Infant baptism

Infant baptism, also known as christening or paedobaptism, is a Christian sacramental practice of baptizing infants and young children. Such practice is done in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and various Protestant denominations, including Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Anglicans.^[1][2] The practice involves baptizing infants born to believing parents as a means of initiating them into the Christian faith. Supporters of infant baptism cite biblical references to the baptism of entire households in the New Testament, as well as Jesus’ teachings on welcoming children, as justification for this approach.^[1]

In contrast, believers' baptism (credobaptism) is based on the premise that baptism should be administered only to individuals who can personally profess their faith. Those who support this view argue that baptism is a conscious act of commitment to Christianity, requiring an understanding of its significance. As a result, they maintain that only those capable of articulating their belief should participate in the sacrament. This perspective is commonly held by Baptists, Pentecostals, and other evangelical groups. Proponents of believers’ baptism argue that the absence of explicit references to infant baptism in the New Testament, along with the significance of baptism as a personal commitment.^[1]