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Infant Baptism...your views? - Page 4

post #61 of 72
1/31/09 at 9:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by robertandenith View Post
I totally understand what you are saying, although remember that baptism is one of the 7 sacraments. Baptism is also an incorporation into Christ and the Church.

I believe that an infant welcoming ceremony can accomplish the same incorporation effect.

Also, I take my cues from the fact that everyone in the Bible chose to be baptized as a free-thinking adult. And TBH (maybe this is unpopular) I don't think my Jesus is going to give one bit of a crap if someone dies before baptism if they truly believe in Him and are a good person.

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post #62 of 72
2/1/09 at 1:38am
:

Thanks for posting this topic.
post #63 of 72
2/1/09 at 3:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by talk de jour View Post
I believe that an infant welcoming ceremony can accomplish the same incorporation effect.

Also, I take my cues from the fact that everyone in the Bible chose to be baptized as a free-thinking adult. And TBH (maybe this is unpopular) I don't think my Jesus is going to give one bit of a crap if someone dies before baptism if they truly believe in Him and are a good person.
I think anybody can do whatever ceremony according to their religion, since I am Catholic, we baptize Is something more than spiritual for our family and it's meaning is very important to us.

DahliaRW I think a lot of people baptize at different ages in the Catholic church. I've seen from a few days old babies to 5, 6 even 7 years old. I guess that's the way it happens Like I mentioned before, all my kids have been baptized at totally different ages but just because it happened that way. My family is very open minded when it comes to religion, I am very spiritual but not strictly religious. I am very active in my church but I don't attend the mass every Sunday, kwim?

I have to tell freaky story... When I was baby, my mother told me she was doing some house chores while I was in my crib. By that time, I didn't know how to crawl yet not even stand up. When she came back to check up on me I was UNDER the crib without crying without any injury, I have no idea (no one does) how I got there. She was TERRIFIED and made arrangements to get me baptized asap. Until the date, my mom or no one can't explain what happened in that room. No one was in that house at the time, my dad was working and my sister was at school. Because of this, Baptism is more than a sacrament for me but also a blessing to keep my children save from evil.
post #64 of 72
2/1/09 at 3:24am
oops and I never really answer Dahlia's first question. I think all babies regardless their families religion, if they die baptized or not, they will go to heaven. All babies and children (in my view) are little innocent angels.
post #65 of 72
2/1/09 at 3:39am
Quote:
The second, I once read (I tried to find the source, but couldn't) that baptizing an infant is the ultimate expression of believing that we are saved by grace. And that as parents and godparents, we accept God's forgiveness on behalf of our babies, until they are old enough to understand. I don't believe a person needs to be a certain age, or have a certain maturity or mindset or wisdom to be saved.
Does that mean you believe all children of Christians are saved? Or are you a universalist?
post #66 of 72
2/1/09 at 4:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by magstphil View Post
You mean infant baptism right? Because the LDS church does baptize.
Oh yes, of course. I meant infants. Isn't the baptismal age 8? I know my daughter's friend who is LDS was looking forward to it, and her father was going to perform the baptism for her.
post #67 of 72
2/1/09 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viola View Post
Oh yes, of course. I meant infants. Isn't the baptismal age 8? I know my daughter's friend who is LDS was looking forward to it, and her father was going to perform the baptism for her.
Yup.

Sorry I was just a little confused by your post.
post #68 of 72
2/1/09 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by robertandenith View Post
I think anybody can do whatever ceremony according to their religion, since I am Catholic, we baptize Is something more than spiritual for our family and it's meaning is very important to us.
The OP asked what *I, personally* believed, so I answered that question.
post #69 of 72
2/1/09 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DahliaRW View Post
If you believe in infant baptism, what do you believe happens to the baby if he/she dies before being baptized? And if it's so important to be, why wait, why not do it at birth?
We do not believe that babies are born with a condemning stain of sin. However we believe that life is an uphill struggle from there. We also believe the journey to salvation should begin as soon as possible as this is a benefit to the person.

So really there is no heaven or hell rush for us (which is why our babies are baptized at a more leisurely pace) but at the same time as good parents we want the best for our children and the best life begins with a life in Christ. Why withhold blessings? why wait?
post #70 of 72
2/1/09 at 11:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilyka View Post
We do not believe that babies are born with a condemning stain of sin. However we believe that life is an uphill struggle from there. We also believe the journey to salvation should begin as soon as possible as this is a benefit to the person.

So really there is no heaven or hell rush for us (which is why our babies are baptized at a more leisurely pace) but at the same time as good parents we want the best for our children and the best life begins with a life in Christ. Why withhold blessings? why wait?


A bit of a clarification: the Orthodox don't believe in original sin, in the sense that it's passed down from Adam & Eve. We *do* believe that what we inherited from Adam & Eve was mortality - death. We're responsible for our own sins, not the "sins of the fathers." Our babies have full inclusion in the Body of Christ - baptism, chrismation (anointing with holy oil), and the Eucharist - at once. As Lilyka said, it's a blessing and why withhold?

Most Orthodox folks I know baptize their babies within 3-4 months of birth. For those who do it a bit later, it often has something with out-of-town godparents/grandparents being able to travel to the baptism, the baby's family moving, etc.

I grew up Catholic and was baptized at three weeks old (this was 1969).
post #71 of 72
2/2/09 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by talk de jour View Post
The OP asked what *I, personally* believed, so I answered that question.
oh that's okay! I was agreeing with you and joining the conversation!
post #72 of 72
2/2/09 at 1:56am
Thanks for clarifying that. I was trying to avoid the whole original sin thing since everyone has such a different understanding of that.

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