Water+and+Christianity

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•This common ritual unites the two major symbolisms of water into one action, purification and the giving of life. The one being baptized is either submerged into water, or water is sprinkled on their head. The person being baptized is cleansed of their original sin they acquired from Adam ad Eve’s disobedience, told in the book of Genesis. A new life in the church is given to the one being baptized as they are recognized.

•According to St. Paul, from the book of Romans, baptism is “a ritual death and rebirth, which simulates that death and resurrection of Christ.”

•Water is commonly known to wash away physical dirt, but it commonly is used to wash spiritually clean someone. As water fills a bowl, God fills the child being baptized. Not only do humans need water to physically survive, many need God to help them survive spiritually.

Purification
Similarly to Islam, and many of the other major religions, Christians believe that water is purifying. •Psalms 18 and 24 state, clean hands are equated to “righteousness” and “a pure heart.” The belief that purification helps one reach the divine is a thread that connects through all of the five major religions from both Eastern and Western philosophies. •Similarly to the Islam practices, “holy water” is sometimes kept outside of a church to sprinkle on one’s head to purify them before they enter. Since the 9th century, Catholic Priests have washed their hand before Mass.

Life-giving
•Water is featured in the rivers of the book of Genesis. The four rivers symbolize the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which provide the life-giving message of Christ. Rivers are also featured in Hinduism.

•”The water, which flowed from Christ’s side on the cross.” Christ was crucified for the salvation of the people and water is depicted in this scene because Christ was giving life to the people.

Strong & Destructive
Water is powerful and is often depicted as a force stronger than man. Stories from the Bible show this strength of water and one who can overcome it; God. In all of the examples, strong faith in God and the Christian belief is the one and only way that water is defeated.

•The story of when Jesus walks on water clearly shows how belief is necessary to overcome water. When doubt overcomes Peter during his attempt to walk on water, he sinks.

•Both Moses’ Parting of the Red Sea in the Exodus, and a lesson from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount show how faith can help one rise above water. When closing his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Moses’ ability to part the Red Sea was a reward from God to Moses and the Israelites for their faith. The crossing of the Red Sea shows God’s power over nature.

Bibliography: Costecalde, Dr. Claude-Bernard. The Illustrated Family Bible. New York, New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1997. Encyclopedia: Cavendish, Richard. "Water." Man, Myth & Magic. 1970. http://www.bbc.com http://www.sacredland.org/world_sites_pages/Ganges.html