Significance of Water in the Life and Death of the Christian Man: History of Swimming and Water Rescue

Abstract

Water is an essential symbol of life "Without water, life would not exist", an antithesis is found when it can also take away your life, drowning. Every life lost has a countless value, a famous author portrayed this significance quoting "I believe that the life of a man is superior to all the riches that fortune can provide". Man, and water have had a relationship since the beginning of their existence being noted for its value and importance in Christianity. In the Old Testament with Isaiah (I 40.3-5) he mentioned water as a symbol of God's Spirit and allegory to his work (Mt 3.13-17). With Jesus Christ, water for people from Israel, was known to be as a sign of ablution. Its significance in the Christian faith is through baptism, with which the preaching of Jesus begins. Baptism comes from the Greek "baptisma" (immersion-act of immersing). The failure to submerge, with the etymological origin of baptism, is the accident called drowning.