Baptized Once You've Died: Mormon Vicarious Baptism or Baptism by Proxy

If any of your future relatives become Mormon.... once you have died of course... they might make you Mormon too! I had never heard about this until watching a brief documentary about Mormonism. A Mormon baptismal right, called vicarious baptism, uses  a "stand in" to replace the dead "baptizee" which is baptized by proxy for the deceased(Reaume, 1995). This baptism occurs in stunning baptismal pools within even more regal and wonderful temples. Every-day baptismal pools do not compare, even amongst the Latter Day Saint faith. The temple fonts are generally surrounded by 12 oxen with some temples are now opting for 6 oxen against a mirror(Tanner). These special baptismal fonts have only one use and that is for proxy baptisms, while the living are baptized in a "Stake Center" reminiscent of a more typical font(Tanner).

The baptismal right practiced by the LDS community is based upon First Corinthians 15:29 in which Paul wrote: "Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?"(Reaume, 1995). First Corinthians 15:29 has caused centuries of debate with the earliest known interpretation being that of Tertull(Hull, 2005, p.2). On the surface, the passage appears to be about vicarious baptism but over two hundred interpretations have been suggested with very few being viable(Reaume, 1995). This initial interpretation about baptizing the dead cannot be verified due to a lack of evidence for the act throughout the duration of the New Testament period and it also appears unlikely that Paul would write about a practice so different from his theology without speaking negatively on the subject(Reaume, 1995). I am not a biblical scholar and therefore know nothing of "Paul's theology" but one might assume that if this type of baptism were a vitally important act, it would be mentioned more frequently within scripture. 

Joseph Smith is the founder of the Mormon faith; a religion of American origin born in Nauvoo. I only know this because the television show "Sister Wives" about a Mormon family that continues to practice polygamy. He was so greatly moved by First Corinthians 15:29 that Joseph developed it into a doctrine first made public on August 15 1840 in Nauvoo at a funeral held for Seymour Brunson(Tanner). "Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought" mentions that the idea of vicarious baptism was once again mentioned at the October 1840 conference where the Prophet taught about the ritual and mandated that a temple be built to accommodate it(Tanner). The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith states: "One dies and is buried having never heard the gospel of reconciliation; to the other the message of salvation is sent, he hears and embraces it and is made the heir of eternal life. Shall the one become the partaker of glory and the other be consigned to hopeless perdition?…Such an idea is worse than atheism"(Fugal, 1992). Although this statement is quite wordy, I imagine Smith did not think it fair that those who had never heard the message of God were to be condemned forever. Is this not a little bit insensitive? What if a person was happy with their faith in life... would a non-optional baptism by proxy be highly disrespectful? What if someone had already rejected God in their lifetime after having known him? I cannot answer these questions but I would certainly like to find out more. I am also curious as to if Mormon polygamists still practice this baptismal right since they are not accepted by the LDS church. So much to look into! This whole acting on behalf of the dead thing in this manner is quite uncommon. What an interesting and unique religion.

-Maia B


Just some extra reading if anyone is interested. This has been copy and pasted with some of the bulk removed. Below are the five fundamental principles that underlie LDS understanding of salvation for the dead as written by Elma Fugal, 1992:

1. Life is eternal. Birth does not begin life nor does death end it.

2. Repentance is possible in the next life as well as this one. "There is never a time when the spirit is too old to approach God. All are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who have not committed the unpardonable sin"(TPJS, p. 191).

3. The family bonds extend beyond death. The family bonds that are formed on this earth and consecrated to God by sacred covenants and ordinances are indissoluble and extend into the spirit world.

4. Ordinances may be performed for the dead. Through the holy priesthood, held by the prophets in the Church, Jesus Christ has authorized mortals to receive ordinances [which is] "instrumental in bringing multitudes of their kindred into the kingdom of God"(TPJS, p. 191).

5. Temple ordinances are not "mere signs." They are channels of the Spirit of God that enable one to be born of God in the fullest sense and to receive all the covenants and blessings of Jesus Christ. The performing of earthly ordinances by proxy for those who have died is as efficacious and vitalizing as if the deceased person had done them. That person, in turn, is free to accept or reject the ordinances in the spirit world.

