Unbaptized babies going to hell?
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Websurfinbird
From my understanding many (note not all) of various Christian faiths subscribe to the notion that a person who is not baptized will go to hell. Considering that many of these same folks believe that life begins at conception, would that mean that those fetuses who never make it out of the womb, whether from abortion, miscarriage or otherwise, would be doomed for damnation?
Just something I was wondering about. Thoughts? -
jmog
Those that actually read the Bible and know what it says vs those that just believe what they are told from the religious leaders know that Baptism has nothing to do with entry to Heaven.Websurfinbird wrote: From my understanding many (note not all) of various Christian faiths subscribe to the notion that a person who is not baptized will go to hell. Considering that many of these same folks believe that life begins at conception, would that mean that those fetuses who never make it out of the womb, whether from abortion, miscarriage or otherwise, would be doomed for damnation?
Just something I was wondering about. Thoughts?
Baptism is supposed to be an outward showing of your inward change when you believe on Jesus as your savior. Its symbolic, nothing more, nothing less.
Whether or not someone is baptized has zero to do with whether or not they go to Heaven, according to the Bible. -
wes_mantooth
I am going to hell, but for much better reasons than that. -
teh awsum juani can only speak for catholics, but unborn babies traditionally went to limbo, not hell. also, a few years ago the powers that be decided that it was a silly belief, so they said that probably god lets them into heaven...
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0605701.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-04-20-popelimbo_N.htm -
Fly4Fun
Your people killed baby jebus... you're going to hell.Websurfinbird wrote: From my understanding many (note not all) of various Christian faiths subscribe to the notion that a person who is not baptized will go to hell. Considering that many of these same folks believe that life begins at conception, would that mean that those fetuses who never make it out of the womb, whether from abortion, miscarriage or otherwise, would be doomed for damnation?
Just something I was wondering about. Thoughts? -
se-alum
+1. I've definitely earned my ticket.wes_mantooth wrote: I am going to hell, but for much better reasons than that. -
Heretic
8 years old, dude.wes_mantooth wrote: I am going to hell, but for much better reasons than that. -
j_crazy
only if you're a Jehovah's witness and the baby is catholic, otherwise they go to heaven. -
krambman
I'm baptist (American Baptist to be specific) and while the baptism is what we do, we see it simply as a symbol, an outside expression of an inward transformation. Most American Baptists do not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. Most baptist churches do see baptist as a prerequisite for church membership however.Websurfinbird wrote: From my understanding many (note not all) of various Christian faiths subscribe to the notion that a person who is not baptized will go to hell. Considering that many of these same folks believe that life begins at conception, would that mean that those fetuses who never make it out of the womb, whether from abortion, miscarriage or otherwise, would be doomed for damnation?
Just something I was wondering about. Thoughts?
I've always been taught and held the view that a person cannot be held responsible for their faith until they are at an age of cognitive recognition. This means that an infant who dies an childbirth, is aborted, or dies shortly after birth will still receive God's grace and go to heaven because they were never developed enough to make a decision. (Now, I do not believe that this same principle applies to tribes in South America who have never heard about God. Even though they were never able to make a decision because they never heard about God, they had the capacity to make that decision if the Gospel had been shared with them.)
Salvation is a gift that God gave to all through the death and resurrection of His son Jesus, and it is our choice whether or not we choose to participate in that salvation through our belief or rejection. If someone dies in childbirth or as an infant, they never had the capacity to make that choice, so I believe that they still go to heaven. -
Manhattan BuckeyeI'm not a theologian, but I'm not aware of any protestant sects that believe this. Certainly not the more traditional protestant churches (methodist, baptist, presbyterian) that you see in Ohio.
I've found that people often misunderstand others' religious beliefs. I had a female roomate a few years ago who grew up in a very traditional catholic family in NJ- catholic schools all the way through elementary school to her MBA. She had some very odd misconceptions about a lot of protestant beliefs. -
krambman
This is very true. And most protestants have very skewed and inaccurate views about Catholic theology (I think a lot of that has to do with history class in high school where you learn about things the church did 1000 years ago based on beliefs they no longer hold).Manhattan Buckeye wrote: I'm not a theologian, but I'm not aware of any protestant sects that believe this. Certainly not the more traditional protestant churches (methodist, baptist, presbyterian) that you see in Ohio.
