a baptised Christian

No, not redundant. There are a number of faith communities that fall under the label "anabaptist" including Mennonites (my family's tradition). The notion (for this group at least) is that it's irrational to imagine that baptism has spiritual value before the individual is of an age and sophistication to think properly about issues of faith, guilt and forgiveness. Infant baptism is seen as an appeal to something like magic.

"Baptised" means something but many people don't know what. There are lots of denominations based on different interpretations of that word.

Baptise means to dip. Many people assume that it means to dip in water, but it doesn't. The dipping can be in anything.

Acts 1:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Jesus clearly separates baptism in water from baptism in holy spirit. In Acts 10 & 11 Peter recalls the lord's words and decides not to baptise people in water. In Acts 18:24 thru 19:7 is the story of Apollos, who knew only water baptism, and Paul had to go behind him teaching the updated information.

So to call someone a "baptised" Christian does not say anything. All Christians get baptised, first in the gospel, then in holy spirit. Some denominations still know only baptism in water.

But what if he's wrong?

No it's not, someone can profess Christianity without going through the process of being baptised. Most Christians are baptised in infancy, but new converts convert to Christianity before they get baptised. Being baptised shows a commitment to one's new religion and one is unlikely to stay an unbaptized Christian for long.

But quite regardless of the mythological roots of baptism, as with many aspects of such faith, there can be an inspiration towards and a capacity for great beauty shared by members of such a community.



It is no coincidence that "enchantment" derives from the verb "chant".