Infant baptism

Water is poured on the head of an infant held over the baptismal font of a Roman Catholic church.

Infant baptism[1][2] (or paedobaptism) is the practice of baptizing infants or young children. Infant baptism is also called christening by some faith traditions.

Most Christians belong to denominations that practice infant baptism. Branches of Christianity that practice infant baptism include Catholicism,[3] Eastern Orthodoxy,[4] and Oriental Orthodoxy.[5] Among Protestants, several denominations practice infant baptism including Anglicans,[6] Lutherans,[7] Presbyterians,[8] Congregationalists,[9] Methodists,[10] Nazarenes,[11] Moravians,[12] and United Protestants.[13]

Christians who do not practice infant baptism are called credobaptists.

  1. ^ "The Baptism Service". Church of England. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2007. Q. What's the difference between a baptism and a christening?
    A. None, they are just different words for the same thing.
  2. ^ "Can I have my infant christened?". United Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2007. Christening is not a separate or different service. It is the same thing as baptism.
  3. ^ "Catechism of the Catholic Church, How is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?". The Holy See. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Infant Baptism: What the Church Believes | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese". ww1.antiochian.org. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States - Q&A". www.suscopts.org. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ^ Goebel, Greg (6 March 2013). "Infant Baptism: Why do Anglicans Baptize Babies?". Anglican Compass. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Doctrine - Frequently Asked Questions - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod". www.lcms.org. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Why Does the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Baptize Infants?: The Orthodox Presbyterian Church". opc.org. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  9. ^ "About Baptism". United Church of Christ. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference MannsMeyer1984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Baptism of Infants".
  12. ^ "The Sacrament of Baptism | Moravian Church in America". 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Baptism and Communion". United Church of Canada. Retrieved 28 March 2021.