Home More advice Religion, Spirituality & Folklore
How come Cathlics baptize infants? I don't understand since they are not capable of sinning. So, I was just wondering.
Yes, everyone is born a sinner, however a child is morally innocent until the 'age of accountability: This is the age at which a child is old enough to understand the moral consequences of his or her actions and can be held accountable for sins. It is also called the 'age of reason.' Though it does not correspond to a particular age for every person, due to differences in personal and psychological maturation, it is sometimes set down arbitrarily as 12 or, in the Roman Catholic Church, 7; the latter convention gave rise to the English common-law presumption that no child under the age of seven could possess the means necessary for commission of a felony. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the age of accountability is 8. The concept of the age of accountability is not based upon any direct teaching from the Bible, but stems from individual church traditions. A child who has passed the age of accountability is said to know the difference between right and wrong and to be capable of obeying the moral laws of God...my understanding, hope this helps.
That is one of the major differences in Christians and Catholics.
Christians believe and teach that one has to be born again to enter into Heaven.
That this is a choice, one makes, when he/she hears the gospel, which is the good news that Jesus has paid the price for our sins, and if we repent, and receive him, we can be saved.
Baptism, is showing that we are dying to our old nature, and rising in our new nature, which Christ brings.
A baby is unable to make this very important decision.
I believe in dedicating a child to God, but, I believe that salvation is a choice that one has to make for him self, when he is old enough to make that decision.
I also believe that a child is innocent, until they understand right and wrong.
I asked my mum about it (She was raised Catholic), and she was taught that babies are born with original sin on their souls- that being from when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Apparently, after this happened, all children would be born with original sin on their souls.
With this sin on their souls, if they passed away, they would not go to Heaven, they would go to Limbo, a place in between Heaven and Hell. It's supposed to be nice, but not as nice as Heaven. Anyway, by baptising the child, the sin is removed, and they have a clean soul, and can enter Heaven.
It's possible ideas have changed since my mother was taught, but that's the general overview.
"That is one of the major differences in Christians and Catholics. Christians believe and teach that one has to be born again to enter into Heaven. "
The arrogance of these zealots never ceases to amaze me. Catholics are christians. In fact weren't they the first christians?
Baptism is not an original christian concept and was adopted from the pagans. As is all christian doctrines. christianity is just pagan dogma recycled. New name, same zealots.
There is No Mention of baby baptism in the scriptures. Jesus could have been baptised as a baby .. But the example He set for us was to get to know and accept Him as Lord and Savior, then following His example, Baptism - the old life becomes new a new life...Hope this helps !!
I don't know but Lutherans do it too but it's called Cristened. I think it's the same thing. I had my son Christened when he was a baby but if I had it to do over, I probably wouldn't. He's 38 now and says he wouldn't have wanted to be.
You are baptized because you are cleansing the soul from original sin. Jesus was baptized..by john the baptist..that is in the bible
with the concept of original sin, isnt everyone born a sinner? (dont know much about this so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)
Catholic faith teaches that if you are NOT baptised your soul CANNOT enter heaven.
