For most Christian confessions, baptism is the fundamental ritual of birth, through which the newborn child is welcomed into the community. The ritual act of baptism maintained its importance even in the face of secularization, as it arguably answers a need that is not purely religious. This chapter shows the resilience of the baptismal rite in contemporary Catholic European societies, which is even more apparent if we control for changes in the religious composition of the population. The social relevance of baptism, though, is more encompassing than merely marking the birth of a child – as the ceremony requires the presence of godparents, with whom many children (and their parents) will acknowledge a special relationship through life. The practices regulating the choice of godparents changed in time, reflecting transformations in culture and society. In many Catholic countries today, godparenthood practices are deeply influenced by demographic change, and indeed, they represent an aspect of religious demography which would be worthy of greater attention.
Baptism and godparenthood in Catholic Europe
Alfani, Guido
2018
Abstract
For most Christian confessions, baptism is the fundamental ritual of birth, through which the newborn child is welcomed into the community. The ritual act of baptism maintained its importance even in the face of secularization, as it arguably answers a need that is not purely religious. This chapter shows the resilience of the baptismal rite in contemporary Catholic European societies, which is even more apparent if we control for changes in the religious composition of the population. The social relevance of baptism, though, is more encompassing than merely marking the birth of a child – as the ceremony requires the presence of godparents, with whom many children (and their parents) will acknowledge a special relationship through life. The practices regulating the choice of godparents changed in time, reflecting transformations in culture and society. In many Catholic countries today, godparenthood practices are deeply influenced by demographic change, and indeed, they represent an aspect of religious demography which would be worthy of greater attention.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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