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I see it as completely symbolic, however I do not have time to go into why right now, b/c I am going to see transformers. However, I will give my reasoning later. Just wanted to let you know I will be back to give my 2 cents

I don't believe in the baptism of infants because the child has no concept of belief. Christ says to make the truth our own and to accept it under our own compulsions. Child baptism doesn't give the infant an opportunity to accept Christ because he/she wants to, it's an assumption of blind faith, which is ostensibly faith without works. And what is faith without works? Dead.

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change.

I practice no religion though was baptized in RC church, but I find the whole thing a little strange. What inward change do you suppose occurs in an infant post baptism?

If the child tries to breathe for that short period he's in the water, lots.

Baptism is plain wrong. It reinforces the idea that the child is sinful from birth. Children are pure, innocent and beautiful, what nonsense to treat them as unclean and impure.

I find the whole ritual very disturbing and indeed, makes Christianity look something like a cult.

To be fair, the Baptism is often more for the parents than for the child, it's an occasion but I think parents ought to think a little more about it before starting their child on the route of indoctrination. Do I sound as if I'm against Baptisms? :)

Both churches (both Protestant denominations) I've attended during my life do practice baptism--full immersion. They didn't/don't baptize small children or babies. (I was baptized at the age of eight...and I'm kinda thinking now that maybe it wasn't a good idea.)

It is a symbolic thing--an external symbol of what happens when one converts to Christianity: sins being washed away as a person becomes "a new creation" in Christ.

Baptism is plain wrong. It reinforces the idea that the child is sinful from birth.

Romans 5:12-14.

I was baptized as a child and I resent it. It was before I was old enough to really know what was going on and form my own opinion on it.

"What inward change do you suppose occurs in an infant post baptism?"

I agree. That's why I consider infant baptism to be unbiblical. There is not one instance of child or infant baptism in the bible. Every baptism takes place after an adult decides to believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior.

It's important to note, too, that it's not baptism that will "save" a person from Hell. It's always believing that Jesus is God's one and only Son who lived, died on the cross and rose from the dead 3 days later. Baptism is always used as a public profession of that faith.

Keeping those two things in mind I consider it unbiblical to baptise infants. 1) No one in the bible did it and 2) have they made a choice to follow Christ? No.

Still, this leaves some room for questioning because I do believe that everyone is born with a sin nature. I think people are mostly good, but that goodness is tainted, even the nature of babies. BUT, I also believe that there has to be some age at which they become accountable for their actions. Can a 1 year old be held accountable for not believing in Christ? No, he can't talk yet. He just learned to walk. Would God send a newborn to Hell for eternity? Heh. I think God is a better God than to do that.

Do what you want while the child has no cognitive capacity to make its own decisions or understand what's happening.

Be more concerned with leaving it with choices once it does.

This is way off topic but I have had this discussion in past times on my blog except in regard to circumcision which seems to be a big issue for some. In other words I have known people who were truly bothered by the fact that they did not have the choice - so maybe it is not such a good idea to do things to infants when they are not able to make the choice.

I'm speaking of things which they do not need to have done. One must of course feed, clothe and bath them.

Baptism for children that are too immature to form their own decisions on the matter are harmless and for the benefit of the parents.

I say harmless because, at the end of the day, the process is pouring some water (spoken to by a guy in some funky-looking robes) over a forehead while saying some more words.

It's certainly not circumcision.

It would interesting to hear from anyone who is discrediting infant baptism, if they've actually ever <b>studied</b> the issue properly.

It would be interesting hear why <i>most</i> of the people who discredit infant baptism, generally believe in full immersion.

Me thinks the vast majority probably aren't in a position to even discuss these things, but I may be wrong.

Well I can discredit it from a humanist perspective but I certainly have no empirical evidence on how best to dunk a child!

Well to be honest a lot of the practices/doctrines of the Catholic church aren't biblical.

I agree with the comments posted so far about infant baptism: It's completely spurious. However, from a church that holds firm to the idea that Mary should be revered equally with Crist (if Jesus had brothers and sisters, she didn't die a virgin), I'm really not suprised.

"Well to be honest a lot of the practices/doctrines of the Catholic church aren't biblical."

Like having a Bible for example.

@Dook, agree it should not be done as the child has no idea what it is doing and has no choice in the matter. It is a BIG step joining an organisation like this and declaring your believe everything being prescribed.

@Oli, there is harm in this kind of activity as it presupposes the child is of the same opinion as you and is part of a longer indoctrination process. There is damage other than physical (though totally agree with you on the circumcision, esp female on "religiuos grounds"). It is the parent’s responsibility IMO to bring children up being able to think for themselves, not just force them into their view of the world.

Baptism is child abuse.

Baptism is child abuse.

Say that to someone who's actually been physically or emotionally abused and see if they agree with that.

There are different forms of abuse, all im saying is that this is that this is one of them, no its not as severe as many other forms, im not saying that.. Childen are just children, calling them "Christain" or whatever the parent subscribes to is clearly abusing their position.

Would you bring up a child automatically subscribing it to your policical views?

"it should not be done as the child has no idea what it is doing and has no choice in the matter"

Based on that logic I shouldn't feed Leona either? or wipe her bottom? or bathe her?

Read your Bible and you will see that Baptism was used to demonstrate repentance and a changed life.

Baptism of children, adult or anyone who does has not repented is nothing more than getting wet.

The bible declares we're all sinners, even the children, because we're born into sin lineage.

I do all kinds of things on behalf of my children over which they have no control -- I'm an adult, they're not, and it's my job. I do my best, and leave it at that. It's nobody else's business, unless I do something really, really stupid and then it's the state's business. As far as I know, baptisizing a child into the Roman Catholic church is not considered by the State of California to be a bad thing. On the plus side, it involves a sometimes very nice family gathering to celebrate the child's entry into the world, with the many attendant blessings on all of us that involves. And if you don't like that kind of thing, then don't do it.

Anyway, I don't have any illusion that I'll make a huge impact on them because of some of those decisions (or any of them, in fact) -- when they get older, they decide for themselves who they are. And believe me, the more strenuously you INSIST that they do or believe something, the more likely they are to absolutely reject it. It's better to get on with your life, be a good example of how a person should behave and -- if you insist on anything, make sure it's that they brush their damn teeth because dental work can be expensive.