The BBC reported on the death of an infant (Feb 1 2021) after a dunking baptism in the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The baby had a cardiac arrest after he was immersed three times in holy water. He had a violent death and liquid was found in his lungs, an autopsy found. A manslaughter inquiry has been opened by prosecutors into the priest who carried out the baptism in the north-eastern city of Suceava.
BBC
The report goes on to say that: “If the baby’s death leads to reform in the way baptism rituals are carried out then it would cause a rift within Romania’s Orthodox Church.”
Really? Is that the main concern here? Sure, oh, good: a schism leading to yet another warring Christian faction disagreeing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin…
The bottom line is that baby died because of stupid archaic beliefs about the necessity of ceremonial particulars.
While some, such as the Archbishop of Arges, may be open to change, others are not so inclined:
Eminence Calinic, the Archbishop of Arges, is the most prominent voice so far who appears open to change. “In other icons, Jesus stands in the water up to his neck, and with his head bowed he receives baptism by pouring water over the top of his head,” he was quoted as saying.
The Archbishop of Tomis, however, took a more belligerent stance. “We will never change the ritual. The canons of this religion have been in place for over 1,000 years,” he said. “That is why we won’t change. We are not intimidated.”
Romania’s powerful Orthodox Church is not known for reform, but this baptism tragedy may lead to change.
BBC
Sometimes I really just don’t know what more to say…
My concern with religion is that it allows us by the millions to believe what only lunatics or idiots could believe on their own.
Sam Harris
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