Baptism: From Zoroastrian Water to Christian Sacrament
The Ritual Everyone Assumes Is Christian Baptism is Christianity's initiatory rite — the ritual by which people enter the faith. Billions have been baptized. Churches debate its proper form. It's considered essential to Christian identity. But baptism didn't begin with John the Baptist or Jesus. The ritual of sacred water purification for spiritual transformation existed in Zoroastrianism centuries before Judaism developed any comparable practice. Baptism is a Persian ritual with a Christian name.
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The Ritual Everyone Assumes Is Christian Baptism is Christianity's initiatory rite — the ritual by which people enter the faith. Billions have been baptized. Churches debate its proper form. It's considered essential to Christian identity. But baptism didn't begin with John the Baptist or Jesus. The ritual of sacred water purification for spiritual transformation existed in Zoroastrianism centuries before Judaism developed any comparable practice. Baptism is a Persian ritual with a Christian name. Water in Zoroastrianism Haurvatat: The Amesha Spenta of Water In Zoroastrian theology, one of the seven Amesha Spentas (divine emanations of Ahura Mazda) is Haurvatat — representing: Wholeness and health Water in all its forms Perfection and integrity Life-giving power Water is not just an element — it's sacred , protected by a divine being.
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Dead Sea Scrolls