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Take the Plunge: Living Baptism and Confirmation
Timothy Radcliffe holds a unique position in the modern Catholic Church. As Master of the Dominican Order in Rome for nine years, he held one of the most senior and influential appointments the Catholic Church has on offer. But he is a member of an Order of Preachers and is thus truly apostolic. The order's motto consists of one word, Veritas (Truth), and it is the vigorous pursuit of intellectual and emotional truth which is the hallmark of his writing. This new book will not disappoint his admirers. Here, Fr Radcliffe argues that Christianity will only thrive today, overcoming the challenges of secularism and religious fundamentalism, if we rediscover the beauty of baptism. It touches the deepest dramas of human birth, growing up, falling in love, daring to give oneself to others, searching for meaning, coping with suffering and failure, and eventually death.
- GenresNonfictionTheology
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Radcliffe
93 books35 followersTimothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, OP was born in London in 1945. He joined the English Province of the Dominican Order in 1965, and was ordained a priest in 1971.
He was master of the Dominican order from 1992 to 2001 and professor at Oxford University.
He was master of the Dominican order from 1992 to 2001 and professor at Oxford University.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 4, 2017
Radcliffe immerses the reader into many chapters of reflections on baptism and confirmation. It reminds us of the childlike playfulness we need all our lives. It reminds us that we need to mature and grow up on many levels, including our approach to our beliefs. Drawing on theology, history, literature, poetry, music, drama, and a store of personal anecdotes, Radcliffe gives the reader a challenge and a treat. Here are some excerpts from the epilogue:
"As children of the font, we learn confidence in a love which is unshakable. But as adults in Christ, we discover how it will turn our lives upside down and remake us. This love is transforming because it is God's friendship, and no true friendship ever leaves one unchanged...Then we are given the light of Christ, so that we may see the wide embrace of God's family, the hidden dignity of every human being."
"As children of the font, we learn confidence in a love which is unshakable. But as adults in Christ, we discover how it will turn our lives upside down and remake us. This love is transforming because it is God's friendship, and no true friendship ever leaves one unchanged...Then we are given the light of Christ, so that we may see the wide embrace of God's family, the hidden dignity of every human being."
September 14, 2020
Timothy Redcliffe writes lovingly of the sacrament of baptism and has brought new insights that really helped clarify what I have understood and taught in my own ministry.
February 21, 2015
There appears to be more Christian literature around than ever before at the moment. I don't know whether this is a response to Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion", which has meant that Christian writers and publishers have increased their outputs, or because I'm noticing it more. Timothy Radcliffe's ''Take the Plunge'' is taking a more or less opposite view to that of Dawkins, exploring the importance of baptism in everyday life and arguing that there is no aspect of life that cannot be touched if you are baptised and therefore living with faith.
Radcliffe talks about all aspects of life and how important faith and baptism are to them. From the moment of birth there is not a moment in life that cannot be improved if you are living it with God. Radcliffe sees baptism as the first step along a life of faith that will be with you until death. He sees this as a way to avoid many of the pitfalls of modern living; rejection and fear of death among them. Although he mostly applies this to the modern world, he notes that Christians have been setting themselves apart from secular society by baptism since the days of the earliest church in Roman times.
Interestingly, although a brief mention of it opens each chapter, the main focus here is not on the baptismal act itself. Radcliffe prefers to talk about the effects of the baptism on the believer and how the faith that prompts the act will seep into all areas of life. Given that the baptismal act is only a brief moment in a person's life, this widening of scope is necessary to avoid what could have been a very short book and opens it up to a wider audience.
My first surprise in reading the book was how accessible the writing style was. One of my recent reads, "The Face of God: The Gifford Lectures" by Roger Scruton, proved to be very tough going, so I wasn't expecting too much here. However, Radcliffe's writing is very clear and inclusive. Perhaps because of my experiences with the previous title, I certainly didn't expect to find several jokes and some beautiful poetry. Perhaps the moment that most made me feel included was when I came across a quote Radcliffe used which described the colleague at the next desk almost perfectly.
This accessibility is in no way achieved by the lack of research. Admittedly, a large part of his research involves writings and articles on or by members of his Catholic faith, but there is a much wider scope than that. There are references here to Dickens and Tolstoy from secular writings and G. K. Chesterton and various Popes from the Catholic world. But his references are certainly not based in the past, as he also quotes Zoe Heller and Lady Gaga, as well as making a reference regarding actress Megan Fox. Regardless of your stage of life or era, there is going to be a name here that you recognise, all of which are quoted or referenced with complete relevance to Radcliffe's main argument.
If there was a downside, it was to me the slightly limited scope in areas of faith. Radcliffe is a Catholic and so the entire book is presented from this standpoint. Whilst this is entirely understandable, some aspects of the book did make it slightly less comfortable for me as a born again believer. Radcliffe quotes from the Apocrypha at a number of points, which isn't widely used outside the Catholic faith. He also uses baptism to refer to infant baptism, which isn't something my church teaches, although thanks to having parents of a vague faith, I was Christened as a child, as well as being baptised as an adult.
