Catholic Survey on Baptism (Educational Purposes)

[mikeywestside]

Hi, I’m a Religious Studies student writing a report on Baptism in the Catholic Church. The survey is anonymous and will only take a minute. The survey is purely for educational purposes.

Please take a minute to complete this 5 question multiple choice survey.
surveymonkey.com/s/Z982T83

Thankyou.

 

[Allegra]

Your last two questions are loaded. They assume that childhood Baptism magically removes a child’s ability to think for themselves. The 4th question assumes that children who think for themselves will not ultimately agree with their parents’ beliefs, and conversely, if children do agree with their parents’ beliefs it is only because they don’t think for themselves.

 

[CatholicSheila]

Hi, I’m a Religious Studies student writing a report on Baptism in the Catholic Church. The survey is anonymous and will only take a minute. The survey is purely for educational purposes.

Please take a minute to complete this 5 question multiple choice survey.
surveymonkey.com/s/Z982T83

Thankyou.

I completed it for you, but I agree that they are loaded.

Question 5 for example:

Would you, or have you Baptise/Baptised your own children?
*1 Yes, I would/have Baptise/Baptised my own children

2 No, My children will be free to make their own decisions in regards to faith

These are not mutually exclusive. Children are free to make their own decisions regarding their faith. Once they grow older and have the ability to do so. