Do I 'have' to Baptise.....

[Mahnahmahnah]

...or do some other religious service for my baby? Is this something I "must" do?

I'm just curious, because when I say I'm undecided on what to do the reaction I get is : And everyone is askin'!

My DH and I are just not overly religious. We believe in God, etc.

Please do not flame or get into debates on religion. Just looking for some ideas. I figure this board is so diverse, I know you all will help me.....

 

[LukenDC]

You have to do what you and your husband are most comfortable with and what is most reflective of your values. Other people need to butt out.

 

[Angelhalo]

I am Christian now but was not baptised as a baby. In my religion, its something that you should choose to do in your life not have someone do for you when you're born.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

You have to do what you and your husband are most comfortable with and what is most reflective of your values. Other people need to butt out.

I completely agree.

I didn't have my DD batized until she was 18 months old. It never caused a problem (okay with my mom it did) except when she had to take her baptismal picture into school (Catholic) she noticed that she was much older then the other kids.

 

[Chipmunk89]

All you NEED to do is what you and DH are comfortable with. Who cares what others think. It's NONE of their business.

 

[GirTheGecko]

You have to do what you and your husband are most comfortable with and what is most reflective of your values. Other people need to butt out.

What LukenDC said. It is your child, you and your spouse should decide how the child is raised.

 

[Kath2003]

All you NEED to do is what you and DH are comfortable with. Who cares what others think. It's NONE of their business.

Yup. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. It's your child, you raise your child as you see fit.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

I just don't want to be a hypocrite. I know we won't go to church!

Yet I do want her to have I guess "spirituality". Any ideas?

TIA

 

[Sandy V.]

You have to do what you and your husband are most comfortable with and what is most reflective of your values. Other people need to butt out.

I agree.

 

[dsanner106]

My church (methodist) baptises at any age, if you feel pressured by this, then put it off. When you are comfortable and want to do it, that is the right time.

D

 

[Robinrs]

I was baptised at 31!

In my church you are baptised after taking a course and receiving a certificate, so NO, babies can't do that ..

I don't think anyone HAS to do anything. I am a Christian but I am NOT "religious". There IS a difference.

My son, 15, has not been baptised, either, and he wants to be a minister when he grows up! I plan to work on it soon but it's not a top priority.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you are Roman Catholic, there are some practical considerations. If, as an adult, she wished to marry in the Church, she would have to have been not only Baptized, but also have gone through 3 other sacraments: Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. (All these have to be done in order, with Baptism first.) I've seen it come as a rude shock to brides to find out that they cannot have that Church ceremony because they didn't fulfill their childhood sacramental obligations. (Note that you can of course prepare for and participate in these sacraments for the first time as an adult, but it is more difficult and time-consuming to do it that way.)

I guess I should also note the theological reasons <blush>. It was traditionally taught (based on the opinion of St. Augustine) that a child who had not been baptised would not get into Heaven in the event of childhood death. This was softened by the doctrine of Limbo, a supposed state of natural grace that nonetheless precluded communion with God. In recent years, the Church has abandoned the idea that Limbo exists, so the whole controversy has warmed up again. The Pope offered a new opinion last year that maybe God saves unbaptized infants after all, so this is all very controversial. USAToday published a nice laymen's synopsis at the time of the Pope's most recent opinion: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-04-20-popelimbo_N.htm

 

[koalababy]

We still have Freedom of Religion here. So no, this is not a requirement.

 

[Carl]

Baptism of babies does nothing for the child. When the child is old enough to understand what baptism is, he can make his own choice about what to do.
The only reason I would ever support baptism of babies is for the parents (and others) to make a commitment to raise the child in Christ.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

If you are Roman Catholic, there are some practical considerations. If, as an adult, she wished to marry in the Church, she would have to have been not only Baptized, but also have gone through 3 other sacraments: Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. I've seen it come as a rude shock to brides to find out that they cannot have that Church ceremony because they didn't fulfill their childhood sacramental obligations. (Note that you can of course prepare for and participate in these sacraments for the first time as an adult, but it is more difficult and time-consuming to do it that way.)

I know this as I am Catholic, too. Maybe that's why I'm afraid?

My DH family is Italian Catholic.

When I told my one SIL about this, I think I heard her praying in Italian for my DD while she was holding her!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I know this as I am Catholic, too. Maybe that's why I'm afraid?

My DH family is Italian Catholic.

When I told my one SIL about this, I think I heard her praying in Italian for my DD while she was holding her!

Hmmm, if my mother wasn't an only child I would swear she was your SIL.
I've seen babies at our church baptized because the grandparents want it done.

 

[ICF]

Baptism of babies does nothing for the child. When the child is old enough to understand what baptism is, he can make his own choice about what to do..

Unless you believe that to get into heaven you need to be baptised....

What happens if the child dies at an age before they've decided they want to be baptised?

 

[Kath2003]

You can have a Naming Ceremony, and not the Hindu/Jewish religious type. I guess the nearest would be the Humanist kind - it's just about welcoming the child into the world. I've been to many and they've all been wonderful, but none of them have had a ceremony. The parents made speeches about their child and some chose to name a friend or two who they gave responsibility to in helping to guide their child to adulthood, kind of like godparents but without the religion.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I wasn't baptized ever.

My parents were not religious and sent us to Sunday School to get us out of the house for some parental time.

Feh, do it or not, depending on what you want to do.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I just don't want to be a hypocrite. I know we won't go to church!

Yet I do want her to have I guess "spirituality". Any ideas?

TIA

Just raise her well and tell her of your own beliefs. I was not raise in a church, yet my mom taught me her beliefs, read the bible to me from time to time, and we celebrated Christmas and Easter. I'm spiritual now and always have been.

Unless you believe that to get into heaven you need to be baptised....

What happens if the child dies at an age before they've decided they want to be baptised?

But that would apply only if the parents believed that. Personally, I don't.

Why would God send an innocent child to Hell just because it wasn't baptised yet?