Although some of his points on faith weren't entirely in agreement with mine, I did find myself agreeing with Radcliffe's basic argument. The points he makes on baptism are equally valid in terms of adult baptism and particularly where he talks about the wider faith of which baptism is a part, I felt this was a very well reasoned book. The focus on Catholicism may make this more suited to someone of that faith, but as a book on the important of faith in modern culture, there are many aspects here that relate well across all branches of Christianity and all presented in a very readable form, although you need to be seriously considering baptism or studying theology to make this worth a purchase.
This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk
Radcliffe talks about all aspects of life and how important faith and baptism are to them. From the moment of birth there is not a moment in life that cannot be improved if you are living it with God. Radcliffe sees baptism as the first step along a life of faith that will be with you until death. He sees this as a way to avoid many of the pitfalls of modern living; rejection and fear of death among them. Although he mostly applies this to the modern world, he notes that Christians have been setting themselves apart from secular society by baptism since the days of the earliest church in Roman times.
Interestingly, although a brief mention of it opens each chapter, the main focus here is not on the baptismal act itself. Radcliffe prefers to talk about the effects of the baptism on the believer and how the faith that prompts the act will seep into all areas of life. Given that the baptismal act is only a brief moment in a person's life, this widening of scope is necessary to avoid what could have been a very short book and opens it up to a wider audience.
My first surprise in reading the book was how accessible the writing style was. One of my recent reads, "The Face of God: The Gifford Lectures" by Roger Scruton, proved to be very tough going, so I wasn't expecting too much here. However, Radcliffe's writing is very clear and inclusive. Perhaps because of my experiences with the previous title, I certainly didn't expect to find several jokes and some beautiful poetry. Perhaps the moment that most made me feel included was when I came across a quote Radcliffe used which described the colleague at the next desk almost perfectly.
This accessibility is in no way achieved by the lack of research. Admittedly, a large part of his research involves writings and articles on or by members of his Catholic faith, but there is a much wider scope than that. There are references here to Dickens and Tolstoy from secular writings and G. K. Chesterton and various Popes from the Catholic world. But his references are certainly not based in the past, as he also quotes Zoe Heller and Lady Gaga, as well as making a reference regarding actress Megan Fox. Regardless of your stage of life or era, there is going to be a name here that you recognise, all of which are quoted or referenced with complete relevance to Radcliffe's main argument.
If there was a downside, it was to me the slightly limited scope in areas of faith. Radcliffe is a Catholic and so the entire book is presented from this standpoint. Whilst this is entirely understandable, some aspects of the book did make it slightly less comfortable for me as a born again believer. Radcliffe quotes from the Apocrypha at a number of points, which isn't widely used outside the Catholic faith. He also uses baptism to refer to infant baptism, which isn't something my church teaches, although thanks to having parents of a vague faith, I was Christened as a child, as well as being baptised as an adult.
Although some of his points on faith weren't entirely in agreement with mine, I did find myself agreeing with Radcliffe's basic argument. The points he makes on baptism are equally valid in terms of adult baptism and particularly where he talks about the wider faith of which baptism is a part, I felt this was a very well reasoned book. The focus on Catholicism may make this more suited to someone of that faith, but as a book on the important of faith in modern culture, there are many aspects here that relate well across all branches of Christianity and all presented in a very readable form, although you need to be seriously considering baptism or studying theology to make this worth a purchase.
This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk
March 7, 2013
I read this book for my renewal of baptismal vows and my confirmation. The vicar of my church, who is a confident and friend encouraged me to read it as a preparation for it.
I think this book is great. I mean, it is written with a catholic point of view, but even if you are not catholic (which I am not), this book is great.
The chapters are going through each step of the way, explaining the why of the fact that they call you by name, the why of the anointing and so on. It is detailed, very well explained and so full of information. I initially bought this book in english, as I am bilingual and am going to an english-speaking church even if I live in France and am french. But... the langage was difficult, to be fair. Not everyone can read it, the style is (too?) amazing and can seem very scholar, which is why I would not recommend this to teenagers. It is difficult. The theme is difficult, no need to make it even more complex.
Nevertheless, Timothy Radcliffe impressed me very much with this book and definitely challenged and prepared me for my baptism and confirmation. I recommend!
I think this book is great. I mean, it is written with a catholic point of view, but even if you are not catholic (which I am not), this book is great.
The chapters are going through each step of the way, explaining the why of the fact that they call you by name, the why of the anointing and so on. It is detailed, very well explained and so full of information. I initially bought this book in english, as I am bilingual and am going to an english-speaking church even if I live in France and am french. But... the langage was difficult, to be fair. Not everyone can read it, the style is (too?) amazing and can seem very scholar, which is why I would not recommend this to teenagers. It is difficult. The theme is difficult, no need to make it even more complex.
Nevertheless, Timothy Radcliffe impressed me very much with this book and definitely challenged and prepared me for my baptism and confirmation. I recommend!
March 30, 2013
This is a beautiful reflection on the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation which I highly recommend.
October 29, 2015
Longer than it needed to be, and because of that covers too many topics rather than focusing well on a few.
July 16, 2016
bijzonder boek. mooi, bevestigend, en ook diepgaand met prachtige zinnen om over na te denken.
May 10, 2016
A lovely and thought-provoking read for those looking to rediscover the beauty of baptism and confirmation.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews