Spiritual guidance for anyone seeking a path to God. explorefaith.org

 

Explore God's Love Explore Your Faith Explore the Church Explore Who We Are  

Home
> Christianity F.A.Q. > What is the purpose of infant baptism?
   


What is the purpose or theology behind the practice of infant baptism?

In the early years of the Christian movement, only adults were baptized, and then only after extensive preparations lasting as long as three years. Those baptized were literally taking on a new life. As time went on, the age of baptism became younger and younger. When superstition and high infant mortality raised fears of eternal damnation, it became the norm to baptize infants as soon as possible after birth.

One feature of the Protestant Reformation was to move away from infant baptism, on the theory that baptism only made sense if the person comprehended what was happening. Some Protestant traditions, however, continued infant baptism, believing that baptism isn't an intellectual or spiritual accomplishment, but a new state that one spends an entire life living into.

My tradition, the Episcopal Church, affirms infant baptism. My belief is that baptism can occur at any age, that God's love is a given, not a prize, and that self-awareness as a Christian matures and changes as we mature and change.

 

Tom Ehrich

Join our mailing list
Join our mailing list
 
Send this page to a friend

Support explorefaith.org

Give us your feedback
 

RELATED LINKS

QUESTIONS
of faith and doubt

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING?
Tom Ehrich answers your questions

FAITH AND LIFE
Stories from the home, street, and workplace


 
 


(Return to Top)

Send this article to a friend.Home | Explore God's Love | Explore Your Faith | Explore the Church | Who We Are
Reflections | Stepping Stones | Oasis | Lifelines | Bulletin Board | Search |Contact Us |

 
  Search
Copyright ©1999-2007 explorefaith.org