-Elma Fugal

ps. TPJS = The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith

Bibliography

Fugal, E. (1992). Salvation for the Dead. In Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Vol. n/a, p. n/a). n/a: Macmillan Publishing Company. Retrieved March 23, 2013, from http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/temples/salvation_dead.html

Hull, M. F. (2005). Baptism on Account of the Dead (1 Cor: 15:29): an act of faith in the resurrection. Leiden: Brill.

Reaume, J. D. (1995). Another Look at 1 Corinthians 15:29, "Baptized for the Dead". Bibliotheca Sacra 152, October-December 1995, 457-475. Retrieved March 23, 2013, from the Last Seminary database.

Tanner, S. (n.d.). Baptism for the Dead and the Twelve Oxen Under the Baptismal Font. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. Retrieved March 23, 2013, from www.utlm.org/onlineresources/pdf/baptismforthedeadandbaptismalfont.pdf


Please note that APA does not permit for the citation of photographs;  links are provided below:

1)http://www.phawker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mormon-temple-baptistry.jpg

2)http://www.utlm.org/images/twelveoxen_bw.jpg

Agency Through Sainthood

Supposed grave of St. Patrick in Downpatrick, Wikipedia

Stained glass of St. Patrick, Wikipedia

Well, we all know that today is St. Patrick's day. I am posting this not only as an homage to St. Patrick but also to clarify what this day traditionally means. Today, an online friend of mine posted a comment under a photograph along the lines of "Christianity meets Ireland day" with a girl holding a beer in the image. I find it very odd that so many people get irrationally excited for a day that many of those people really know nothing about! It is not just a random day to wear green and get your drunk on with green beer or a good pint of dark, creamy Guiness. My online friend was partially right in that today is celebrated because of Catholicism spreading and gaining popularity in Ireland but the two concepts are one in the same on this day; "Ireland day" is the celebration of Catholicism on behalf of and because of St. Patrick and his work. I have sorted through a lot of information today and most of what I have found was much too long to read for a simple blog post, was not in English, or was very convoluted and all over the place with possible theories concerning St. Patrick's life and death.


I know that it is technically improper to directly quote an author but I could not say it more perfectly, fittingly, or beautifully in my own words. Howard Williams writes about agency in almost a poetic manner. He asks: "how might we consider the dead as having agency when, by definition, they cannot seemingly act or think on their own behalf"(Williams, 2004)? He then answers his question: "the key lies in the frequently observed evidence that, for many cultures, the social, symbolic and mnemonic significance of the dead body does not end with the extinguishing of vital signs"(Williams, 2004). This is particularly true in Western tradition for those individuals who are chosen by the Catholic Church and community to be designated saints. Their mnemonic, social, and symbolic significance lives on through feasts and special days devoted to these once living, holy people. Individuals regularly pray to specific saints and choose their favourites or choose saints most applicable to their life. These traditions have lived on and on for years. Others have acted on behalf of St. Patrick to keep his memory and important life works known and celebrated.


Not very many historical documents remain from the time of Patrick making it rather difficult to determine much about the mans life and/or death. Two Latin letters do survive and are thought to have been written by Patrick himself; "Declaration" aka the Latin "Confessio" is the most important and the "Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus" aka the Latin "Epistola" being of slightly lesser importance(wikipedia.com). Patrick, a decedent of Roman Britain born at Banna Venta Berniae(perhaps Glannoventa, current Ravenglass in Cumbria), was born into a God-serving family with his father Calpornius holding the title of deacon and his grandfather, Potitus, that of priest(wikipedia.com). At the age of sixteen, Patrick was captured as a slave and brought to Ireland where he worked as a captive herdsmen for six years; in this time his faith grew and grew while he prayed daily(wikipedia.com). Patrick heard "a voice" saying that he would be on his way home soon and that "his" ship was ready so Patrick fled and traveled two hundred miles until he reached a port, found a ship, boarded, and returned to England in his early twenties(wikipedia.com). Patrick had another vision while at home in which he felt a calling to return to Ireland to spread the word of God and, upon his return to Ireland, he ended up converting and baptizing many people(wikipedia.com). This is the biggest reason for the celebration of St. Patrick's day; a man and his life work. He single handedly aided in the conversion of a whole nation.


