Baptism is so misunderstood and the problem lies with the literal interpretation that is almost always accepted. I struggle to believe that there is a "god" somewhere making ridiculous demands that we submerge ourselves in water... all this does is get your head wet! So what is the true meaning of baptism? First the bible is not to be interpreted literally, the bible is a book of mythology and the guys who wrote figured that our intellectual evolution would have us see the whole book being a metaphor. Baptism as every ancient culture and tradition interprets it is about raising our consciousness. For example the 5 stages of consciousness are:

1. Earth
2. Water
3. Air
4. Fire
5. New mind

So before we are baptised our consciousness is at the carnal Earth level, when we are baptised in water it refers to raising our consciousness to the next level. (John the Baptist) The next level is to raise our consciousness to the level of Air - (1 Thessalonians 4:17 ... to meet the Lord in the air.) So what does the bible say about the next level - raising our consciousness to the level of Fire? Matt 3:11 ... he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with FIRE. This leaves the last level - New Mind, here: Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Receiving a New Mind).