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Debate Info

9
12
Yes No
Debate Score:21
Arguments:14
Total Votes:21
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes (6)
 
 No (8)

Debate Creator

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Should babies be baptized?

Yes

Side Score: 9
VS.

No

Side Score: 12
1 point

I say yes sure why the hell not! I honestly believe that in America we can express religion openly and thats great so if a parent wants there kid baptized sure why not its there choice

Side: yes

If your a Christian, this is a maningful gesture that will have to be repeated later in life when you can actually make a decision on religion. If your any other religious stance, this is a meaningless gesture, so why worry? If they want to baptize their child, let them. It's their right as parents.

Side: yes

If the parents believe they should, then their belief suffices.

Side: Yes

Think about it. These children are forced into a religion they know nothing about, against their will, without being able to explore other beliefs and/or philosophy's. Sure they don't know what is happening, but does that make the situation any better? No, if anything it makes it worse. Babies should be raise until they're mature enough to make their own decisions, this way they have an opportunity to either follow a religion of their choice or not, and not be forced into one by their parents.

Side: No
imrigone(761) Disputed
3 points

While I fully agree with your overall sentiment....we are talking about babies here. They really can't be old enough to be properly indoctrinated just yet.

but does that make the situation any better?

Basically, in the same way that it is better to lead a chicken into the slaughterhouse than it is to lead a 21-year-old human to the same fate.

Babies should be raise until they're mature enough to make their own decisions, this way they have an opportunity to either follow a religion of their choice or not, and not be forced into one by their parents.

If it is a person is worth talking about, this will happen regardless of any hypothetical.

Baptize away, a hollow gesture that won't be remembered by the participant is hardly worth fretting about.

Side: yes

Oh trust me, I'm not fretting, merely pondering ;)

This is the first time I've really explored this 'area' so I'm just going over a few different views in my head. To be honest I couldn't care less about people actually baptizing babies, I just think it should be taken into consideration that the babies are unaware of what is actually going on around them. I was baptized as an Anglican-Christian as a baby, and now I'm a Satanist; so to me baptism really means jack shit ;)

Side: No
1 point

The baby cannot make the decision when they are younger. Once baptized, you have a legal document that shows that you are tied to religion because of the "simple" act. They do not have to be baptized when they are very young. Instead, it could be considered as a rite of passage later in life. I've seen numerous people get baptized when they're older, 20s, 30s, and above. By then, they can decide whether they actually want to be tied to religion or not. And don't tell me that baptism was meant to be for babies; in the Bible, the first baptisms were done on all people of all ages.

Side: No
zombee(1026) Disputed
2 points

The baby cannot make the decision when they are younger.

Which is why parents have the right to make decisions for them. Babies and young children can't make decisions to go to the doctor, eat healthy food, socialize with peers, engage in educational play, enroll in preschool, dress themselves weather-appropriately, and so on and so on. This doesn't mean parents must abstain from choosing for them. Parents must be allowed to make choices they think will be the best for their baby unless it endangers the baby's health or safety. Baptism is not dangerous.

Once baptized, you have a legal document that shows that you are tied to religion because of the "simple" act.

A baptismal certificate is not a legal document, except maybe as a form of ID in some places. The law doesn't care that you have been symbolically dedicated to this religion or that one.

They do not have to be baptized when they are very young.

But this is extremely important to some parents; if they genuinely believed an unbaptized soul doesn't get into heaven, and their child died at a young age, they would understandably feel that they had condemned their child to purgatory or hell through their own inaction.

There is nothing in the event of baptism itself that has any effect on the baby's life. To really prevent indoctrination, you would have to forbid parents from sharing their beliefs religion and values to their children. That's wrong and also impossible.

Side: yes
1 point

They should not be baptized because they are too young and don't know the meaning of baptism. If I had a kid I would wait until they fully understand the true meaning of baptism and why you are doing it.

Side: No

Could it be? Oh my, it could! It really could! This could be the very first time I've agreed with you in a for/against argument!!!!!! MIND BLOWN!!!!!

Side: No
1 point

I know right! We always dispute each other and now we argree on the same thing lol!

Side: No

No. How does putting everyday tap water on a babies head supposed to do anything? Just because some priest who is probity molesting the alter boys waves his hand over it and says a bunch of gibberish its supposed to make it some how holy and magical?

Side: No
1 point

No, of course not. The point of baptism is to signify one becoming 'reborn' through Christianity. To truly appreciate this, one must be old enough to realize the significance and importance of this symbolism.

I guess there is no harm done, but why bother? It means absolutely nothing.

Side: No
1 point

it doesn't matter

but it may be beneficial to their future social life in christian communities ( if christianity still exists by the time they grew up )

Side: No