Now this is where is gets interesting. After the death of St. Patrick, people fought over his remains! This was titled the Battle for the Body of St. Patrick, accounted for in the Annals of the Four Masters, is said to have occurred shortly after his death on March 17th 493 AD(wikipedia.com). The Airgíalla and the Ui Néill wanted to bring Patrick's body to Armagh while the Ulaid wanted to keep it but the Airgíalla and Ui Néill ran into troubles with a flood while en route(wikipedia.com). After the floods, they decide on peace and the body went with the Airgíalla and Ui Néill and it (this part I dont understand) "appeared to each of them that each had the body conveying it to their respective territories, so that God separated them in this manner, without a fight or battle"(wikipedia.com). It is suggested in another reading that they separated without conflict because each party saw the body as being in it's own company(Rev. T. Olden). St. Patrick's body was laid to rest at Dun Da Lathglas and for the twelve days and nights of psalms and hymns, there was no night in Magh Inis or the surrounding areas but appeared to be full daylight(wikipedia.com). Prior to doing this research, I had no idea that St. Patrick's body caused so much unrest! All I used to hear was tales of him chasing snakes out of Ireland but nothing I found made any mention of that event. Some friends and I were chatting about this and started to suspect that snakes really just meant pagans.... but I digress. The honor of holding onto Patrick's remains had been claimed by several locals but the location of his burial has been more or less doubtful for many(Rev. T. Olden).


A true date of death for St. Patrick is difficult to discern and is quite controversial. The date of March 17th, 460 AD is accepted by some modern historians but, prior to the 1940s, it was undoubtedly believed that he died in 420 AD(wikipedia.com). In 1942, a publication entitled "The Two Patricks" was published by T. F. O'Rahilly which proposed that there were once two "Patricks", one named Palladius, and that the current St. Patrick is an intentional conglomeration of the two into one hagiographic identity(wikipedia.com). Patrick's own writings contained no dates but they do contain information such as quotations from Acts of the Apostles which follow the Vulgate and his mentions of the Franks as pagans prior to their conversion between 496-508 AD(wikipedia.com). The Annals of Ulster report under the year 493 AD that arch-apostle Patrick, or archbishop and apostle of the Irish, passed away on the 16th of April at 120 years of age, 60 years after his arrival in Ireland(wikipedia.com). Most historians now believe that Patrick was likely to have been active in the later part of the fifth century(wikipedia.com). Regardless of all this controversy over dates, March 17th remains as the day chosen to celebrate St. Patrick. His memory lives on.

–Maia B

Bibliography

(2013). Battle for the Body of St. Patrick. In Wikipedia (Vol. n/a, p. n/a). n/a: n/a. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_the_Body_of_St._Patrick


Olden, T. (1893). On the Burial-Place of St. Patrick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (1889-1901), 2 (1891-93), 655-666. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from the Jstor database.


(2012). Saint Patrick. In Wikipedia (Vol. n/a, p. n/a). n/a: n/a. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick#Death


Williams, H. (2004). Death Warmed up : The Agency of Bodies and Bones in Early Anglo-Saxon Cremation Rights. Journal of Material Culture, 2004(9), 263-291. Retrieved March 17, 2013, from the SAGE journals database.

Please note that APA does not permit for the citation of photographs;  links are provided below:

1)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Saint_Patrick_(window).jpg/387px-Saint_Patrick_(window).jpg

2)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Saint_Patrick's_grave_Downpatrick.jpg/800px-Saint_Patrick's_grave_Downpatrick.jpg

Saved by the Bell... But Not Like a Boxer.

Safety coffin with bell

A different "vault style" safety coffin

The fear of being buried alive is not all that uncommon. It would be a death, I imagine, similar to a slow suffocation... if one who was indeed alive were to even wake at all. I could not imagine walking through a cemetery only to hear muffled screaming coming from the ground below me. Many historical reports of incidents exactly like that have been recorded. One such story is that of the very ill Lawrence Cawthorn; a butcher at Newgate Market heard screaming from his grave in London, 1661(Bondenson, 2010). Another published case is that of Madam Blunden from Basingstoke, 1674, who was thought to have overdosed on poppy water but, after burial, young shcoolboys heard noise coming from the ground(Bondenson, 2010). Her body was lifted and then examined on two occasions, both times being covered in scratches or bruises that were not there upon being pronounced dead(Bondenson, 2010).

