Un-baptism, or Reversing Baptism,or Expiration Date?

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

Is there an expiration date on a baptism if one has not attended church in decades and truly questions any existence of a god?

If a parent had you baptized as a child, but as an adult you've turned your back on all organized religion, are you officially un-baptized?


Is the act of rejecting a religion an effective means of un-baptizing yourself?

Or is baptism sort of like virginity? There's no going back once you've crossed to the other side?

Baptism is an outward expression of an inner commitment to faith. If you never possessed or no longer possess the latter, the former is moot. I suppose you could sprinkle yourself with dirt if you want to have a ceremony or something.

Dragonfly said:

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

Is there an expiration date on a baptism if one has not attended church in decades and truly questions any existence of a god?

If a parent had you baptized as a child, but as an adult you've turned your back on all organized religion, are you officially un-baptized?


Is the act of rejecting a religion an effective means of un-baptizing yourself?

Or is baptism sort of like virginity? There's no going back once you've crossed to the other side?

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LOLOL

If you don't believe in it, its of no consequence.. forget it. It doesn't have to be undone.. unless you are trying to prove a point to someone.

Dragonfly said:

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

Is there an expiration date on a baptism if one has not attended church in decades and truly questions any existence of a god?

If a parent had you baptized as a child, but as an adult you've turned your back on all organized religion, are you officially un-baptized?


Is the act of rejecting a religion an effective means of un-baptizing yourself?

Or is baptism sort of like virginity? There's no going back once you've crossed to the other side?

Click to expand...

I'm told by most christians that because I was baptized as a kid and was legitimately "saved", that no matter how atheistic I am now, I'm going to heaven. According to them it's once saved always saved.

RabidAlpaca said:

I'm told by most christians that because I was baptized as a kid and was legitimately "saved", that no matter how atheistic I am now, I'm going to heaven. According to them it's once saved always saved.

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I am not sure which Christians you mean by "most", but "most" of the ones I know would disagree with that. It isn't like that water in the Baptismal/river/whatever is magic.....

Dragonfly said:

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

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Interesting question. Here is how it was explained to me in my youth, as part of a fairly Conservative, Protestant denomination....

In the act of Baptism others speak for the child. The parents, sponsors, and congregation speak on behalf of the child and make certain commitments and promises to, and for the child. As the child grows into a young adult, if they are still active in the church, they partake in the Confirmation process, by which they once again make and reaffirm those same promises and commitments to God in front of the congregation and God Himself. After that, it is up to the individual to live up to those promises and commitments. If you don't do so, then they really have no validity in the face of God. It's not so much a matter of being un-baptised as much as it is a matter of whether or not you choose to live up to the vows that were made for you by others.

It'll depend on who you ask.

Personally, I was not baptized as a baby (much to my grandmother's chagrin). When I had a chance to choose baptism as a teen I rejected it. I didn't feel comfortable making such a big commitment/declaration when I was so unsure of the beliefs involved.

I'm with Fisher as far as my understanding is concerned: your baptism is only valid so long as you maintain the faith and commitment represented by undergoing the ritual. If you depart from religion for some time and return I would contend you should be re-baptized. Then again, I'm apathetic to religion and the existence of God, so I have no credibility here.

Fisher said:

I am not sure which Christians you mean by "most", but "most" of the ones I know would disagree with that. It isn't like that water in the Baptismal/river/whatever is magic.....

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It isn't the baptism itself, but the being "saved". "Once you've asked Jesus to be your lord and savior, you are saved, and you can not be unsaved."

RabidAlpaca said:

I'm told by most christians that because I was baptized as a kid and was legitimately "saved", that no matter how atheistic I am now, I'm going to heaven. According to them it's once saved always saved.

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Actually, baptism just cleanses you from the original sin. Not from anything else.

Dragonfly said:

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

Is there an expiration date on a baptism if one has not attended church in decades and truly questions any existence of a god?

If a parent had you baptized as a child, but as an adult you've turned your back on all organized religion, are you officially un-baptized?


Is the act of rejecting a religion an effective means of un-baptizing yourself?

Or is baptism sort of like virginity? There's no going back once you've crossed to the other side?

Click to expand...

These are all very silly questions.

Because you were baptized as a child does not automatically make you a believer.... or saved now........unless you have followed that in your heart and your lifestyle... there is No Magic in the Baptismal Water............. none..... without belief in God............ is how I perceive being baptised'

RabidAlpaca said:

It isn't the baptism itself, but the being "saved". "Once you've asked Jesus to be your lord and savior, you are saved, and you can not be unsaved."

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There are also people who think that God is so forgiving that everybody gets into Heaven and Satan will be the last one he let's through the door. I am not so optimistic about myself getting there, but i think I am pretty safe in saying forsaking God just because you once did not is probably a longshot path.

