Becoming Christian: redeeming the secular through the ordo of baptism

Carswell, W. John (2017) Becoming Christian: redeeming the secular through the ordo of baptism. DPT thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

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.

• Item Type: Thesis (DPT)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Church of Scotland, baptism, catechumenate, catechesis, profession of faith, adult baptism, Tom Torrance, special commission, panel on doctrine, RCIA.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Gay, Rev Doug
• Date of Award: 2017
• Depositing User: Rev. Walter John Carswell
• Unique ID: glathesis:2017-8664
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 24 Jan 2018 15:53
• Last Modified: 16 Feb 2018 13:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/8664