Good point, logi. I grew up in a German Lutheran church, so I know what you mean. No adult was baptized into that faith community unless they were deemed ready for baptism by the pastor after thorough counseling and questioning. And teens who had been baptized as infants had to attend bi-weekly confirmation classes for two years to learn the Lutheran tenets of faith and the responsibilities of membership in the church before they were formally admitted to the church as adults.

But that's just not how it works in some of these rah-rah churches. Not always, but sometimes, baptism is more often like a cattle call -  and in the excitement of the moment and a heatrfelt playing of "Just As I Am," the suddenly converted walk toward the show stage to receive the Lord's grace from the preacher, and then all are assured of their place in heaven because they rescued another soul from the dangerous clutches of Satan, who abides everywhere outside of their club. Not to mention claiming a new contributor to the church's building fund. I am sincerely happy for those to whom this is an important life changing experience, especially if it brings them happiness. But more often than not, it's a way of fitting in. Fitting in as a teen, as a neighbor in a region dominated by evangelicals, or as a member of a sports team in high school.