I've found that people often misunderstand others' religious beliefs. I had a female roomate a few years ago who grew up in a very traditional catholic family in NJ- catholic schools all the way through elementary school to her MBA. She had some very odd misconceptions about a lot of protestant beliefs.
While the official Catholic view may state that baptism is necessary for salvation (which is why still-born children are often still baptized), I would venture to guess that your average Catholic (in America at least) doesn't really hold that belief. -
KrugliackI'm Moravian, which is the oldest protestant church (it was started about 50 years before Lutheran) and I was always under the impression that baptism is a only a sacrament to be able to have communion. Not really a means to be accepted into heaven. My wife is Catholic and she feels the same way about baptism.
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Websurfinbird
Hmm good points everyone. I'll admit there is a lot about various religions I don't know or understand. That is why it's interesting to hear different views.
As for me going to hell. I wouldn't be surprised ... -
Devils Advocate
I hate a hot dog on Good Friday.......So Jewish or Catholic... I guess I'm goin to hell
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BigAppleBuckeye
Not if it's a Hebrew National hot dog! You are in the clearDevils Advocate wrote: I hate a hot dog on Good Friday.......So Jewish or Catholic... I guess I'm goin to hell
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vdubb96
You hate a hotdog, but you still ate it??? Weird.Devils Advocate wrote: I hate a hot dog on Good Friday.......So Jewish or Catholic... I guess I'm goin to hell
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Heelz
^^^^ hahaha -
Quint
Family Guy's take: -
fan_from_texas
A decent resource on this question is http://www.carm.org/christianity/baptism/baptism-necessary-salvation. I can't vouch for the site in general, but this page at least appears to line up doctrinally with most Christian orthodoxy.Websurfinbird wrote: From my understanding many (note not all) of various Christian faiths subscribe to the notion that a person who is not baptized will go to hell. Considering that many of these same folks believe that life begins at conception, would that mean that those fetuses who never make it out of the womb, whether from abortion, miscarriage or otherwise, would be doomed for damnation?
Just something I was wondering about. Thoughts?
As a practical matter, most Christian denominations hold some form of pseudo-"age of accountability" doctrine to resolve this question. -
said_aouita
At least I'm going to know everybody. -
dwccrew
I'll be flying the damn plane.se-alum wrote:
+1. I've definitely earned my ticket.wes_mantooth wrote: I am going to hell, but for much better reasons than that.
Dude, you stole my line.Heretic wrote:
8 years old, dude.wes_mantooth wrote: I am going to hell, but for much better reasons than that. -
Mooney44Cards
What does "Catcher in the Rye" say about unbaptized babies going to heaven? Just wondering what other books of fiction have to say about the issue..... -
homefield
What makes you think there is a heaven or a hell. Maybe when you die everything just goes black and nothing else happens. -
TimberOur church does not recognize a baptism... unless the person being baptized verbally accepts Jesus Christ as their savior on their own accord. Parents have a "Dedication Day"... vowing to raise their children to the best of their abilities in a Christian atmosphere and upbringing. Then once that child matures and reaches a point in their relationship journey with J.C.... where they want to be baptized... they may do so.
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Glory Days
didnt know babies are able to make those decisions.jmog wrote: Baptism is supposed to be an outward showing of your inward change when you believe on Jesus as your savior. Its symbolic, nothing more, nothing less.
in reference to what i just wrote, that makes a lot more sense.No snow we go! wrote: Our church does not recognize a baptism... unless the person being baptized verbally accepts Jesus Christ as their savior on their own accord. Parents have a "Dedication Day"... vowing to raise their children to the best of their abilities in a Christian atmosphere and upbringing. Then once that child matures and reaches a point in their relationship journey with J.C.... where they want to be baptized... they may do so.