Becoming Christian: redeeming the secular through the ordo of baptism

BL Religion;BV Practical Theology

Carswell, W. John ; Gay, Doug

University:University of Glasgow

Department:School of Critical Studies

关键词: Church of Scotland, baptism, catechumenate, catechesis, profession of faith, adult baptism, Tom Torrance, special commission, panel on doctrine, RCIA.;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/8664/13/2017CarswellDPT.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

This thesis presents an argument for the development of a catechumenate for the Church of Scotland.It does so first by drawing attention to the wide discrepancy between the assumptions of the secular culture and those of the church, specifically the Church of Scotland, with a view to understanding the substantial differences in the beliefs of those baptised and the beliefs of the church.It argues that the church has yet to come to terms with this discrepancy and consequently has weakened its distinctive baptismal witness.Secondly, the thesis considers in depth the development and reception of two major studies on the subject of baptism conducted by the Church of Scotland in the last sixty years.It indicates that both remain largely unknown quantities within the church and have subsequently failed to provide practical guidance to the church in its practice of baptism.This thesis considers the experience and practice of adult baptism in contemporary Scotland and concludes with an extended argument justifying the need for a fully developed catechumenate.