I was baptized at 8 or 9. In some ways that's young, I suppose, but I understood what it meant and wanted it. There wasn't a specific age at which you were supposed to be baptized, because it was all about becoming a believer (usually couched in the Baptist buzz-phrases "ask Jesus into your heart" or "make a decision for Christ"), though I never knew of a child being baptized younger than 6 or 7, and children raised in the church who hadn't "made the decision" by age 12 or so got a certain amount of pressure/attention from pastors and Sunday School teachers.

If I could get past my basic theological issues with Trinitarian doctrine

What's that? I mean, what's Trinitarian doctrine? Belief in the separateness of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit?

I also think that 12 is kind of young to make decisions on where you'll spend the rest of your spiritual life.

Well, its not like they hold you to it with guns or something.

I think its more a rite of passage. You're raised in a tradition and then they respect that you're old enough to embrace it consciously.

Raq, I really like the "we don't practice infant baptism" answer. It's true and concise and politely ends a discussion that is potentially yet not necessarily nosy.

If I could get past my basic theological issues with Trinitarian doctrine I might be looking for a local congregation.

I've always held what turns out to be (roughly) the Eastern Orthodox assessment of "it's a mystery. relax already."

I was baptized as a baby - i think both of my younger sisters were done later . and I was confirmed. amd it didn't take. The concept of Immersion squicks me - too dramatic. but that is just those WASP roots showing.

now, I am trying to decided weather or not to go into work. I have a cold, but it isn't really bad. But resting for a day is good for me. but if Iam not feeeling bad, I should go to work. but I will be spreading germs... this is the new england work ethic conflicting with sensible one that the WorkEthic thinks is a slacker.

I really like the "we don't practice infant baptism"

Yeah, I do too, and have just been discussing it with my DH, who concurs. It came up in his world because his new boss asked him, in slightly hushed tones, if he was Jewish. Given than boss just came from Tel Aviv, I don't get the hushed tones part, but that may just be how boss asks anything.

I totally forgot to say, DOG~MA to Toby!

what's Trinitarian doctrine?

Three Gods in one: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Unitarianism (as in Unitarian Universalism) is the belief in One Deity. Period. Although nowadays that's . . . well, flexible, to say the least.

I don't believe Jesus was a god. I find the idea that Jesus was the only begotten son of God the Father questionable, too. Which doesn't make me fit in too well in many Christian denominations.

"it's a mystery. relax already."

I like this. Although I'm hearing it as spoken by that guy from Shakespeare in Love "Nobody knows. It's a mystery."

Unitarianism (as in Unitarian Universalism) is the belief in One Deity. Period. Although nowadays that's . . . well, flexible, to say the least.

The joke a Unitarian friend told me was that "We believe in at most one God."

The joke a Unitarian friend told me was that "We believe in at most one God."

That's how my UU aunt puts it too. "We believe in one God...at most."

Three Gods in one: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Oh, that's what I was taught. Didn't know the word for it.