Dimensions of Baptism Biblical and Theological Studies

THOMPSON Memorial Dimensions of Baptism 313

A fourth dimension of memory forms a necessary complement to nar-

rative: the ritual dimension, including the material and bodily aspects. This

dimension is present in our earlier Baptists' rite, though more implicitly

than those already considered. Perhaps it is implicit because it is so obvious.

Baptism is, most basically, an event rooted in the material world as well as

in a community comprised of flesh and blood human beings.^34 There is

water. There are bodies gathered in a particular place around or before the

water. At least one body is immersed in the water. We must be careful not

to allow the obviousness of this to cause us to miss the memorial import.

Memory is mediated physically as well as narratively. Christian memory

takes place in conjunction with, even through, specific commemorative

vehicles: bread and wine, a book, water, gathered human bodies.^35 Memo-

rial actions involve certain objects and certain bodily actions: eating and

drinking; standing, kneeling, and sitting; speaking and singing; washing.^36

These things, however, are given significance only as they function in rela-

tion to and in the context of a remembering community, as they help consti-

tute a community's social space.^37 Casey notes that memory is less in the

mind or brain as it is in the world.^38 The physical setting, the social space,

of ritual actions is important. Indeed, it concretizes the memorial event and

contextualizes that which is remembered. Christian baptism such as Edwards

recorded took place on particular days, at particular places, perhaps at a

particular place along the riverbank where baptisms were usually held. Par-

of the community of faith's narrative as well. It is significant that the most mature

confession of English General (Arminian) Baptists in the seventeenth century declared:

'to which [true] church, and not elsewhere, all persons that seek for eternal life, should

gladly join themselves'. 'The Orthodox Creed', Article XXX, in W.L. Lumpkin (ed.),

Baptist Confessions of Faith (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2nd edn, 1969), p. 319.

The church is the locus of right remembrance of the world, and so where identity may

truly be had. Cf. C.J. Ellis, 'Baptism and the Sacramental Freedom of God', in Fiddes

(ed.), Reflections, pp. 223-45 (26, 38-39).

34. P.S. Fiddes, 'Introduction: Reflections on the Water', in Fiddes (ed.), Reflec-
    tions, pp. 1-7(1). Cf. P. Fiddes, 'Baptism and Creation', in Fiddes (ed.), Reflections,
    pp. 47-67.


35. Casey, Remembering, pp. 218-19. Cf. Wolterstorff, 'Remembrance', pp. 136-
    38; and Krell, Memory, p. 101. This is true as well for Jewish memory. Cf. B. Childs'
    discussion of zikkaron, Memory and Tradition in Israel (Naperville, IL: Alec R.
    Allenson, 1966), pp. 34-84 (66-69).


36. Wolterstorff, 'Remembrance', p. 138.


37. Cf. Connerton, Societies, pp. 36-38.


38. Casey, Remembering, p. 310. Cf. Fentress and Wickham, Social Memory, pp.
    33-40.