Ancient Baptism

Baptism is a rite found among many peoples of every belief. In each culture it may be seen as simply a washing to remove moral guilt or in some cases, a complex symbolic act. It seems that the idea of baptism evolved as time passed. Water obviously cleans one from filth but as its power became enhanced in the primitive mind it most often stood for removing on of the stain of moral guilt. Now, a brief review of baptism.

There was a general theory among primitives that related to sexual uncleanliness. That is, there was a certain mystery that surround a mother and child at birth. She frequently was set apart or isolated after childbirth. (Superstitions of the New Zealanders, London, 1854, p. 143). In many cultures this idea is found. The above reference is to women and children in ancient New Zealand but the same ritual may be found practiced by the Koragars, a nomadic tribe in the West Indies (Walhouse, JAI iv.375) The only cure for this uncleanliness was immersion of the mother and child in water (baptism) to remove the uncleanliness.

In many ancient cultures (the Druids, the Kalmuks, and Devs) children are seen as born full of evil spirits (totally depraved). In some of these cultures, the spirits are propitiated by sacrifice while others are driven off by rushing around and shouting to ward off these demons. (Macdonald, Africana , London, 1882, i.224). In some districts witches were believed to carry off the children to devour them in a ritual orgy at the Sabbath. Hence, the custom among the Scandinavians (and even Roman Catholics and their candles) of never letting a fire go out (since fire wards off the witches) until the infant is baptized.

Since infants were seen as contaminated with evil at childbirth there were many different methods devised in order to remove this contamination. Purification by water the most popular (baptism) but also by blood and fire. We even find the idea of the Scapegoat in some ancient cultures where the evil is put on the body of another individual. However, in all ancient cultures, the most common method of all was baptism or water, the universal cleansing agent (Crawley, Mystic Rose, London 1902, 228).

While reading the works of Lichtenstein (Travels in Southern Africa, London 1812-15) we find that baptism was the method (immersion), used by these ancient tribes to cleanse one from murder, or touching a dead person, or after a battle to rid one of the ghosts of their victims. This ought not surprise us since even in North America long before American missionaries the Navaho Indians insisted that a man who has touched a dead person must baptized before allowed to mingle with his fellows (Encyclopedia of Religion, Ethic Baptism, p. 308)

One popular theory shared by many ancient religions was that of Animism. This was the idea that water was a living being. Probably once again was an idea with the primitives that evolved since water, unlike dirt, moves, makes a sound, has power, and in it may be found life (Hence, the Hebrew phrase, the Living Water). This was the idea behind the “Fountain of Youth” that was to give one ‘immortality, strength, and beauty (MacCulloch, London, 1905, C.3). Of course, another off shoot of Animism is that no spirit or evil can cross a body of living water (remember the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless horseman). But the idea is that water and sin (evil) are not compatible. This is seen most clearly in the Hindu religion where sin is removed by washing in their sacred rivers.

In a great many cultures around the world infant baptism is common at name giving ceremonies. The Polynesians are noted for practicing infant baptism long before Europeans made contact with them (Tregear JAI, xix. 98, 1832-34 p. 184). Similar practices were found among the American Indians. The Cherokees preformed the rite when the child was 3 days old and firmly believed that if the rite was omitted, the child would die (since evil spirits abound).

It is well known that the Aztecs and the Peruvians used some kind of baptism. Sahagun says, that the order of baptism among the Aztecs began, "O child, receive the water of the Lord of the world, which is our life, it is to wash and purify; may these drops of water remove the sin which was given to you before the creation of the world.”—Then, “now he lives anew and is born again.” (Not Christianity but paganism).

The Peruvian rite had the same ritual, the child was immersed under water to remove the original sin. (Augustine's doctrine of original sin as found in Christianity was also borrowed from paganism. Ezekiel 18:18ff tells us that "sin is not inherited.").

V. Baptism is most Ancient

In ancient Greece, the rite of baptism was oriented more to outward contaminations rather than inward, moral contamination. Plutarch describes the baptismal rite but all had to do with outward contamination. {Char. 16:de Super:3}

We find baptism in the initiatory rites of the worshipers of Sabazios, a Phrygian god. This corresponds to the rite in Dionysus (about 315 b.c). In fact, baptism in one form or another may be found in most of the ancient mystery religions. The religion that draws the most attention from those who want to criticize Christianity is that of Mithras. The question is now and always has been, did the worshipers of Mithras borrow from Christianity or did Christianity borrow from Mithras? Mithras was the dominant religion practiced by the Roman Army and has many parallels to Christianity all of which were borrowed from Christianity.