Expressions of religious identity
Baptism
Credobaptism – believer’s baptism, the baptism of (born again) adults
Paedobaptism – infant baptism
Baptism in Christianity goes back to John the Baptist, who baptised Jesus in the River Jordan.
Jesus seems to have seen baptism as both a physical and spiritual event.
Jesus commanded his disciples to baptise people in the name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
Catholic tradition:
o Baptism is a sacrament that makes a profound and irreversible change to a person’s
existence.
o It washes away the stain of original sin by re-enacting dying and rising again, and by
joining the Church.
o This is the main reason that Roman Catholics practise infant baptism.
Baptist tradition:
o Baptists do not believe in sacraments; baptism is important simply as an ordinance
from Jesus.
o They do not practise infant baptism because Jesus was baptised as an adult.
o Baptism is a service of membership and commitment to the Church; the individual
has to know the meaning and importance of the ceremony.
- Arguments in favour of infant baptism:
o It has sacramental value.
o It has value as a mystery, for Catholics, baptism is part of God’s grace and its mystery
can never be fully understood.
o It acts as a remedy for original sin.
o It signifies the start of life in the Christian Church.
o The story of mothers bringing their children to Jesus suggests that Jesus might have
approved of infant baptism.
o The Early Church seems to have practised infant baptism.
- Arguments against infant baptism:
o Baptism is an ordinance that babies cannot understand.
o Jesus was about 30 when baptised so we should follow this example.
o Baptism is the washing away of sins and this concept cannot be understood by
infants.
o Children are born into God’s grace, but cannot understand how to live in faith until
they become adults.
o Despite the story of mothers and their children, Jesus probably did not baptise
infants.
o There is no solid evidence of the Early Church baptising infants.
Baptism
Credobaptism – believer’s baptism, the baptism of (born again) adults
Paedobaptism – infant baptism
Baptism in Christianity goes back to John the Baptist, who baptised Jesus in the River Jordan.
Jesus seems to have seen baptism as both a physical and spiritual event.
Jesus commanded his disciples to baptise people in the name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit.
Catholic tradition:
o Baptism is a sacrament that makes a profound and irreversible change to a person’s
existence.
o It washes away the stain of original sin by re-enacting dying and rising again, and by
joining the Church.
o This is the main reason that Roman Catholics practise infant baptism.
Baptist tradition:
o Baptists do not believe in sacraments; baptism is important simply as an ordinance
from Jesus.
o They do not practise infant baptism because Jesus was baptised as an adult.
o Baptism is a service of membership and commitment to the Church; the individual
has to know the meaning and importance of the ceremony.
- Arguments in favour of infant baptism:
o It has sacramental value.
o It has value as a mystery, for Catholics, baptism is part of God’s grace and its mystery
can never be fully understood.
o It acts as a remedy for original sin.
o It signifies the start of life in the Christian Church.
o The story of mothers bringing their children to Jesus suggests that Jesus might have
approved of infant baptism.
o The Early Church seems to have practised infant baptism.
- Arguments against infant baptism:
o Baptism is an ordinance that babies cannot understand.
o Jesus was about 30 when baptised so we should follow this example.
o Baptism is the washing away of sins and this concept cannot be understood by
infants.
o Children are born into God’s grace, but cannot understand how to live in faith until
they become adults.
o Despite the story of mothers and their children, Jesus probably did not baptise
infants.
o There is no solid evidence of the Early Church baptising infants.
