baptism

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baptism Pouring of water on a person's forehead or the immersion of the body in water, used as a rite of initiation into the Christian Church. Baptism is one of the sacraments of the Christian Church. The water symbolizes regeneration. Total immersion is practised by the Baptists. In churches that practise infant baptism, the rite is usually referred to as christening and is the occasion when a child is named.

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