Infant Baptism - The Arguments for and Against - Essay Example

Infant Baptism: The Arguments for and Against One of the most intriguing doctrines that is held by the Roman Catholic Church, and is denied my other Protestant denominations, is the doctrine of infant baptism. Infant baptism is actually the practice wherein newborn infants are already baptized. While infant baptism is practiced by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, among others, it is actually denied by major Protestant denominations such as the Baptists, the Churches of Christ, Pentecostals and the Seventh Day Adventists, with the latter preferring adult baptism.

In this case, the researcher would try to look at the main arguments for and against infant baptism. One of the main arguments against infant baptism is the fact that the only ones eligible for baptism are the ones “who recognizes his or her need of a Savior and then repents and believes in Christ should be baptized” (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-38) (Assemblies of God n. p.). In this case, they actually argue that infants do not have the ability to recognize his or her need of a Savior, aside from the fact that “in the Scripture there is no record of infants or very young children being baptized” (Assemblies of God n. p.).

However, the Catholic Church actually refutes this statement, arguing that “…the Catholic Church has always understood baptism… teaching that it is a sacrament which accomplishes several things, the first of which is the remission of sin, both original sin and actual sin—only original sin in the case of infants…” (Catholic Answers n. p.). In addition, they also argue that the command for baptism, according to Peter, is “universal” and “not restricted to adults” (Catholic Answers n. p.).

Works Cited Assemblies of God. “Infant Baptism, Age of Accountability, Dedication of Children.” www.ag.org. Assemblies of God, n. d. Web. 25 April 2011. Catholic Answers. “Infant Baptism.” www.catholic.com. Catholic Answers, n. d. Web. 25 April 2011.