Baptism and christening are Christian religious rituals that are considered to mean the same and are therefore used interchangeably. But these terms are derived from different concepts and are represented by different ceremonies. So, let’s stay wholly holy by knowing the exact difference between a baptism and a christening. Here we go, kneel down all ye, and read:

1. Christening is the religious act in which a priest sprinkles water on a baby with the intentions of affirming the child’s commitment to Jesus Christ and conferring a Christian name to the child. Baptism is the religious act immersing a person in water because that person has accepted the Christian faith. A baptized person gets committed to Jesus Christ. Baptism symbolizes purification and admission to the Christian church.
2. Baptism finds mention in the Bible while Christening is more of a human tradition.
3. Christening happens when a Christian child is born or when a person of another faith seeks to get inducted into the Christian faith. Baptism too can happen to children and adults. Children are first baptized (inducted into the Christian church and religion) and while they are being baptized, they get christened (given a Christian name). People of another faith are baptized and christened too when they want to become Christians.
4. Some churches consider christening and baptism to be the same, while some churches differentiate between them. Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches differentiate between these concepts while the Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopal churches do not.

This is the difference between baptism and christening.