Russell Brand’s baptism reveals the urgent need for tradition

[Michie]

I would never have guessed comedian Russell Brand would be defending Christianity on Instagram, but here we are.

The actor’s journey to Christianity led him to share with his millions of followers that he’d chosen to be baptized. And so he was. He “took the plunge” on April 28 and was baptized in the River Thames.

Seeking stability amid chaos​

“Something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible, overwhelming,” Brand said, reflecting on the experience in a video posted to his Instagram account. The actor expressed feelings of being “blessed, relieved, nourished” and “held.”

It doesn’t appear that Brand has become a Catholic, but he has posted videos in which he shares that he has taken up the practice of praying the Rosary.

And that’s the part I love best. Brand is clearly looking for something. He wants an anchor, an ancient practice. Something to ground him today.

In fact, in another video, he says as much. “I know a lot of people are sort of cynical about the increasing interest in Christianity and the return to God, but to me, it’s obvious,” Brand said, explaining to critics why he’s pursuing Christianity. “As meaning deteriorates in the modern world, as our value systems and institutions crumble, all of us become increasingly aware that there is this eerily familiar awakening and beckoning figure that we’ve all known all of our lives, within us and around us. And for me, it’s very exciting.” It’s about finding stability amid the chaos.

C.S. Lewis and the value of tradition​

Continued below.

Russell Brand's baptism reveals the urgent need for tradition

What do comedian Russell Brand and Oxford don C.S. Lewis have in common? They remind us of the need to respond to the call to embrace tradition, our identity and purpose. Read here:

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[RileyG]

I wonder if he was baptized Catholic?

 

[Michie]

I wonder if he was baptized Catholic?

I don’t think so. He claims to have been baptized in the Thames.

 

[RileyG]

I don’t think so. He claims to have been baptized in the Thames.

Anglican I assume. Interesting. Maybe he’ll cross the Tiber one day

 

[Michie]

Anglican I assume. Interesting. Maybe he’ll cross the Tiber one day

He could but nobody seems to know who performed the baptism or when he was baptized. I have to say I was a bit put off about him getting baptized in the Thames. It’s filthy!

 

[RileyG]

He could but nobody seems to know who performed the baptism or when he was baptized. I have to say I was a bit put off about him getting baptized in the Thames. It’s filthy!

That’s true.

 

[Ain't Zwinglian]

That’s true.

Naaman initially refused to wash himself seven times in the Jordan because the rivers of Damascus were cleaner than the Jordan. However the washing of waters in the Jordan contained a promise "“Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (II KIng 5)

Naaman's servants convinced him because of the promises attached to this specific washing.... to wash himself in the dirty water of the Jordan and was cured of his leprosy.

Baptism is NOT just water as many here at CF believe. Baptism contains promises whether the water is clean or dirty, recipients are young or old, or male or female.

Via Crucis has a listing of these promises.

It does exactly what the Bible says it does.

Gives new birth (John 3:3-5, Titus 3:5)
Makes disciples (Matthew 28:19)
Results in remission of sin (Acts 2:38)
Cleanses us (Ephesians 5:26)
Unites us to Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4)
Clothes us with Jesus Himself (Galatians 3:27)
Saves us (1 Peter 3:21)

-CryptoLutheran

 

[FaithT]

Anglican I assume. Interesting. Maybe he’ll cross the Tiber one day

Since he got Baptized and prays the Rosary it possible.

 

[FaithT]

I don’t think so. He claims to have been baptized in the Thames.

In another article you posted in April, it said he was baptized as a Roman Catholic, so I dunno. Then I read something else that says he isn’t.

 

[Michie]

In another article you posted in April, it said he was baptized as a Roman Catholic, so I dunno. Then I read something else that says he isn’t.

I don’t recall anything about him being baptized Catholic. Are you referring to this article?