As it may be imagined... people used to rely on really obvious signs to determine "alive or not" in the past. The chest would be listened to for a heartbeat or pulse may have been taken. People would also examine the belly of the tentatively deceased to watch for the normal rise and fall of breathing. Due to this inaccuracy, mistakes were inevitable. Safety mechanisms for coffins began to be available. I have often heard of a person being given a bell or being tied to an exterior bell so that they may signal to the outside word that they were in need of aid and not actually dead. By the 1700's, it was common to rely solely on decomposition as a true determinant of death(Bondenson, 2010). German "Leinchenhauser"(hospitals for the dead) facilities meant to temporarily house bodies until the putrefaction process began were created and used until the 1950's(Bondenson, 2010). By around the 1790's, the security coffin became popular and one of which was equipped with a tube that a person may use to smell for signs of decomposition(Bondenson, 2010). The later 1800's saw many advances to these coffins such as bells being replaced with firecrackers, sirens, or rockets that could be activated from inside the coffin(Bondenson, 2010)!

Obviously we now know a lot more about human anatomy, physiology, and pathology. These people who had been buried alive may have suffered from disorders such as cataplexy or just have had a very low and slow heart beat due to drugs or disorders. A person locked in an airtight coffin would not survive more than 60 minutes with the lack of oxygen(Bondenson, 2010). Bodies also move around while they decompose from things such as gasses and insect activity. This movement set off many false positive alarms and lead to many unnecessary exhumations(Bondenson, 2010). The most interesting safety coffin I have found online belonged to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick who died in 1792(Bateman, 2011). It contained a window, a fresh air tube to provide oxygen, and a coffin lid that had been locked instead of nailed so that he may open it from within using his key(Bateman, 2011).

Being mistaken for dead still occurs to this day! Even after all these modern advances in medicine, it is a rare and odd possibility. There are reports of a Venezuelan man pronounced dead after a motor vehicle accident on September 17, 2007, named Carlos Camejo(Bateman, 2011). He was 33 years old at the time and woke up in the morgue, alive and in pain just as doctors were about to being his autopsy examination(Bateman, 2011). In February of 2010, a Polish beekeeper named Josef Guzy was pronounced certifiably dead after a heart attack(age 76) until the undertaker noticed he had a pulse(Bondenson, 2010). What lucky individuals to have woken up prior to being buried or cut open alive. How terrifying!! One would think a doctor, in this day and age, could guarantee that a dead body is totally and fully dead.

-Maia B

Bibliography

Bateman, C. (2011). Hardy rural elder survives mystery morgue ordeal. South African Medical Journal, 10(9). Retrieved March 11, 2013, from http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S0256-95742011000900011&script=sci_arttext&tlng=es

Bondeson, J. (2010, March 12). Lifting the lid on the macabre history of those buried alive. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1257330/Lifting-lid-macabre-history-buried-alive.html

Please note that APA does not permit for the citation of photographs;  links are provided below:

1)http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2010/10/340x_safetycoffin4_01.jpg

2)http://www.obit-mag.com/media/image/escape%20vault.jpg

Death of a Disobedient Roman Soldier

The above image is a still from the television hit Spartacus which can be found in the third and final season "War of the Damned"; episode four "Decimation". This specific episode contains a very graphic death scene dealing with the Roman act of decimation. Decimation was reserved as a punishment for soldiers, regardless of rank, who coward in battle or did not follow the commands of their superiors. These superiors would be punished or executed separately as a general rule. In the Spartacus episode however, the leaders take their place with the troops. It was a group punishment; one screw up and everybody pays. According to good ol' Wikipedia, the first recorded decimation occurred in 471BC and was then reinstated in 71BC by Carassus against his battle with Spartacus. It was also rarely used as a form of punishment in both World Wars by the Russians and Italians.

