Describe and explain the central features of infant baptism.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

AO1 Baptism Describe and explain the central features of infant baptism

Baptism comes from the ancient Greek word “baptzein” which means to plunge into water. The word is also used to describe the sinking of a ship and to plunge clothes into dye.

Baptism has its roots in the mikvah otherwise known as a Jewish ritual bath. A group of first century Jews called the Essenes use to bathe ritually frequently so that they would remain ritually pure. The Essenes were probably influenced by John the Baptist.1

John the Baptist gave a new meaning to the Jewish ritual bath. For John it was a sign of repentance and for people who are looking for their sins to be forgiven.1

We also see a new meaning of baptism when John baptises Jesus. We see here Jesus was chosen by the Father and anointed by the Spirit for his role as the Messiah. This baptism was a baptism for all Christians.1

There is a series of Baptisms in the New Testament. There were 3,000 baptized at Pentecost (Acts 2:37-41). There were also baptisms at the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40); Paul (Acts 9:18); Cornelius and his Household (Acts 10:47-48); Lydia and her household (Acts 16:15) and Paul’s jailer and his entire family (Acts 16:33)1

For this coursework I am going to discuss the changes in Rite over 2,000 years.

There have been many changes in Baptism over the past 2,000 years. I am going to describe and explain the central features of infant and believers baptism today. I am going to take into consideration the following denominations:

Orthodox

Catholic

Anglican

Methodist and

Baptist.

There are five main symbols of Baptism in the central features.

The most important of these is Water:

Baptism involves ritual drowning/death and rebirth, ritual washing away of sin. We cannot live without water – to drink, to wash. Although water can also kill us – drowning, floods, storms etc.2

I think the next important is Olive Oil:

Olive Oil was used to cleanse the body before soap was invented. Oil was used in religious rituals – prophets and kings were anointed with oil. Two oils are used in Baptism both of which are blessed by the bishop every year on Holy Thursday.

Oil of Catechumens: The infant is anointed on the chest producing a kind of spiritual breastplate to protect against the evil one.
Oil of Chrism: perfumed oil, this anointing signifies that the person is chosen to be like Christ – Prophet and King.2 ...

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I think the next important is Olive Oil:

Oil of Catechumens: The infant is anointed on the chest producing a kind of spiritual breastplate to protect against the evil one.
Oil of Chrism: perfumed oil, this anointing signifies that the person is chosen to be like Christ – Prophet and King.2

Also there is the White Garment:

In the baptismal rite the White Garment signifies being clothed in Christ, new birth, and the purity that goes with it.2

Light:

Light here is a torch of faith that is entrusted to the child’s parents and sponsors to one-day hand on to the newly baptised. The prayer is that the child will one day go out to meet Christ with the light still burning.2

Faith:

Faith is essential for baptism expressed by candidate of family through a series of questions and answers alternatively expressed as a personal statement of faith.

There are many other features of baptism but I was selective and chose the previous five.

Features held in common with Christina denominations:

Sunday as day for Baptism
Scripture reading
Homily/sermon
Profession of faith
Hymns
Minister of baptism

Those not found in all rites:

Candle
Renunciation of Satan.

AO2 – Explain the meaning and significance of Baptism for Christians today.

Why was I Baptised?

I am going to explain the meaning and significance of Baptism for Christians today. The Lima Document, written by the World Council of Churches, gave these headings, which they all agreed to be important.

Death and Resurrection
Cleansing from sin
Initiation/incorporation into the church
Promise of the Holy Spirit
Faith and Baptism
Believers in infant baptism

Death and resurrection – This is seen when Baptism is done by immersion when a person is submerged under water, which is a ritual dying. When they emerge from the water this is being ritually reborn. These symbolise the person dying and going with Jesus to the tomb in death and the rising from the dead to new life.3

Cleansing from sin – Baptism symbolises the washing away of sin both Original and Actual Sin. Original Sin is the sins, which we have inherited from Adam and Eve and Actual Sins are the sins we commit ourselves. Pouring water over the person seems to imply the washing away of sin that all Christians believe takes place in Baptism3

Initiation – Initiation means the rite by which you become part of a group. Christian initiation is when you become part of the Christian Church. For Catholics and Orthodox Church, Baptism, Confirmation and first Eucharist are the rites by which you become a full member of the church. For Methodists and Anglicans are similar to a lesser extent. Baptists actually have a Reception into membership which is the way the Church gets a new official member. Methodists also have a rite of admission to membership in the church.3

Promise of the Holy Spirit – Holy Spirit is given in Baptism, believed by the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Methodist, which they all regard as a sacrament. Although for Baptists, Baptism is not a sacrament but a symbol because they believe that a person cannot come for Baptism until the Holy Spirit has filled them.3

Faith – The faith of the family bringing their child for Baptism is sufficient to have their child baptised, believed by the churches that practise Infant Baptism. They believe that if a believing family brings a child for baptism, and makes and undertaking to bring up their child in the faith, then that is what will happen. To do otherwise would be to deny the child of a Christian family the right to be part of the family of faith – the church.3

AO3 – Baptising babies is pointless. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.

For this coursework I am going to take into consideration the arguments for and against infant baptism on whether or not it is pointless.

There are many arguments for and against infant baptism. Firstly I am going to look at the arguments for.

For starters, infant baptism is an ancient practise, which has been conducted since the early time of Christianity. If it was not pointless then why is it pointless now? Infant baptism has been has been and always will be a tradition among most of the Christian churches. This is a practise, which has been done for decades by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican, and Methodists. If there were not infant baptism then children would be denied from the church at a very early age. They would grow up not practising their faith and then would later in life probably deny the church altogether. And if a child were denied from the church, the people that would most likely be blamed for this would be the parents of the child. This may result in exclusion from the community. Or if parents did not attend to church regularly, an infant baptism would might encourage them to do so. And to help my argument further, if someone was not baptised early in life they may die before they get baptised as an adult and if they do may not get accepted into heaven.

Now the arguments against infant baptism are also persuasive points.

Firstly and what I think ids the most important is that Jesus was baptised as an adult and if we are supposed to live a life like Jesus Christ, why not get baptised like him? Infants of non-practising parents should not be baptised. This might shock them into returning to practise their faith. Infants could be enrolled as catechumens and baptised when better prepared.

In discriminate baptism might mean that families will take baptism for granted so once again will encourage them to go to church more often.

Parents might feel pressured by family or neighbours to have their child baptised so again they will be pressured to return to the local church more often.

Babies do not what is going on during baptism and do not understand what the meaning and significance of it. Baptism is the washing away of sin. As a young child the only sin that they should truly have would be Original Sin. Why not wait until the children are older, understand what they are doing, and will also have Actual Sins to ritually “wash away”.

Also a famous quote was made by Tertullian (160-225) – “Christians are made not born.” I think that he means that we have to develop into a Christian and not take Christianity for granted and get accepted in the local parish soon after you are born.

I think that Infant Baptism is pointless because of the fact that the children do not understand what and why they are getting baptised. I think it is better to wait and baptise them when they are older and understand the meaning and significance of Baptism and go through the initiation wise fully.

Liam Mulholland

The Meaning and Purpose of Baptism. (hereafter MPB) p. 1

2 The Sacrament of Initiation (afterhere TSI) p.6

3 MBP p.5