Baptism for the dead?

I just read an answer about people baptising the dead. Since it wasnt what the question was about I didnt want to go off topic, but I'd love to learn more about it? Who does it? Why?

Lol, sounds like a metal band...Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptizing a living person on behalf of an individual who is dead; the living person is acting as the deceased person's proxy. So it is with this practice, an individual is baptized to give those beyond the grave the opportunity of baptism by proxy. It has been practiced since 1840 in the Latter Day Saint movement. The practice continues in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where it is also called temple baptism because it is performed only in dedicated temples. Baptism for the dead is also practiced by several other current groups in the Latter Day Saint movement.

Advocates of this practice believe it is referred to in The New Testament (1 Cor. 15:29). The practice was forbidden by the Orthodox Church in the 4th century as an aberrant practice of heretical groups, and is not practiced in modern mainstream Christianity. (taken from wiki)

I know I read that 2.. and I was wondering what that ment... I don't think you could baptize the dead... at least from what I beliefe.

Eww... the idea of dunking a corpse in water, sounds kind of... messy...

One of the reasons that the LDS Church is so good for family research (they can help you learn your family tree etc) is that they research dead people and then baptise them. I like goodgirl124 but I have to admit that I wish people would keep away from my ancestors! Some of my family were Christians, and I know they're with Christ in heaven now. I don't believe that anything that happens to them after death, especially here on earth, could have any effect on their eternal life.