Questions tagged [infants]

For questions relating to infants or extremely young children.

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4 answers
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Basis for the concept of an "Age of accountability"

Having attended Baptist Churches for years, I've often heard the term "age of accountability" bandied about. The idea is that if a child dies at a young age - before reaching the "age of ...
David Stratton's user avatar
17 votes
9 answers
30k views

What is the Biblical basis for infant baptism?

I've studied the Bible and am a fundamental independent Bible believing Baptist who believes what the scripture says about Baptism is clear. It is an ordinance after salvation, i.e. believers baptism....
Jim's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
652 views

In Roman Catholicism, does an individual's history of miscarriage lead to different or more specific guidance on pregnancy prevention?

As I understand it, Roman Catholicism teaches the following: Life begins at conception and therefore abortion is wrong Artificial birth control is wrong Under normal circumstances these teachings ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
628 views

According to Reformed theology, what is an infant's first sin?

From what I understand, every human that has ever lived is "born into sin", which means we all carry a "sin nature". Saul says: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 ...
Cannabijoy's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
647 views

How is the view of guaranteed salvation for infants justified?

Many Christians hold the view that unborn and born infants and children who die before the age of reason or eternal responsibility are guaranteed access to heaven. For instance, Dr. William Lane Craig ...
Anduril_1251's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
8k views

What is the Biblical basis for baby dedications?

Many churches do not practice infant baptisms, because they believe that in the Bible baptism is taught to be something done after a person chooses to follow Christ. As an alternative, many of those ...
user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
514 views

What is the biblical basis used by Reformed theologians to argue that all those dying in infancy are saved?

In American Presbyterianism and Reformed theology more generally, one of the controversial issues has been the fate of children dying in infancy. The Westminster Confession of Faith reads: Elect ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
793 views

Does infant baptism determine the child's afterlife, according to practitioners?

Among those denominations who practice infant baptism, does baptizing the baby have anything to do with the destination of the infant's soul? Which denominations, if any, believe that Infant Baptism ...
Mawia's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
409 views

How do paedo-baptists interpret the Great Commission?

In the Great Commission of Matt.28:19 (NIV) we read: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Some people ...
Dawie's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes
5 answers
4k views

What do Protestant churches teach about the fate of deceased infants?

My question is posed to the Protestant churches that teach that man is saved by faith alone. If a person is saved by faith alone, what happens to children who die before they are able to conceive of ...
Ian's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
644 views

Are there involuntary Catholics?

I was just reading this answer which stated that a person could be Catholic without having gone through confirmation: Catholics recommend that this is done to infants. 1 If that is the case, that a ...
DKing's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is Church of England's doctrine on unbaptised dead infants and how was it formed?

The penultimate rubric in the Book of Common Prayer Public Baptism Service reads: "It is certain by God's Word, that children which are baptized, dying before they commit actual sin, are undoubtedly ...
davidlol's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
6k views

What is the Biblical basis for the Catholic teaching that infant baptism cleanses from original sin?

The Catholic Church, possibly the Orthodox Churches, and even some Protestant churches practice Infant Baptism. However, I understand that Catholicism teaches that infant baptism cleanses the infant ...
Narnian's user avatar
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4 votes
4 answers
156 views

According to proponents of Believer's Baptism, can an infant be saved?

Proponents of Believer's Baptism argue that Baptism requires an existing faith on the part of the person being baptized, and for this reason a) reject the practice of infant baptism and b) teach that ...
Matthew's user avatar
  • 7,901
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

What is the Biblical basis for asserting that infants can have faith in Christ under a Calvinistic framework?

Calvin argued for the election of infants, which opposed Roman Catholic faith, which believed that baptism was necessary for salvation (sacramentalists). He was even more forceful about this view than ...
Mike's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
273 views

Sources for baptismal exorcism of infants?

Are there any Christian texts before 600 CE which discuss the exorcism of infants or suggest that due to ancestral sin or for similar reasons infants are under the power of evil spirits? In ancient ...
sondra.kinsey's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
216 views

How can Evangelicals link baptism and circumcision without practicing infant baptism? [closed]

This question is a follow-up to this answer. In this particular answer the biblical basis for baptism being non-requisite for salvation is given. Essentially it is a defense of the doctrine that you ...
Ian's user avatar
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