Does Baptism mean that you those who are not Baptized won't go to heaven?

[Anonymous]

I can't wrap my mind around this. If we commit to the Creed that "all those who believe in God shall not perish but have eternal life," what happens to those who are not Baptized? I guess that is the whole basis for proselytizing, to make sure everyone can go to heaven, right? But if I have problem believing that God is so vengeful and would really fault babies for their parents' decisions, then it seems hypocritical to baptize my child. I don't want to commit to something in a ceremony that I don't fully endorse.

Where does that leave me? Anyone else struggle with this?

[Anonymous]

I'm Eastern Orthodox and we believe that everyone who believes should get baptized and have their children baptized. But we don't believe that those who don't get baptized or even those who don't believe are necessarily going to hell. God is merciful. One of our popular saints had this to say about small children who die: "Children who fall asleep in the Lord at an early age go straight to paradise, like the angels. And when their parents pass away, these little angels welcome them in heaven with lit candles." - St Paisios

[Anonymous]

I do think that, implied in the idea of needing to get baptized to absolve one of original sin and be saved, is that those who do not get baptized will somehow be punished. My understanding is that babies and others who aren’t exposed to the word of God (and therefore are not given the opportunity to be saved) will go to Purgatory.

Of course, all of this differs depending on the denomination of Christianity that you’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Eastern Orthodox and we believe that everyone who believes should get baptized and have their children baptized. But we don't believe that those who don't get baptized or even those who don't believe are necessarily going to hell. God is merciful. One of our popular saints had this to say about small children who die: "Children who fall asleep in the Lord at an early age go straight to paradise, like the angels. And when their parents pass away, these little angels welcome them in heaven with lit candles." - St Paisios

Seriously, St. Paisios was expressing his opinion. No way he can vouch for the mind of god. Unless what he said is church doctrine, it doesn't fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think that, implied in the idea of needing to get baptized to absolve one of original sin and be saved, is that those who do not get baptized will somehow be punished. My understanding is that babies and others who aren’t exposed to the word of God (and therefore are not given the opportunity to be saved) will go to Purgatory.

Of course, all of this differs depending on the denomination of Christianity that you’re talking about.

I heard they went to Limbo, because it wasn't their fault that they hadn't been baptized. This is for Catholics only, because other christians just have heaven and hell.

[Anonymous]

According to Catholic doctrine, there is hope of salvation for unbaptized babies and for adults not capable of accepting the sacraments. The rest of us get to burn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that, implied in the idea of needing to get baptized to absolve one of original sin and be saved, is that those who do not get baptized will somehow be punished. My understanding is that babies and others who aren’t exposed to the word of God (and therefore are not given the opportunity to be saved) will go to Purgatory.

Of course, all of this differs depending on the denomination of Christianity that you’re talking about.

I heard they went to Limbo, because it wasn't their fault that they hadn't been baptized. This is for Catholics only, because other christians just have heaven and hell.

No more catholic limbo. They abolished the doctrine in 2007

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't wrap my mind around this. If we commit to the Creed that "all those who believe in God shall not perish but have eternal life," what happens to those who are not Baptized? I guess that is the whole basis for proselytizing, to make sure everyone can go to heaven, right? But if I have problem believing that God is so vengeful and would really fault babies for their parents' decisions, then it seems hypocritical to baptize my child. I don't want to commit to something in a ceremony that I don't fully endorse.

Where does that leave me? Anyone else struggle with this?

Presumably your parents baptized you. Maybe they had second thoughts too. but, didn't want to take a chance on you being separated from God for eternity. It may seem hypocritical to you, but of course you know that all religions have rules.

Maybe you could switch to a religion that doesn't require infant baptism and let your kids make up their own minds when they're older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that, implied in the idea of needing to get baptized to absolve one of original sin and be saved, is that those who do not get baptized will somehow be punished. My understanding is that babies and others who aren’t exposed to the word of God (and therefore are not given the opportunity to be saved) will go to Purgatory.

Of course, all of this differs depending on the denomination of Christianity that you’re talking about.

I heard they went to Limbo, because it wasn't their fault that they hadn't been baptized. This is for Catholics only, because other christians just have heaven and hell.

No more catholic limbo. They abolished the doctrine in 2007

What happened to all of the souls there?

[Anonymous]

I've been baptized 3 times! Was raised in a Southern Baptist / evangelical faith.

First time, I was 6 years old. The second two times I was in HS and freaked out about how maybe I wasn't really saved, what if I hadn't truly meant it, etc. It didn't help that we always had preachers and evangelists saying things like "some of you out there may think you're saved but you're not" in an effort to pump up their conversion stats.

So I guess I'm triple going to heaven, hooray!

[Anonymous]

Yes, that’s what Christianity teaches. It’s one reason why I don’t go to church.

[Anonymous]

I didn't want to do the baptism, so my mom asked her minister cousin what to do. He said to just run my kid's head under some water and say a few words to state the intention of baptism. My mother admitted that she did this while giving my kids a bath.

[Anonymous]

Views on this depend on the denomination.

I was raised Southern Baptist. We’re taught that Baptism is something you do after salvation. You can be saved without getting baptized, but baptism alone doesn’t save you, it just makes you wet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that, implied in the idea of needing to get baptized to absolve one of original sin and be saved, is that those who do not get baptized will somehow be punished. My understanding is that babies and others who aren’t exposed to the word of God (and therefore are not given the opportunity to be saved) will go to Purgatory.

Of course, all of this differs depending on the denomination of Christianity that you’re talking about.

I heard they went to Limbo, because it wasn't their fault that they hadn't been baptized. This is for Catholics only, because other christians just have heaven and hell.

No more catholic limbo. They abolished the doctrine in 2007

What happened to all of the souls there?

The church realized they weren't really there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think that, implied in the idea of needing to get baptized to absolve one of original sin and be saved, is that those who do not get baptized will somehow be punished. My understanding is that babies and others who aren’t exposed to the word of God (and therefore are not given the opportunity to be saved) will go to Purgatory.

Of course, all of this differs depending on the denomination of Christianity that you’re talking about.

I heard they went to Limbo, because it wasn't their fault that they hadn't been baptized. This is for Catholics only, because other christians just have heaven and hell.

No more catholic limbo. They abolished the doctrine in 2007

What happened to all of the souls there?

Good question!