<<snipped>> This is quite a technical point, but highlights a difference between Christening (CHR) and Baptism (BAPM) in the GEDCOM Specification. <<snipped>> Technical it might be, but I like it! There's no sign in the GEDCOM Spec'n of any information about when the two items came into GEDCOM, so no sign of any explanatory logic. The "User's Guide to the New FamilySearch Website (December 2012" https://help.familysearch.org/kb/UserGuide/en/nfs/r_nfs_source_fields.html states: "Baptism Record "Any type of record or certificate that states the date and place an individual was baptized into a church. "Christening Record "Any type of record or certificate that states the date and place a child was **baptized** or named." (My emphasis) This would suggest the LDS view of christening is wider than their view of baptism as it includes naming as well. But why on earth the wider angle should include a definition of the child's family, I don't know. The only logical deduction is that they thought "naming" could include definition of a family, whereas baptism didn't. Sorry, did I say "logical"? (NB - the ceremony of baptism into the LDS church is a different tag again - BAPL not BAPM). As I said, I'm sure some people meant different things by the two terms - I'm just not sure there was any consistency in those meanings! Adrian

I'm an atheist but with a reasonable working knowledge of several major religions, so bear that in mind when reading the following. > "Baptism Record > "Any type of record or certificate that states the date and place an > individual was baptized into a church. > > "Christening Record > "Any type of record or certificate that states the date and place a child was > **baptized** or named." (My emphasis) Based on my understanding, this makes sense. Baptism is when the person is anointed with, or submerged in, water, signifying their entry into the Christian Church. Christening is where they are given their Christian name and it is made known to other members of the church. Seems to me the confusion arises out of the fact that these two events mostly occur within the same ceremony. As there isn't (to my knowledge) an overarching term for this ceremony it is sometimes referred to as a Christening, and sometimes as a Baptism. Atheists (and I'm sure other belief systems) often have a Naming Ceremony, which is analogous to a Christening. I'm not sure whether this clarifies or muddies the water further :o) Graham