Editing Infant baptism (section)

== Debates regarding infant baptism ==
The debate over infant baptism engages [[ecclesiology]], [[Covenant theology|covenant]], and [[Faith#Christianity|faith]], often sparking controversy. Tom J. Nettles et al. (2007) in ''Understanding Four Views on Baptism'' highlight two irreconcilable traditions: believer’s baptism, emphasizing personal faith, and infant baptism, prioritizing covenantal continuity. These frameworks “simply cannot be mixed” without undermining theological integrity (p. 21)<ref>Nettles, T. J., Pratt, R. L., Jr., Kolb, R., & Castelein, J. D. (2007). ''Understanding four views on baptism''. Zondervan.</ref>

=== Arguments for ===
Proponents of infant baptism base their position on a covenantal framework, equating the practice with the Old Testament rite of circumcision. In Reformed theology, baptism signifies a child’s inclusion in God’s covenant community and membership within the visible church, mirroring circumcision’s role in ancient Israel.<ref name=":03">(Nettles et al., 2007, p. 70)</ref> [[B. B. Warfield]] noted this continuity, arguing that God’s inclusion of children in the covenant community, established during Abraham’s time, still grants them access to church membership and sacraments.<ref name=":03" /> Luther defended infant baptism as an act of obedience to Christ’s directive to bring children to God, grounding the practice in divine authority rather than human choice.<ref name=":13">(Nettles et al., 2007, p. 124)</ref>

=== Arguments against ===
Critics of infant baptism maintain that the New Testament portrays baptism reserved for individuals who consciously respond to the gospel and profess faith, rather than as a covenantal rite applied to infants.<ref name=":24">(Nettles et al., 2007, p. 40)</ref> They state that the absence of explicit biblical examples where baptism is administered to those incapable of understanding or articulating belief, therefore weakens its symbolic role in affirming Christian identity.<ref>(Nettles et al., 2007, p. 111)</ref>

As for the historical viewpoint, critics argue that infant baptism originated as a post-apostolic ecclesiastical innovation, lacking direct biblical or apostolic authorization, and dismiss it as a human tradition unsupported by divine revelation.<ref>(Nettles et al., 2007, p. 198)</ref>

Regarding consent, [[Mary McAleese]], a Catholic legal scholar and former [[President of Ireland|Irish president]], posits in her doctoral research that infant baptism functions as “enforced membership” within the Catholic Church, raising questions about consent and lifelong obligations imposed on children. She suggests that baptized individuals should later have the opportunity to formally affirm or renounce their membership, aligning with modern principles of freedom of conscience, belief, and religion. McAleese observes that the Catholic Church has yet to fully integrate these principles into its sacramental theology.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGarry |first=Patsy |date=22 June 2018 |title=Infant Baptism is enforced membership of the Catholic Church, says Mary McAleese |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/infant-baptism-is-enforced-membership-of-the-catholic-church-says-mary-mcaleese-1.3540706 |access-date=16 December 2018 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

=== Opposing denominations ===
These doctrinal positions shape baptismal practices across Christian traditions, exemplified by: [[Anabaptism|Anabaptists]] (e.g., [[Mennonites]], [[Amish]]), [[Baptists|Baptist Traditions]] ([[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern]], [[Reformed Baptists|Reformed]]), [[Churches of Christ]], [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]]/[[Charismatic Christianity|Charismatic]] groups ([[Assemblies of God]], [[Oneness Pentecostalism|Oneness Pentecostals]]). Additionally, several [[nontrinitarian]] religious groups also oppose infant baptism, including [[Oneness Pentecostals]], [[Christadelphians]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[United Church of God]], and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)]].<ref name="EoM Infant Baptism2">{{cite encyclopedia |year=1992 |title=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]] |location=New York |last=Norman |first=Keith E. |editor1-last=Ludlow |editor1-first=Daniel H |pages=682–683 |isbn=0-02-879602-0 |oclc=24502140 |contribution=Infant Baptism |contribution-url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/3795 |editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow}}</ref>

Specifically, the LDS Church has stated that little children are considered both [[Original sin#The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|born without sin]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=1992 |title=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]] |location=New York |last=Merrill |first=Byron R. |editor1-last=Ludlow |editor1-first=Daniel H |pages=1052–1053 |isbn=0-02-879602-0 |oclc=24502140 |contribution=Original sin |contribution-url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/4025 |editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow}}</ref> and [[Fate of the unlearned#Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|incapable of committing sin]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=1992 |title=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]] |location=New York |last=Rudd |first=Calvin P. |editor1-last=Ludlow |editor1-first=Daniel H |pages=268–269 |isbn=0-02-879602-0 |oclc=24502140 |contribution=Children: Salvation of Children |contribution-url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5591 |editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow}}</ref> They have no need of baptism until age eight,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=1992 |title=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]] |location=New York |last=Hawkins |first=Carl S. |author-link=Carl S. Hawkins |editor1-last=Ludlow |editor1-first=Daniel H |pages=92–94 |isbn=0-02-879602-0 |oclc=24502140 |contribution=Baptism |contribution-url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5499 |editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow}}</ref> when they can begin to learn to discern right from wrong, and are thus accountable to God for their own actions.<ref name="EoM Accountability2">{{cite encyclopedia |year=1992 |title=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]] |location=New York |last=Warner |first=C. Terry |author-link=C. Terry Warner |editor1-last=Ludlow |editor1-first=Daniel H |page=13 |isbn=0-02-879602-0 |oclc=24502140 |contribution=Accountability |contribution-url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5446 |editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow}}</ref> However, the LDS Church performs a non-saving [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinance]] to [[Naming and blessing of children|name and bless children]], customarily performed on infants.<ref>{{citation |last=Bangerter |first=Lowell |title=[[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |page=268 |year=1992 |editor1-last=Ludlow |editor1-first=Daniel H |editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow |contribution=Children: Blessing of Children |contribution-url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5591 |location=New York |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]] |isbn=0-02-879602-0 |oclc=24502140}}</ref>