[donfriesen1]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

There is an issue with the idea “if Christianity never existed” shouldn’t be employed in an argument. It brings in all sorts of what ifs. But I understand what you are saying. Many items predate Christianity, which are similar but are different in how they are practiced in Christianity. Baptism is one of them.

Indeed. Although not the topic of this thread, plz allow me some observations of Baptism. I'll try not to do this 'thread hi-jacking' again.

-Baptism practiced by the Jew pre-John B was self-immersion.
-John B changed what was. He did the dunking, but not with a formula.
-Jesus changed what John B did by adding a formula for Christian baptism.

Adding a formula conveys:
-those who did the baptizing were authorized by another.
-indication of the one authorizing.
-giving credit for any benefit received, to the one authorizing.

I also fully agree with what was said by Costeon about head coverings. That practiced by the Corinthians was similar to that practiced by others. Its origins were from Man, not God.