A good time for a Christian to be baptized is as soon as it is understood why Jesus was baptized, and what that means for them.
Mother Teresa was born a Christian and baptized into the Catholic Church a short time after she was born.
No, it is generally believed that baptism is a one-time sacrament in many Christian denominations.
In medieval Europe, Christian children were expected to be baptized, and a christian child who accepted any other religion was considered an apostate, subject to the death penalty. Jewish children could be involuntarily baptized, and if baptized, were required by the civil authorities to be taken from their families and raised in a Christian family. The last time this happened was in Italy in 1857, in the case of Edgardo Mortara.
No, according to most Christian denominations, baptism is considered a one-time sacrament that signifies a person's acceptance of faith.
No, it is generally not permissible to be baptized more than once in most Christian denominations, as baptism is considered a one-time sacrament symbolizing spiritual rebirth and initiation into the faith.
The fundamental issue was not the physical act of pouring water on the child, but all of the religious and social implications that the baptism would have. While there was some debate among Christians about whether a Non-Christian could be baptized against his will (or the will of his parents if he was underage), there was no debate that the baptized person was irrevocably a Christian and could not be "un-baptized".The primary problem arises when you realize that it was illegal in all Christian countries for Jewish adults to raise a Christian child. This meant that the child would then be forcibly seized from his parents and given to a Christian family. The reason for this illegality is that it was believed that the Jewish parents would teach the child "untruths" that would condemn the soul of the Christian child to Hell. For this same reason, all contact between the Jewish parents and the child was forbidden. A number of Jewish children who were forcibly baptized were thus ripped from the arms of their parents in order to put them "in good Christian houses". This was a violation of the family's dignity and wholesomeness.The secondary problem is that Jews believe that their religious views are correct and, therefore, by force of law, their children were taken to be taught incorrect beliefs about the world and not to be taught the correct nature of the world. Jews also value their traditions and it is very important to teach those traditions to the next generation. The loss of this child makes the transmission of these important traditions impossible.
No, in most Christian denominations, baptism is considered a one-time sacrament that signifies a person's initiation into the faith.
No, in most Christian denominations, baptism is considered a one-time sacrament that signifies a person's commitment to their faith.
No. There are no prerequisites to being baptized. Only that you (as an adult) desire to be baptized. Baptism, however, is a prerequisite to being confirmed. Adults, if they are to be baptized, are usually confirmed on the same day.
Getting baptized twice is not necessarily wrong, but it is typically unnecessary in most Christian denominations. Baptism is seen as a one-time sacrament that symbolizes a person's commitment to their faith. If someone feels the need to be baptized again, it is important to discuss their reasons with a religious leader to understand the significance of the decision.
Roman Catholic AnswerAnyone can talk to a priest if he has time, but he can only give absolution to a validly baptized Catholic. Confession (Penance) is one of the seven sacraments. In the normal course of events only Baptism may be received by a non-baptized non-Christian (who would then be a baptized Christian). In an extraordinary case, there is a way that a non-Catholic, for instance, an Eastern Orthodox Christian, who believed in the sacrament of Penance and was in danger of death, AND HAD NO WAY TO GET TO HIS PRIEST could apply to a Catholic priest for Penance. In the normal course of events, if you believe in the sacrament of Confession, then you should talk to a priest about instructions with the intention of converting.
Yes. There is scriptural precedent for being re-baptized: Acts 19:3-5 - And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.