While weddings and funerals tend to have many bizarre customs attached to them, other ceremonies tend to be more straightforward. Though a vast majority of people who decide to baptize their babies will do so in a very specific way, there are some examples of christenings that have gotten out of hand or involved entirely peculiar elements. If you’re looking for a laugh or a reason to scratch your head, peruse this list of some of the more unusual baptism ceremonies.
Celebrity Shenanigans
Most people know that celebrities walk a fine line between talented and insane. No matter how engaging or prolific a performer is, you never know when an established name will be in the news for something shocking. Though known for many scandals in his short life, Justin Bieber made the headlines in 2014 when the Canadian pop star decided to save his public image by turning to religion. Not only did he proclaim this to all his followers on social media, he also decided to forego the traditional baptismal settings for a venue only a celeb could pick: Tyson Chandler’s bathroom.
While most babies are baptized in small ceremonial bowls in churches, Bieber entered his religious journey by way of a luxury bathtub in a professional basketball player’s home. The pastor who performed the ceremony has also baptized a slew of other famous names, including Bono.
Fatal Theatrics
Electricity and water don’t mix. This is something most people understand, though it can be quite easy to make a fatal error when you aren’t paying attention. This was the case for a pastor in 2005, who was preparing to christen a number of adults in an outdoor ceremony. The officiant, Reverend Kyle Lake, made the mistake of adjusting an electric microphone for the performance while submerged in water. While the pastor was unfortunately killed by the electrocution, none of the hundreds of attendees present were harmed.
Secrets Revealed
Many religious groups have taken well to the digital age. Interestingly, this need to promote services and scripture online led to at least one criminal’s downfall. A drug trafficker by the name of Antonio Montella was arrested and convicted for his crimes. However, Montella was able to flee before he was taken to prison. During his time away, he was said to express a deep sorrow for his previous crimes. Eventually, this led him to become an integral member of a church in the small commune of Villaricca, Italy.
His devotion to his newfound religion was so strong that the former mobster chose to be formally baptized. Unfortunately for Montella, the church celebrated his entrance by capturing pictures and videos. After welcoming Montella into the church, they shared these images with followers on social media. It wasn’t long before law enforcement recognized Montella and tracked him down to carry out his sentence.
Weather Conditions
Since parents tend to be cautious with their small babies, most are not open to deviating from a safe and simple plan for their baptism ceremonies. However, adult baptisms are a minefield of bad ideas and life-threatening decisions. For example, many religious groups are conducting baptisms on or near the ocean. Sadly, this has led to several instances of individuals being swept out to sea due to a strong current. In one severe case in 2018, rip currents caused three men to drown during some unusual baptism ceremonies in South Africa.
While most baptisms are very simple events that celebrate a new member of the congregation, there are plenty of instances of these gatherings turning into something strange or dangerous. Not only can learning about these scenarios prove interesting, it can also help you discover what mistakes to avoid in your own plans.