Did anyone NOT baptize their kids?

[Buckalew11]

I was sprinkled as a baby and dunked as a 10 yr.old.

My DD was baptized at 6. She was more than ready and understood what she was doing. Our minister counseled with her for awhile because she was so young but he was convinced as she had answers for him that most adults could not give. For us, baptism is an outward sign of your obedience to the Lord.


N.Bailey, we've had big discussions in SS for the past 2 weeks about the "age of accountability" (of which I believe) but I am not sure of scriptural back-up. Would you share your thoughts or references with me here or in a PM? It would really help us out. TIA.

 

[palmtreegirl]

DS isn't baptized, he will be when he chooses to himself.

 

[disneygals]

I had my girls baptized mainly for my mother and so if they chose to pursue our religion, it was already done. I had plans of introducing my girls to church, but not pushing it on them as was done to me. I am christian, but not a church-goer. My kids have attended some, but aren't interested.

We live in a very Catholic area, my kids have learned a lot from their friends who have to attend CCD classes.

 

[disneyfreakk]

No, and I am glad I wasn't! A few years ago my dad became a devout hypochristian and begged me to get baptized. He just does not understand that while I do believe in God/higher power, I do not believe in the bible or the church. And when he told me that I would be going to HELL...... well, that did not go well. lol I told him that if he didn't like it, he should have raised me better.

 

[robinb]

I was full-dunk baptized when I was 12 by my choice, but I shouldn't have done it. I was raised Northern Baptist and there was a lot of pressure from my church to do it when I was in middle school. They made such a BIG DEAL about baptisms and it was expected when you were a pre-teen. In anticipation of being baptized I had to take a religious classes so I knew what I was getting into and it was then that I began to question the whole Jesus thing. However, I had gone too far to change my mind *sigh*. I really should have backed out and as an adult I regret going through with it.

My DD is not baptized as our family is not Christian.

 

[chris1gill]

WHY would I baptize them?? There is no purpose for it IMHO...

 

[Mean Queen]

I was not baptised, nor are my children because we aren't Christian.

 

[december]

No. OT, but my friend at work didn't have her child baptized either, and when the baby died of SIDS , a lot of holy-rollers told her that her baby wasn't going to heaven because she didn't have him baptized...

How can these people live with themselves?

WHY would I baptize them?? There is no purpose for it IMHO...

That would depend on your faith.

I grew up Southern Baptist-people choose to be baptized when they make a profession of faith. Doesn't matter if you are 8 or 88. I was baptized at age 11 (and Brother Magee believed in putting a real dunking on you!).

I joined a Methodist Church with dh when we married. Both of my kids were sprinkled as infants, as he was.

There are so many beliefs and traditions within the Christian community. I don't believe that anyone is barred from heaven based on baptism, but most people simply follow the traditions of their faith.

 

[DMickey28]

My DS is not either. We are planning on doing a dedication to God on the same beach where DH and I were married but we don't know when we will be able to get there.

 

[PatsGirl]

I went through the three-month training to become baptized (Protestant church) when I was a pre-teen but never followed through. My children have not been baptized but both have attended Sunday School, DS for 8 years and DD for 4 years, so they are familiar with the Bible and Bible Stories, etc. and can someday make a choose to continue their religious education or not. I take alot of flak about my kids not being baptized as all their cousins are catholic and have been baptized, christened, first communion, the whole works. Both my kids really wanted Godmothers and Godfathers for the extra gifts at Christmas BTW, I am Godmother to a niece and Godmother to one of my good friends' daughters -- neither family is particularly religious and once the girls were confirmed, I think that's what it is, when they were are around 13 or 14, they never attended church again -- go figure

 

[MoniqueU]

I baptized 3 out of 4 of my children. The last kind of got away from me at the time. Now she is almost 10 and you couldnt pay me to get up in front of a crowd to do it or even just a private one in front of a priest. I just cringe at the thought. It really bothers my MIL and my husbands grandma that passed away really wanted me to get it done and I do feel bad that I didnt do it at least for her but it doesnt persoanlly bother me.

 

[RickinNYC]

I was baptized in the Catholic church. Raised in an uber Catholic family and I continued going to mass well into my adult life. I don't go any longer but still have a pretty strong belief system in place that suits my own needs. If we were to have a child, yes, I would have him/her baptized and I would start going back to church once again.

 

[Poohbear123]

My DD is, but my DS isn't they are 25 and 26. My DGD is, my second DGD isn't and she is one.

 

[EMom]

DD was baptised as an infant at her baby home by an Orthodox priest. The person who ran the baby home was religious and made certain all the babies were baptised. When she was little and a baby was baptised at church, she wanted to know when SHE could be baptised. I told her she'd already BEEN baptised. She said she didn't remember it. I told her that I didn't even remember it because I wasn't there when it happened.

DH and I had been planning a christening/baptism when we brought her home, only to be handed a baptismal certificate and a cross when we picked her up and told about her earlier baptism. Oh well......so much for that. Many churches, including ours, go for the "one time baptism" rule, so she was done. I guess we could have lied, but breaking a Commandment to get a baptism seems a bit twisted.

 

[KariC]

None of my family has, my sister told her husband she could get the children babtised catholic but he never did, she never signed up to doing it when she married and they are ivf children as well. The odd thing is I never knew about my father so he had to have a non religious funeral, I found out after that his mother was babtist (he would never talk about her as she committed suicide when he was small) but I still don't know about him.

umm....what does ivf have to do with baptism? (my 3 are, as well)

DH and I are dunked, me at 14, he at 18 (and he's one of those "elder's kids"). Our children will be baptized when they choose, if they choose. We pray that they do. The twins have both discussed it, but we feel they need to be older.

I do understand the posters that have mentioned they would be disappointed if their children chose to be baptized, when they themselves don't believe. See, we all choose what we believe to be truth. So, the "non-believers" (for lack of a better term) have chosen their truth. If their children choose a different truth, it might seem as though they are doubting their parents intellect, reasoning, what have you. However, as a "believer", I would be happy for their children. KWIM?

 

[Laura]

I was baptized as an infant. Didn't hurt me, but I'll leave the baptism decision up to my kid, should I have one.

 

[EMom]

I just remembered some of my friends who adopted from the same place were Jewish. They were handed the same baptismal certificate and cross, but took it all in stride. They knew the director's intentions were good and they just wanted to get the baby home. It's not as if baptising the child meant it could only be raised by Christian parents. It didn't put some sort of "lock" or "hold" on them. They're quite happy where they are today.

 

[CF'er]

I was as a baby (raised Methodist). Married a Baptist and converted so was re-baptised as an adult. DH was as an adult.

My son was baptised in the hospital before he died. (6 weeks old) My other DS and DD aren't as they are Baptist and will be done when they are ready.

 

[malibuconlee]

I wasn't baptized, but DH was. We had a wonderful church we belonged to before we moved here, but we haven't found a good fit for us here. Not sure what we'll do once the baby comes. I don't know if my FIL will want us to do it at his church in Iowa, but I'm just not that big of a fan of the minister there and wouldn't be comfortable with that.

 

[pooksma]

I was baptized as a child but am not a Christian (much to the chagrin of my family). DH and I chose not to have DS baptized because we feel that his religion is his choice and it would have been hypocritical of us to go through the motions just to make other people happy.

Our thoughts exactly! (much to my Mother and MIL's chagrin-but that's their issue, not mine!)