Years ago I met a Methodist minister who had worked in Africa. He told me that one day some of the villagers where he was working came to him to ask if their children could be baptised. He was taken by surprise. Infant baptism was not a main part of his tradition and had not been something he had yet explained to these new adult Christians. He wondered with a laugh whether Catholics had been snooping. “Who has told you about children being baptised?” he asked them. “No one,” they answered. “But being baptised is such a blessing for us, we want our children to have it too.” Parents instinctively want to share their benefits with their children.

Of course, not everyone sees baptising the young as a benefit. Some would prefer to wait, believing that the choice of religion is something that people should decide for themselves, not have imposed on them when they are young. Others go further and identify it with indoctrination. Children should not be programmed in this way. But is baptism an imposition? Is baptising programming? What is being done when a person is baptised?

Read it all.

Filed under: * Theology • Sacramental Theology • Baptism

1. Dilbertnomore wrote: Gee! Is that all it takes. Well, give me a dozen - since they’re 10% off at that quantity! Great to be a modern Christian, isn’t it? Glad I’m guaranteed heaven, aren’t you? I understand that being a Christian assures us of a great life, full of all the best things. Isn’t that grand? January 13, 7:35 pm | [comment link]

2. evan miller wrote: #1 I don’t see what your comments have to do with the substance of the article. January 14, 10:23 am | [comment link]

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