It's not really about "initiation into the club." Various interps give it varying amounts of potency from pure symbolism to pure operation. And it wasn't just for converts. There are a number of different baptisms mentioned in the Bible, and most of them are by Jews and for Jews.

I think you're right about there not being this ceremony today. I wonder how it changed? As for Quakers and Jehovah's Witnesses, it was (and is) a specific repudiation based on theology and the circumstances of church. I wonder if that's the case for Jews. Mark?

Juulie - as you may know, there are at least five different "strains" of Judiasm. I can only speak for the Reform group. We have dispensed with many of the symbolic rituals (including wearing yarmulkes in shul - although I still do) so I don't think this one ritual was singled out for any specific reason.

You'd have to ask an Orthodox Jew for a definitive answer, and I doubt there are any on this board. Maybe Romano can help, since he is in Israel.

BTW - what do you think of what's going on with the coaching staff at Tigard HS? Weird, huh?

All I saw was what was in the paper. If you have any more juicy details, I'd love to know them, via e-mail, I suppose. I tried to get Mrs. ABC to talk, but she says she doesn't know anything.

Cat pee glows under fluorescent light. Which raises the question, what weirdo discovered this!?!

I bet it is the same guy who discovered the same thing about scorpions.

while we're on the subject......
A man is stumbling through the woods, totally drunk, when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and subsequently bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of alcohol, whereupon he asks the drunk, "Are you ready to find Jesus?"

The drunk answers, "Yes, I am."

So the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the water. He pulls him
up and asks the drunk, "Brother have you found Jesus?"

The drunk replies, "No, I haven't found Jesus."

The preacher shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again for a little longer. He again pulls him out of the water and asks again, "Have you found Jesus my brother?"

The drunk again answers, "No, I haven't found Jesus."

By this time the preacher is at his wits end and dunks the drunk in the water again, but this time holds him down for about 30 seconds and when he begins kicking his arms and legs he pulls him up. The preacher again asks the drunk, "For the love of God have you found Jesus?"

The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

Gotta love 7th/8th Girls Parents
 

..... that's all that needs to be said! :D Anyways, I've got a long lay off (longest of the year), two weeks off before things start to pick up.

Re: First crack....
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tjones1
[B]I get to break into the action tonight. Gear bag is filling back up and I'm catch the fever! I'm ready to go... hopefully won't have any "stupid parents"

__________________________________________________ _________
Are they going to lock the doors and keep all adults out? If they don't, you'll have a stupid parent, or two, or three, or......

not upset at all...
 

first, i was upset by the comment. 2nd, i was just commenting on what my partner was called. and 3rd, i have very thick skin and it would take a heck of alot more than that to upset me. i thought part of this forum was to share your experiences, so other can learn from them.

as usual on this forum, some can twist and turn a comment on this forum to there advantage. not sure why that is. it's more upsetting that some read more into a simple post than what's posted.

Re: Re: First crack....
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by refnrev

Quote:

Originally posted by tjones1 I get to break into the action tonight. Gear bag is filling back up and I'm catch the fever! I'm ready to go... hopefully won't have any "stupid parents" __________________________________________________ _________ Are they going to lock the doors and keep all adults out? If they don't, you'll have a stupid parent, or two, or three, or......

:D True

Actually it was Bill Muarry (sp).

TC

Kenny

First off I am not Hebrew, but have lived with a Hebrew family for an extend period of time. Honestly there is no way to 'completely convert' to the Hebrew race/religion because they dont want converts. Namely, Jewish people view themselves and thier religion as the chosen religion. Thusly, if they were to convert it would be like going up to someone and asking, "are you chosen?" However, there are previsions for childeren, mothers, and fathers that are of part Hebrew lenaiage and choose to convert because they have a kid/are a kid/ or aparent of a half hebrew kid, or what not depeing on how conseerivitive the Synagouge (sp) that you belong to...

Anyway my 2 cents