ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of baptism

Hello there! Baptism is a very important ceremony that has been around for a very long time. Let me explain it to you like you're five!

Baptism is when someone gets dunked in water to show that they believe in God and want to become a part of the church. It's kind of like a big, fancy bath where instead of getting clean, you become a member of a special club!

People have been doing baptism for thousands of years, even way back in ancient times. It was a way to show that you believed in a higher power, and that you wanted to follow that power's rules and be a good person.

In the early Christian church, baptism was a very important part of becoming a Christian. It was seen as a way to wash away all of your sins and start a new, fresh life. People would be baptized in rivers or other bodies of water, and it was a big deal!

As time went on, different Christian groups started doing baptism in different ways. Some churches only baptized adults who had made a conscious choice to join the church, while others baptized children as babies to welcome them into the community.

Today, baptism is still an important part of many Christian religions. While the specifics may vary from church to church, the basic idea is still the same: it's a way to show your commitment to God and your desire to live a good, moral life.

So there you have it, kiddo! Baptism is a special ceremony that people do to show their belief in God and become a part of the church. It's been around for a very long time and is still an important tradition today!