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should infants of believers be baptised? I think, yes, because believers want the best for their children, and religion is important in their beliefs. what do you think?
Personally, I think they should hold off on any religious initiation until they are mature enough to make an informed decision. I don't see any rational reason why waiting would cause any harm.should infants of believers be baptised? I think, yes, because believers want the best for their children, and religion is important in their beliefs. what do you think?
When my (Catholic) ex and I were trying to have kids, the issue of baptism came up.should infants of believers be baptised? I think, yes, because believers want the best for their children, and religion is important in their beliefs. what do you think?
should infants of believers be baptised? I think, yes, because believers want the best for their children, and religion is important in their beliefs. what do you think?
What benefits?I think no, because the benefits one can have from a ceremony like baptism will be lost if the person can't remember their ceremony.
For countries where churches get subsidies based on the size of their membership rolls, or where churches claim real authority over all baptized people, it's everyone's affair the same was that general governance is everyone's affair.Is it in keeping with your traditions? Then do it.
If it isn't in keeping with your traditions? Then don't do it.
Not really my affair either way.
The same mental benefits of meditation, prayer, or ritual.What benefits?
should infants of believers be baptised? I think, yes, because believers want the best for their children, and religion is important in their beliefs. what do you think?
If one is speaking of a Christian faith - its interesting to note that infant baptism were not practiced by the early Christians or apostles. Nowhere is it mentioned in the Bible.*
True baptism of ones children would be ideal and we do want the best for our children - but when they get older and they ask questions about doctrine or beliefs maybe they become disillusioned or are unwilling to search for answers. (Or no response from clerics as my mother found out from her priest about the questions on Trinity and hellfire.) Does one get to the stage of its my parents religion its good enough for me." Do many feel trapped that they are born and baptised into their parents faith and are not allowed to question anything? Rhetorical question.
From early in the Bible - in fact when they Hebrew slaves came out of Egypt - months into their journey God gave this command - Listen O Israel, Jehovah your God is one Jehovah. You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must be on your heart and you must inculcate (teach, sound down, instruct) in your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. Deut 6:4-7
The educational structure for the pre Christians was that parents taught their children first, (even trades which is how Jesus became known first as a carpenter - the apostles mostly were fishermen) the priests took the lead in further instruction for the entire nation - doing so at the temple or synagogues that came in later. Individuals could ask the priests questions who were familiar with the Scriptures and organised the annual events to do with worship of God three times they were commanded to assemble together. If any wrongs or sins were committed they were to approach the priest themselves with whatever sacrifice they could afford on a more regular basis. From cattle if they were rich to pigeons and doves if they were of little means down to fine flour if they had nothing else to give.
Why is all of this relevant - because it gave a basis for the inculcation of their children the way they were taught. Even the events that shaped the history of the nation like Exodus - that was celebrated every year the same way generations of parents were commanded to remind their sons and daughters of these events. In many ways God had them celebrate events as a reminder of the goodness of God and how he favoured them at that time. If they were obedient to his ways. (Jesus said something profound in John 4:22 to the Samaritan woman - You worship what you do not know we worship what we know because salvation begins with the Jews.)
Children were included in their parents routine of worship. They would stand as their parents did while the priest or others read from the scrolls. Ezra mentions men, women and who could listen with understanding when the Law was being read out. Ezra 8:2, 3 It was a common feature for children to be included. Remember Jesus went missing the better parts of 2 or 3 days as a 12 year old when Joseph and Mary lost track of him.
Why is anyone baptised? Acts 2:37, 38 Persons were stabbed to the heart at things Peter spoke of and he said "Repent, and let each one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ in forgiveness of your sins." It is belief in Jesus ransom that allows forgiveness of sins. I put it this way baptism gets you a clean slate so one has a clear conscience from past dead fleshly works (Hebrews 6:1) and the ability to have a freeness of speech when one talks of Gods goodness.
... Why if babies have committed no sin are they baptised then?
Which raises another question if infant baptism are not found in the Bible what kind are?
Those of adults. The Acts of the Apostles spoke of 3,000 baptised (Acts 2:41) and 5,000 men believed what they heard (Acts 4:4) Other adults who were baptised is found at Acts 6:7 a large number of priests, Acts 8:34 - 36, Acts 10:12, 35, 43. Any intelligent thinking adult makes their mind up to be baptised first in forgiveness of sins on the basis of believing on Jesus name and to do Gods will. It is making an informed choice about ones own life course.
Then they can follow Jesus last command he gave to all his professed followers:
Matthew 28:19, 20 Go therefore and make disciples (taught ones) of people of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit teaching them all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
References
*Augustus Neander History of the Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apostles (N.Y. 1864) page 162
Origen - Selections from the Commentaries and Homilies of Origen (Madras, India 1929) page 211.
Council of Carthage c. 252 CE Infant baptism. (no reference point but may find information on the subject.)
Which are...?The same mental benefits of meditation, prayer, or ritual.
infant baptism is not in the bible, that's correct.If one is speaking of a Christian faith - its interesting to note that infant baptism were not practiced by the early Christians or apostles. Nowhere is it mentioned in the Bible.*
infant baptism is not in the bible, that's correct.
Let them make up their own minds.
Baptism is certainly taken as a commitment. The Catholic Church considers any baptized person a Christian, regardless of whether they get confirmed later.Within the Church infant baptism does not require a commitment from the child, this is later after ten years of instruction, at Confirmation which would be the equivalent of adult baptism in some denominations.