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Originally Posted by tribesman
OK. Would you say that at least one of the parents have to be christian?
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Normally yes this is the case, and if a child is in no danger of dieing soon the baptism will be pushed back until the parents are received into the Church at which time the baby will receive baptism with his or hers parents. But if the baby is in danger of dieing baptism can be administered right away regardless of whether or not the parents are Christian as long as they wish to have their baby baptized. In fact in cases like this it is perfectly valid for any Christian to administer baptism if their is not a priest available.
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Would you say it is linked to personal faith or do you believe in ex opere operato ?
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The Sacraments are "ex opere operato" as you say.
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Some say that Didache is an argument for "believers baptism"; what is your response to that?
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I see nothing of the sort and the manual is primarily concerned with converts (who were adults).
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Yes, indeed here is an early source for pouring as valid method. And, as you say, we have plenty of sources that infant baptism was practiced in christianity from an early age.
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Yep, and pouring is the primary method used by Catholics even though immersion is making a come back since after Vatican II new churches started to have rather large Baptistries that can acomadate full immersion. Although even in these churches pouring is still often used as a matter of tradition.
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How do you believe the jews practiced their baptisms for proselytes? Were infants baptized as well? Did John the Baptist practice infant baptism?
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Not quite sure as I don't believe we have any substantial record for how the Jews performed this practice. But I see circumcision as a better prefigurement of Christian baptism than Jewish baptism.