The same doesn't work here. In short, given the description by each religious group and what we have read here, written by some who have stated the case much better that I, there is a theological difference in some faiths which creates a different meaning for the words and they cannot be said to be the same regardless of the dictionary. As the product of the Roman Catholic schools and being raised in the Catholic Church, I have never heard of a Catholic child being christened. My husband, raised as a Protestant, a member of the RDC and the descendant of more members of the RDC than I can count, has not heard of christening being used in that particular group. This all goes back to the suggestion that we adhere to the usage by the particular group about which we write which I believe to be an excellent idea. MScheffler <mscheffl@twcny.rr.com> wrote: Christening and baptism are the same thing. Protestant churches who baptize adults usually call the church ceremony for children "Dedication" when the parents and witnesses stand up in front of the church congregation and promise to raise children in whatever Christian church it is. Usually the congregation takes a vow as well to assist the parents in the process. Margaret Scheffler ----- Original Message ----- From: > I'm Catholic also and have 3 children and 6 grandchildren and it is > baptized. I have never seen anything where Catholic babies/children are > christened. > I have seen protestants have Christening for young children and then they > are baptized at the age of knowledge. ------------------------------- 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

I actually agree with you Liz that some churches are very clear cut on their use of the terms and much more specific about the theological definition of the words than are others. But if the average person says they are going to a baptism or christening, we all have a general idea of what is meant, though we may not understand the specific nuance of that person's interpretation or of the particular brand of Christianity to which they subscribe. I would assume we might give as almost many interpretations as we have list members <g> Certainly baptism in my denomination -- the United Church of Christ has a different theological definition than say in the Catholic Church. And it would appear from this thread that the RDC has very specific interpretations of the meaning of baptism. I guess I would have expected the Reformed Churches to approach baptism like the Presbyterian Church with which I have experience(I have learned something). Though, for most practical purposes there is probably not a single denomination whose members would not give a wide range of what they think the rite or sacrament or ceremony means. For genealogical purposes whether a person chooses the term Christen or Baptism probably does not really matter except in genealogical data entry I like to use terms that I think the particular family might have used. I myself almost always use baptism because that is what I grew up using. I do know that many of the descendants from my own Dutch heritage were members of the Presbyterian Church. My family became Baptist. Margaret Scheffler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Johnson" <elizajohn@sbcglobal.net> ? > The same doesn't work here. In short, given the description by each > religious group and what we have read here, written by some who have > stated the case much better that I, there is a theological difference in > some faiths which creates a different meaning for the words and they > cannot be said to be the same regardless of the dictionary. As the > product of the Roman Catholic schools and being raised in the Catholic > Church, I have never heard of a Catholic child being christened. My > husband, raised as a Protestant, a member of the RDC and the descendant of > more members of the RDC than I can count, has not heard of christening > being used in that particular group. This all goes back to the suggestion > that we adhere to the usage by the particular group about which we write > which I believe to be an excellent idea. > MScheffler <mscheffl@twcny.rr.com> wrote: Christening and baptism are the > same thing. Protestant churches who baptize adults usually call the church > ceremony for children "Dedication" when the parents and witnesses stand > up in front of the church congregation and promise to raise children in > whatever Christian church it is. Usually the congregation takes a vow as > well to assist the parents in the process.