How can an inncocent child, straight from the womb, have sinned?

Question

This is just a scam to get people to baptise their children before they're old enough to decide if they want to be baptised.

Answer 1

You are referring to the belief in original sin. When Adam and Eve yielded to Satan in the Garden of Eden, " they committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice. And that is why original sin is called "sin" only in an analogical sense: it is a sin "contracted" and not "committed"-a state and not an act." (Catechism of the Catholic Church). Through Baptism, original sin is "erased" and Christ's grace is given to the child receiving it.

Answer 2

Innocent children have not sinned. But, all humans are born into the 'state of original sin'. This doesn't mean that being born is sinful, it just means that humans have a sinful nature; we all do it once we figure out how.

NH Baritone, the Catholic Church doesn't teach anything near what you are claiming. The Church teaches what I just described, above.

SeeTheLight, you say baptism doesn't save. I'm assuming by this comment that you are not catholic. The Catholic Church teaches what the Bible says about baptism. And, I would assume that, being a Christian you would believe what the Bible says. So check out 1Peter 3: 18-21...

For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put do death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.

Answer 3

First of all, all are born sinners period. Actually, you shouldn't baptize as and infant. It is a personal choice made, therefore, your parents can not make it for you. The only good thing about it is the God Parents, turns out that legally, in an emergency, it does hold up in court. For that purpose, the idea of God Parents, although a different name should really be used, is good. The baptism in itself has to be a personal choice.

Although all are born sinners, I believe that children and possibly those who are in the mind as a child (not immature, but disabled) are not held accountable until the age of accountability (many views is that this is around twelve or so).

Answer 4

The sin isn't any sin that a baby has volentarily committed. It is a sin born into them because of the sin of Adam. Generational sin. Inherited. The fallen state into a separation from God that has to be reconciled back through accepting Jesus as savior and Lord.

Answer 5

Children are born with sinful natures, not with sin. It's like we have to teach kids not to hit, to share, not to lie, not to be selfish because it's in their nature.
I don't believe in infant baptism because children havn't the capacity to understand sin, grace, repentence and make an informed, life altering decision in infancy. Children can be baptized when they are old enough to make a fully informed decision themselves.
I think most religions in US that have infant baptisms is more to concecrate the children to God, not actually to "save them from Hell should they die as infants."

Answer 6

Baptism doesn't make you sinless.
People are born with a sinful nature.
What do churches gain from the baptisms of children? 5 minutes of joy, that's it.
What wrong with being baptised? If you become an atheist later, all it means to you is that your head was wet for half an hour. (big deal??) (Of course, to us Christians it's a LOT more than that)

G.B.
You- I love. Your ideas- I despise.

Answer 7

We don't sin straight out of the womb, but we all have the propensity to sin. It's a part of our nature. In time, it happens to all of us.

In most Christian faiths you can't be baptized until you're old enough to understand what you're doing.

Answer 8

NH Baritone wrote, "The child had the temerity to be conceived via (shudder) SEX! At least that's what the Roman Catholics teach about original sin."

I'm beginning to think people must be getting PAID to spread lies about Catholicism. What the Church REALLY teaches can be found here: http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p7.htm

Answer 9

I love this question!
The answer is THEY HAVE NO SIN!!!! they are innocent and have not harmed anyone or broken any rule what so ever. This "original sin" is just a bunch of crap. NO ONE should be held accountable for the sins of their ancestors! We are ALL born innocent, it is our choice in life to stay that way or go with the bad energies of the world!

Answer 10

from what i hear, we are all born sinners. but, since babies were not given the opportunity to accept christ as their savior then they only have to go to limbo. i think going under that bar for all eternity would get kinda old... and hard on the back. altho, i have also heard that grown people who were not ever exposed to the idea of christ, such as aborigines, get to go to heaven because they didn't have the option.... hmmm.... that sounds kinda fishy.