Should Infants be baptised?

Well I dont like to argue too much with you, but I would like to get some facts straight with you. 1) A baby is baptised to be made a child of God. It is true that this child does not know anything but this is the beginning of teaching his faith when he grows old. Baptism is a the Symbol of Jesus being baptised. When a child receives First Holy Communion he renouns his wows which he took at Baptism. When a baby is baptised the priest proclaims that now he is a child of God and he is released from devil. According to catholics, sometimes when a Non Christian is baptised they too are baptised in the same way as a baby. Therefore it is not necessary to be immersed in water becaused this is only a symbol. Well according to the bible Jesus quoted to St.Thomas You see and believe but how many beleive in me without seeing me. Our faith is based on belief and not proof.

Please let me reply with paragraphs quoted from Catholic websites. I don't intend to re-invent the wheel. These are arguments and counter arguments that I have heard over and over again. According to your statements, babies do not need any baptism because they are without sin. The Catholic Church teaches that all of us are born with original sin. Baptism cleanses only original sin in the case of infants and young children, since they are incapable of actual sin; and both original and actual sin in the case of older persons.]http://www.catholic.com/library/Infant_Baptism.asp Peter explained what happens at baptism when he said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). But he did not restrict this teaching to adults. He added, "For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him" (2:39). We also read: "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). http://www.catholic.com/library/Infant_Baptism.asp Even we find Jesus’s words in the Bible when he says "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:14). So I don’t see that infant baptism is wrong or is going against Jesus’ teachings. In Luke’s Gospel perhaps it is more explained clearly: "Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God’" (Luke 18:15–16). Bible ever say that infants or young children can be baptized? The indications are clear. In the New Testament we read that Lydia was converted by Paul’s preaching and that "She was baptized, with her household" (Acts 16:15). The Philippian jailer whom Paul and Silas had converted to the faith was baptized that night along with his household. We are told that "the same hour of the night . . . he was baptized, with all his family" (Acts 16:33). And in his greetings to the Corinthians, Paul recalled that, "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16). Questions 2,3,5 focus on the point that a baby does not have the cognitive level to take his or her decision. So there is no free will! We don't ask a baby if it wants to eat. We just feed him or her. We don't ask a baby if it wants its diaper changed, we simply change the diaper. We don't ask a baby if it needs a bath, we simply give the baby a bath when it is dirty. We take these simple and logical actions to physically clean up a baby. Catholics think it is even more important to do the same thing spiritually, through baptism. We need to let our Lord wash away the "original sin" from the baby. http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/infant_baptism.htm If when they grow up, they decide that they don’t want to belong to the Catholic religion than baptism was only a ceremony that does not make any sense in their life. No one is going to force them to stay in the Catholic Religion out of their own free will. I do believe that if a plant has to be nurtured since when it is planted, even a young baby should be nurtured spiritually from such a young age. Then it all depends on the individual if he wants to embrace Jesus or not.

Protestantism may not be as passionate about Baptism as are other Organized Religions. I was born Presbyterian, but never Baptized, and as an adult I think, (you asked, remember?) baptism antiquated, and passe'. My four sons are grown, married, and have children of their own. I'm very proud of my unbaptized family, and wouldn't have it any other way!

I think everyone should do what they feel is right. Some people feel the need to protect there infant, by batising them. Why not? It won't hurt the baby, and the parents feel good about it. Leave them in there judgement. Let people be happy, have respect.

I see nothing wrong in baptizing babies with the idea of making them a member of the community of faith. However, I don't believe infant baptism has anything to do with their future acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. I personally believe baptism is important because Jesus said we should do it, but in the "great commission" Jesus said in this order: (1) go (2) make disciples (3) baptize (4) teach them to obey. Since a disciple is one who is a believer in a particular something, it seems to me as though Jesus is saying make them believers before you baptize them.

I believe that a child cannot understand the capacity of religion at the baby age.... It is our responsibility as parents to raise are children up respectfully and morally no matter what kind of religion we practice.... A baby as you say is PURE in Gods eyes and therefore cannot be held accountability for something it does not understand .... That is why you have them in your faith early so they can establish responsibility for the actions and learn right from wrong that is already established in the home.