Russell Brand announces baptism after months-long spiritual journey: 'Taking the plunge'

Actor and comedian Russell Brand announced Friday that he is going to be baptized on Sunday, following the culmination of a months-long public wrestling with the tenets of Christianity

www.christianpost.com

Here is the latest I read about the baptism:

Bear Grylls Helped Baptize Russell Brand: “It Is A Privilege To Stand Beside Anyone When They Express A Humble Need For Forgiveness”

Bear Grylls said it was a "privilege" to baptize Russell Brand in the River Thames.

deadline.com

 

[FaithT]

I don’t recall anything about him being baptized Catholic. Are you referring to this article?

Russell Brand announces baptism after months-long spiritual journey: 'Taking the plunge'

Actor and comedian Russell Brand announced Friday that he is going to be baptized on Sunday, following the culmination of a months-long public wrestling with the tenets of Christianity

www.christianpost.com

Here is the latest I read about the baptism:

Bear Grylls Helped Baptize Russell Brand: “It Is A Privilege To Stand Beside Anyone When They Express A Humble Need For Forgiveness”

Bear Grylls said it was a "privilege" to baptize Russell Brand in the River Thames.

deadline.com

Ok, my mistake…you didn’t post it, I think it was found during a Google search.
Russell Brand just got baptized. But what does it mean?

 

[The Liturgist]

I don’t think so. He claims to have been baptized in the Thames.

He could but nobody seems to know who performed the baptism or when he was baptized. I have to say I was a bit put off about him getting baptized in the Thames. It’s filthy!

That sounds awful, I realize, but he doesn’t say where along the Thames he was baptized; it is not like the East River in New York which is basically entirely polluted; yes, in London, it is a bit gross, although not as anywhere near as bad as it used to be, but if one goes upriver, up towards Oxford, by the time one meets the place where the Thame separates from the portion of the Thames also known as the Isis, that passes through Oxford, it is much more pleasant, with much less in terms of shipping and contamination in the water.

But even in London, water quality in the Thames, especially upriver from the Fleet, which was buried underground in Victorian times for sanitary reasons, that forms part of the drainage system of the City of London Corporation (and atop which is Fleet Street), is much better than it used to be. Since the modern sewers were implemented, and the Docklands closed, so that London ceased to be a major port city, there is much less present to contaminate the water in the Thames.

At any rate, there are Anglicans who pray the Rosary, and in Orthodoxy there is the very similar Prayer Rule of St, Seraphim of Sarov, which also consists of saying the Hail Mary in sequence (but it lacks the decades of the Rosary).

 

[Michie]

That sounds awful, I realize, but he doesn’t say where along the Thames he was baptized; it is not like the East River in New York which is basically entirely polluted; yes, in London, it is a bit gross, although not as anywhere near as bad as it used to be, but if one goes upriver, up towards Oxford, by the time one meets the place where the Thame separates from the portion of the Thames also known as the Isis, that passes through Oxford, it is much more pleasant, with much less in terms of shipping and contamination in the water.

But even in London, water quality in the Thames, especially upriver from the Fleet, which was buried underground in Victorian times for sanitary reasons, that forms part of the drainage system of the City of London Corporation (and atop which is Fleet Street), is much better than it used to be. Since the modern sewers were implemented, and the Docklands closed, so that London ceased to be a major port city, there is much less present to contaminate the water in the Thames.

At any rate, there are Anglicans who pray the Rosary, and in Orthodoxy there is the very similar Prayer Rule of St, Seraphim of Sarov, which also consists of saying the Hail Mary in sequence (but it lacks the decades of the Rosary).

I know the Thames has a long history of pretty much being a dump. I know it is not as bad as it used to be but still not a place I’d choose to be baptized.

Brand added that he intends to get baptized in the heavily polluted River Thames, joking that he might be also getting baptized in toxoplasmosis and E. coli.

Russell Brand announces baptism after months-long spiritual journey: 'Taking the plunge'

Actor and comedian Russell Brand announced Friday that he is going to be baptized on Sunday, following the culmination of a months-long public wrestling with the tenets of Christianity

www.christianpost.com

 

[RileyG]

Since he got Baptized and prays the Rosary it possible.

That’s true, may Our Lady intercede for him.