baptism a ceremony to occur at an age at which the child has some comprehension of the meaning. In the last e-mail, I was addressing only the Roman Catholic Church practice about which the writer said her RC grandchildren were christened. In the RC doctrine in the past, the concept of "Original Sin" and the birth of a child with this "stigma" was paramount. In the past, the belief and doctrine were that the unbaptised child would have been condemned to "Purgatory" and unable to enter the "Kingdom of Heaven" because of the "stain of original sin" with which he or she was born. The usage in the Roman Catholic Church was always baptism. This belief has changed and Purgatory abolished. However, Christening was associated with Protestant groups. Even though the dictionary gives them as synonyms, I don't believe that religious groups so view the terminology. I have no doubt of what was said by the lady discussing her grandchildren and their Catholic Christening. However, this usage suggests a mixed marriage and background where the family itself has exchanged the words. The other words, Sponsor and Witness, are viewed by some as synonymous but they serve a very different purpose. I would suggest that anyone needing the correct terminology for any specific religious group, adhere to the terminology used in the records of that group. In the DRC records, I have seen this ceremony referred to only as Baptism and what many call sponsors, only as witnesses. Ray C <raycapp@optonline.net> wrote: Sorry, but Christening and Baptizing are the same rite. I believe the verb christen means to make a person a part of Christendom. The New Collegiate dictionary presents Baptize as the first meaning of Christen. Ray C -----Original Message----- From: dutch-colonies-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:dutch-colonies-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Barbara de Mare Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 8:24 PM To: dutch-colonies@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DUTCH-COLONIES] Baptism correct term Reformed Dutch Chruch Children are baptized; ships are christened. Barbara L. de Mare, Esq. Historian, genealogist and attorney 155 Polifly Road Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 (201) 567-9440 office BarbaradeMare@yahoo.com (home) http://historygenealogyesq.blogspot.com/ ----- Original Message ---- From: Helen Graves To: dutch-colonies@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, March 9, 2007 6:48:22 PM Subject: [DUTCH-COLONIES] Baptism correct term Reformed Dutch Chruch I have received group sheets from other researchers which have stated "chr. Kingston Reformed Dutch Church" on them. >From the recent discussion, what is the acceptable or most used term for listing baptisms at early Reformed Dutch churches on family group sheets? "bp. RDC Kingston" - would that work? Or is there some other terminology and abbreviation to use? I want to be correct and consistent on my group sheets for listing the baptism and the church where baptized. Helen ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DUTCH-COLONIES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DUTCH-COLONIES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DUTCH-COLONIES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message