Subdecks (2)

Cards (10)

  • baptism is a symbol of purification (immersed in water) + of resurrection (rise from water)
  • many Churches practice infant baptism: Catholic, Anglican, Methodist
  • some Churches practice believers' baptism only: Baptists, Pentecostal
  • some groups reject baptism altogether: Quakers, Salvation Army
    • they believe being Christian is all about leading a Christian lifestyle
  • arguments for infant baptism:
    • sacrament that is entirely a gift of God's grace, so even babies can receive it
    • it is a sacred mystery: it cannot be understood by humans
    • removes original sin + gives the gift of eternal life, so it should be available to babies
    • the story of Jesus welcoming children supports the idea of infant baptism
    • when the New Testament refers to whole households being baptised, this would've included children
  • arguments against infant baptism:
    • baptism is just a symbol of the believer's desire to start a new life as a member of the Christian community: only teenagers + adults are able to understand what they are committing to
    • Baptists reject the doctrine of original sin: faith, not baptism, is the start of the Christian life
    • Jesus did not baptise children