On Monday, the Northern Star published a letter to the editor entitled “‘De-baptism’ does not make any sense,” which expressed confusion over the purpose of the AAFT de-baptism event. I hope to clarify this event to the author and readers who might likewise be curious.

First, let me take to task your definition of atheism: you are correct in saying that, as atheists lack a belief in gods, baptisms and similar ceremonies have no spiritual significance. I should, however, point out that atheism does not hold a position that “there is nothing to believe in,” unless you are referring to deities.

So it follows that a de-baptism holds as much validity to an atheist as a baptism, a fact we addressed in the language of our ‘de-baptism’ ceremony: “Do you agree that the magical potency of today’s ceremony is exactly equal to the magical efficacy of ceremonial baptism…and do you agree that the power of all magical ceremonies is nonexistent?”

But simply because a baptismal ceremony holds no spiritual significance to an atheist does not mean it holds no symbolic significance.

Many atheists, as infants or children, are made to participate in a religious ceremony by their families. This may appear to an atheist as an attempt to ‘claim’ the person as a member of the religion before they have a conscious and educated choice in the matter. The de-baptism served as a silly and symbolic means of publicly divorcing themselves from that claim.

Nathan Fulkerson

Senior

English Major