Q&A Home > I > Infant Baptism

• A non-Christian doctor was asking why we baptize new born babies and what sins do they have?
• I am a Roman Catholic currently interested in knowing more about Infant Baptism from both scriptural and historical perspectives. I found the information on the Southern Diocese answers for Infant Baptism very helpful. Thank you for posting them. Can you please provide me with some references that indicate Infant Baptism to have been widely practiced among the early Church, particularly in the See of Alexandria? For example, are there writings that testify that Anianus' whole household included infants? Perhaps there are other writings.
• I have the hardest time accepting the Orthodox view on Baptism at infancy. I think the requirements and benefits of Baptism can’t apply to infants. I think it is rash to assume that the term "household" (as in Paul baptized the household of Stephanas) must include infants since not every household contains infants. Holy Book of Mark 16:16 states, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." Again, how infants are baptized if belief must precede it? All Scriptural examples of baptism show an individual decision to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.