Atheists on the rise in America

[alekth]

FootballFan said:

Kasz216 said:

lolita said:

I was baptised as a baby because my mom is just into traditions and she thinks it's beautiful. Not a religious reason at all. My dad was against it though, he doesn't think it's fair to make a child's religious decisions. There isn't a consent and neither an understanding of it. I agree with him...

Honestly, I don't get why it matters.  It's not like your actually locked in to being a Christian of that denomination you were baptized in.  It's not like them sterilizing you at birth or anything.   It just keeps an option open for you until you decide whatever you want to do.

But, you could always get baptized later if you wanted. Also I want to know why Christians feel the need for it anyway. Surely if your connection with God is that strong you can just tell him through prayer rather than going through these ceremonies.

Well, in the case of catholics (not sure whether later churches accepted that), if a baby died and wasn't baptised, they wouldn't go to heaven. Babies were very prone to dying at those times anyway (like 5th century). Then there was the concept of Limbo and they sent them there.

Not the case now for catholics though, somebody changed their mind and there isn't actually limbo, so they go to heaven now.