A practice like this tells you that Religion cannot be taken too serious, it's a joke.

First let us ask, what does the word 'baptism' mean. The word in the original tongue means immersion. And this is how the early Church understood and practised it and how is Baptists and some over Churches still practice it. The case against infant baptism is overwhelming, those that advocate it, have failed to understand what baptism is. all the best urban

I agree that babies shouldn't be baptised, as their parent's shouldn't choose their faiths in their place. A kid should wait until he or she is old enough to understand what's that about, and to choose if he or she would like to join that religion and be baptised or not. It's important to let them have a free will and to let them take the important choices in their lifes

Everything that you mentioned here is correct but baptism is only the beginning of things or events for a Catholic to do. I had all my 3 kids baptized at the age of 1. I know that they don't know the meaning of that. Baptism is not only for the actual person being baptized but also for the people around especially parent because they are also making a pact that they will raise the child to be a God-fearing person. Also, I don't think a 12 year old kid can really understand or make decision for him/her to choose God or not. I believe that a person should be of legal age for them to decide because he/she already knows the responsibilities and the respective consequences to their respective actions. Do what you must first for your kids and decide for them while they're still young. Just cross your fingers that you have raised them well enough to be making the right decision when they are older. Remember: Train your child as if you were preparing a prince for his future reign, for he will grow up to be one of the forces that shape the future of mankind.

Most churches baptize infants but some insist on adult baptism. Most of the people consider it as a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth. It is a kind of a ritual act, with the use of water, by which a person is admitted to membership of the Christian Church. In the Gospel according to Matthew at 3:1-11 we find the account of John the Baptist. Why John the Baptist went around baptizing people in those times? What was he trying to convey by immersing them in water of the river Jordan? People those days regarded John the Baptist as one of the prophets. We already know prophets came to announce the coming of a redeemer. People in his time too were waiting for a redeemer to come. They used to come and asked John the same age-old question. They asked him, when the redeemer would come. Though the exact words are not mentioned by any of the authors of the Gospel but the obvious answer is, "He would come in most suffocating times". Jesus himself said He would come again when there is war, famine, earthquake etc. People standing around John did not understand what sort of suffocating time it would be. He asked them to step into the water, he placed his hands gently on their heads, and held them under the water until the gasped for breath. Then he released their hands and told them, "I baptized you with water, but the one who comes after me would baptize you with fire." Just then, Jesus himself walked in and out of curiosity wanted to be baptized. John recognized him but Jesus insisted. Once John had submerged him in water, Jesus, immediately thereafter realized the purpose of his life. It is written, "The heavens were opened and the spirit of God descended upon him...” Jesus was enlightened that through more sufferings only he would know the true purpose of his life. Therefore, he went to fast into the desert for forty days. After he came back, he began Sermon on the Mount. In light of this fact you may decide, "Should infants be baptized". What purpose would it serve?

You are correct and you have the point.The child can only baptized when they reach at least 7years old. Because on that age they will repent and answer to the question reveal by the reverend who baptized them. Since I am a catholic, I will follow to its doctrine and I am favor to baptized a baby.

You have a point. That baby can not decide yet of course he/she is still a baby. But for some these are tradition for them because they think that the baby needs the blessing from the baptism. But for me baptism is when you fully understand and accept God in your life as your savior. Well, I respect everyone's belief so I will just pray to enlighten us which is which and have more faith with God. God bless

for me baby cant baptized it because he/she cant understand what is baptism. because baptism must be understand it is way that you accepted God in your life and you are truly sincere to follow Jesus... when we baptize we merge our sin in a water symbolizing that we are surrendering our life unto the Lord. for me we can dedicate our babies unto the Lord which offering his/her life to God. and i believed God blessed our children if we dedicate unto Him. yes our babies cant know what is right and wrong but he has a free will. yes baptising is not for our child it is parents desires only.