Decimation is done through a sort of lottery. Soldiers line up in groups of ten and are each forced to "pick straws"... probably rocks.... to determine who will be on the receiving end of this deadly act. Once every group has chosen their receiver, the killing would begin. The remaining nine soldiers would to bludgeon the soldier who pulled the short stick or off-coloured stone to death. Killing was usually accomplished by clubbing or stoning and was very messy. Afterwards, the remaining soldiers would be banished outside city walls or the encampment at which they were staying. What an unpleasant way to die.

– Maia B

Owney the Dog

So... continuing on with my recent taxidermy trend(in–part due to my groups topic of choice for our Anthropology 397 case study assignment)... I bring to you Owney the Dog. Sometimes people choose to preserve a body after death because of love. Taxidermy was not cheap in the late 1800's, nor is it now. This little dog's memory will last and last. He will be around for future generations to experience and his presence will be strengthened because of it's physical and material nature. In the photos above, he appears to look much different in life than in death. This could be due to the age of the taxidermy or the outdated style of the taxidermic processes used.

Below is a summary about Owney based on the information found at: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/2c1f_owney.html

Due to chance, Owney ended up a regular at the Albany, New York, post office in 1888. He loved mail bags and would follow them on routes that would eventually end up being cross-country train trips with the mail. Owney made his first world-round trip in 1895. This little dog was considered a good luck charm because no train he rode on was ever in an accident which lead him to become the mascot for The Railway mail clerks. These clerks placed little tags or medals on Owney's collar to mark the places he had traveled to. Postmaster General John Wanamaker gave Owney a harness to use for displaying his medals. Upon his death in 1897, mail clerks put together money to have Owney's body preserved through taxidermy. He was given to the Post Office Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and then to the Smithsonian Institution in 1911 where he can be seen in the National Postal Museum's atrium.


– Maia B

Wearing Death

These gosh darn Victorians and their obsession with death... I suppose it did end up aiding to produce some interesting and unique pieces of material culture. These beautiful pieces at the top feature two hummingbird heads mounted as earrings in 18k yellow gold. They are estimated by the jeweler selling them to be from the 1870's with similar earrings being on display at The Victoria and Albert Museum(second image). According to good old Wikipedia, the Victorian years are considered to be the golden era of taxidermy. This is not the first time I have heard mention of that title. Many different taxidermic or preserved specimens could be found in the "cabinets of curiosities" belonging to the wealthy and the intrigued. New technologies plus old traditional knowledge combined and melded together in perfecting this art form that is still frequently used today.

-Maia B

Monument Analysis Comments and Map

View Ogden point A and B terminals in a larger map

This map and images are from my groups field work day for a monument analysis assignment. Originally we had planned to walk up the breakwater, then down Dallas Road recording benches all the way towards the Terry Fox statue to finish. When we arrived at Ogden Point and the base of the breakwater, there was a ton of benches!!!! More than enough to meet the "3 monuments a person" requirement. As a group, we decided to stay there to record. It was a very pretty and pleasant 2-2.5 hours. No disruptions at all and we were able to work very efficiently. The image of the man with his arm up in the air was our first monument, a tribute to the Vancouver Island Town Criers of the past and present(both images are my personal photos). This monument was donated to Ogden Point and to Butchart Gardens so I am curious if it switches every few years and maybe has two temporary homes. The image above the man is the view from the base of the breakwater facing south, the direction of many of our recorded monuments. Our chosen location was kind of an interesting location to place memorials for people. It is very industrial and not all that pretty plus very touristy. Most people do not even walk around the docks much but head right into the heart of Victoria. Four of the benches we notices had a deeper purpose for being located there. Two were once pilot captains which have one of their stations located right inside the breakwater, both were facing the pilot boats. Of the remaining two benches with inscriptions related to the location, one specifically mentions the breakwater and the other Dallas Road in a more general way. Some people may see this location as just an ugly dock and parking lot but for many that reside in Victoria, the area around the breakwater is a favourite place to walk and take in the phenomenal views. I can understand why, even with all the industrial traffic behind the benches, someone would love to have an honorary memorial facing the breakwater, ocean, and mountains because it is one of my personal favourite places too.


-Maia B