Rainman05 said:

These are all very silly questions.

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There are some people who take baptism extremely seriously.

I too faced some rather harsh backlash when telling some people there would be no baptisms for my children.
One non-family member even went far enough to "warn" us of the consequences on not baptizing should our newborn die.

While my questions might be a bit tongue-n-cheekish, for many there's nothing at all silly about baptism, so why should questions on how to reverse or nullify that ceremony be silly?

Dragonfly said:

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

Is there an expiration date on a baptism if one has not attended church in decades and truly questions any existence of a god?

If a parent had you baptized as a child, but as an adult you've turned your back on all organized religion, are you officially un-baptized?


Is the act of rejecting a religion an effective means of un-baptizing yourself?

Or is baptism sort of like virginity? There's no going back once you've crossed to the other side?

Click to expand...

Being that sex is physical, and baptism is symbolic, I'd say there's no logical comparison.

RabidAlpaca said:

I'm told by most christians that because I was baptized as a kid and was legitimately "saved", that no matter how atheistic I am now, I'm going to heaven. According to them it's once saved always saved.

Click to expand...

I'm under the impression that if you are truly saved, you could never be atheistic.

Dragonfly said:

There are some people who take baptism extremely seriously.

I too faced some rather harsh backlash when telling some people there would be no baptisms for my children.
One non-family member even went far enough to "warn" us of the consequences on not baptizing should our newborn die.

While my questions might be a bit tongue-n-cheekish, for many there's nothing at all silly about baptism, so why should questions on how to reverse or nullify that ceremony be silly?

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Convert to satanism and have your children practice satanism.

I am quite sure that satanism nullifies baptism.

Dragonfly said:

Can one effectively un-baptize one's self?

Is there an expiration date on a baptism if one has not attended church in decades and truly questions any existence of a god?

Click to expand...

There is no expiration date on a baptism, but you do run the risk of going into the afterlife with a terrible case of diarrhea.

Ikari said:

I'm under the impression that if you are truly saved, you could never be atheistic.

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Ha, yeah, they said that too. They said I either deep down really believe in god, or I never believed in him in the first place, which is preposterous.

Rainman05 said:

Convert to satanism and have your children practice satanism.

I am quite sure that satanism nullifies baptism.

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If I question the existence of a "god" why the hell (no pun intended) would I even remotely believe there's a satan?

Dragonfly said:

If I question the existence of a "god" why the hell (no pun intended) would I even remotely believe there's a satan?

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To 'save' yourself from the horrors of baptism.

RabidAlpaca said:

I'm told by most christians that because I was baptized as a kid and was legitimately "saved", that no matter how atheistic I am now, I'm going to heaven. According to them it's once saved always saved.

Click to expand...

ummm ... No.

Unless you have given yourself to Him,
for all time,

you were never saved in the first place.

That is not to say that a truly saved person can't "backslide,"

but there IS no backsliding into UN/DIS-belief.

When you're truly saved?

You KNOW Who God is, and would never deny Him.

fyrenza said:

ummm ... No.

Unless you have given yourself to Him,
for all time,

you were never saved in the first place.

That is not to say that a truly saved person can't "backslide,"

but there IS no backsliding into UN/DIS-belief.

When you're truly saved?

You KNOW Who God is, and would never deny Him.

Click to expand...

That opinion is quite common and a bit offensive to those of us who deconverted. I was born into a Christian family but not an overly religious one. But in my early 20s I went through a lot of changes and difficulties in my life and I turned to religion. I became a "born-again-Christian". I remember vividly kneeling down in that cheap motel room clutching the Bible in my hands pleading for Christ to enter my heart and wash away my sins, as tears streamed down my face. I had the whole experience of feeling the Holy Spirit enter me.

I made significant changes in my life and my mindset. I TRULY believed, with all my heart, in God and Christ and the Word. I even became a young earth creationist. I talked to God constantly and believed he was answering my prayers. I had decided to become an Army chaplain and I was very active in my local Southern Baptist community. If you had stuck a gun to my head and told me to denounce God or die, I would have welcomed the bullet. I cut ties with my non-Christian friends and friends who claimed ot be Christians but who were clearly not trying to live their lives for the Lord. I was as sure of the truth of the Bible as I am sure this keyboard I am typing on is real. I was a True Believer.

It was my studies toward becoming a chaplain that lead to my deconversion. I am not going to go into that here as I could write entire books on that journey.

But my point is that it is VERY possible to fall back into disbelief. Now, if you say I was never saved in the sense that NOBODY is actually saved, then ok. But if you are saying that I wasn't a "real" Christian or that I didn't truly have faith, you could not be more wrong.