The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 82 - Naming over Dinner

The waitress seated Greg and Susan at a table in the little cafe, handed them menus and proceeded to tell them both about the evening's specials, after which she left them on their own to decide. It didn't take them long. Greg summoned the waitress to take their order, settling in to enjoy his meal with Susan as they waited.

"Care to tell me about the idea you had in the middle of the night last night?" Susan asked.

"Ah," Greg said. "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to ask about that."

Susan arched a curious brow. "So now you know. Do you want to tell me?"

Greg didn't answer immediately. Rather he studied her intently for a while.

"To set a context for my idea, as I remember our discussion last night, we were talking in terms of ceremonies or observances commonly celebrated or practiced by our varying faiths in regards to the arrival of a new baby. You mentioned infant baptism in connection with Zackary and Matt," Greg began.

"Yes. I think I also said I agreed to that because it was Michael's wish for them to be baptized as infants. For myself, I don't think infant baptism is necessary. I don't think the Lord penalizes the souls of the very young if they die before reaching the age of decision if they're not baptized, like some do. If I had any doubts about that before, I think I can put them to rest based on what we've observed with Marie and Zack," Susan said.

Greg arched his brow. "They both died young and both came back. They have bad dreams, but seem otherwise undamaged by the experience."

"Yes," Susan said. "That is my reasoning. We also talked about the brit milah ceremony you took Zachariah to just after he was born."

"We did, but such ceremonies are only commanded for boys. There is no such requirement for girls according to the scriptures. However there is a general practice to hold a formal naming ceremony for baby girls born into families who are members of our congregation," Greg said.

"Our congregation ... you mean the one you belong to in Los Angeles?" Susan asked.

"I apologize, should have been clearer. What I meant by 'congregation' is that body of Jews who practice their religion in a manner similar to the way I do. I meant it as a broader term than is typically used by Christians, as I understand that usage of the word. In my case, that would include those who are members at the Temple in Los Angeles as a subset."

"Those looked after by Rabbi Sloane," Susan said.

"Yes," Greg said.

Susan looked down at the table, sipping from her glass of water as she thought about what he was saying.

"In my church, there isn't a naming ceremony as such, but there is an infant dedication that's done if the parents are Christians. It's a ceremony intended to ensure the infant's name is recorded in the Book of Life," Susan said.

"The naming ceremony in Judaism serves a similar purpose," Greg said. "How is such a ceremony different from an actual baptism?"

"Well, an infant baptism involves anointing the child with holy water. For those churches who practice it, the act of baptism makes the infant Christian, without any choice or decision being made to that effect by the child in question. I don't approve because I think it's misleading. I believe being Christian is always the result of an active choice made by the believer, not the result of some default religion chosen for someone by their parents or some other well-meaning adult when they were a baby," Susan said.

"And yet it is treated like that by most of the Christian world," Greg commented.

"Yes, I know," Susan said. "That doesn't mean I agree with it."