The Medieval Universe: 7

We asked if baptism was believed to save people from all their sins.  This is how we would interpret this source material:-

• Definitely true No. The statement would be true if it specified Original Sin, but it does not. A baptismal ceremony might symbolise cleansing from sin in an adult, especially one converting to Christianity, but other undertakings, such as confession and penance, works of charity or pilgrimages and vigils, were thought necessary for people to gain remission of their sins. There is no support in the evidence here for the idea that medieval people believed baptism alone wiped away all sin.
• Probably true No. The statement would be true if it specified Original Sin, but it does not. A baptismal ceremony might symbolise cleansing from sin in an adult, especially one converting to Christianity, but other undertakings, such as confession and penance, works of charity or pilgrimages and vigils, were thought necessary for people to gain remission of their sins. There is no support in the evidence here for the idea that medieval people believed baptism alone wiped away all sin.
• Possibly true No. The statement would be true if it specified Original Sin, but it does not. A baptismal ceremony might symbolise cleansing from sin in an adult, especially one converting to Christianity, but other undertakings, such as confession and penance, works of charity or pilgrimages and vigils, were thought necessary for people to gain remission of their sins. There is no support in the evidence here for the idea that medieval people believed baptism alone wiped away all sin.
• Definitely untrue With the important exception of Original Sin, which was believed to be washed away by baptism, the statement is untrue: a baptismal ceremony might symbolise cleansing from sin in an adult, especially one converting to Christianity, but other undertakings, such as confession and penance, works of charity or pilgrimages and vigils, were thought necessary for people to gain remission of their sins. There is no support in the evidence here for the idea that medieval people believed baptism alone wiped away all sin.
• Not shown by the evidence The only direct evidence of belief about baptism in these sources comes from the decoration on the font. These support the belief that baptism offers salvation by washing away sin, though it relates to Original Sin rather than all sin. This option is therefore correct.

E. Medieval people were afraid of going into the water.

• Definitely true;
• Probably true;
• Possibly true;
• Definitely untrue;
• Not shown by the evidence.