buttercup
Diamond Member
- Apr 9, 2010
- 10,124
- 7,436
- 2,020
Same is true of those who were baptized as older children--and adults. Many of those not raised into a faith don't bother with one as adults either. Why miss the opportunity of presenting ones' children with the greatest gift we have and share as family, as the Body of Christ?
And your best answer is, "They might become atheists." ?
What if they don't?
No, it's not the same because outside the Catholic Church when Christians get water baptized as an older child or adult, the overwhelming majority UNDERSTAND that water baptism is symbolic, it it not what saves us. So if they later become atheists, they're not under the illusion that they are going to end up in Heaven just because they got water baptized.
But I've known Catholics who think that just because they were baptized as a baby and had their first communion, that they've received salvation. So in that case, there is often a false sense of security that can lead to eternal separation from God if that person never experienced true conversion.