# Baptizing infants vs Baptizing older children/adults

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baptizing-infants-vs-baptizing-older-children-adults/192780>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 3, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baptizing-infants-vs-baptizing-older-children-adults/192780 "2003-08-03T22:12:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baptizing-infants-vs-baptizing-older-children-adults/192780/41 "2003-08-07T16:17:46Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by I\_Dig\_Bad\_Boys \*  
> [BAnd is there REALLY a difference between sprinkling some holy water on the head of a person (adult or child) and the full immersion cold water bath baptisms some churches practice? \*\*

Well, if you consider baptism to be an extension of the Jewish practice of _mikveh_, a ritual immersion undertaken as a means of generating a condition of spiritual cleansing and renewal, then yes, there is a substantial difference. There is also, as has been mentioned, the “grave” analogy. Neither of these ideals hold up if you’re less wet after the baptism than you would be after washing a stack of dishes.

As for baptizing young children, despite being one of the more newfangled kinds of churches out there, my denomination has, as a practice, limited baptism to those over the age of 10. In children’s ministry, there is a strong emphasis on messages, sermons and lessons emphasizing positive Christian behavior and Foundations of Faith (that’s the title of the basic Sunday School curriculum) leaving fire and brimstone to revival meeting preachers. That’s not to say that a doctrinally accurate answer wouldn’t be given to a kid who asked “What if I don’t believe?” but the consequences of disbelief aren’t a focus, especially not in any meeting geared toward families or kids.

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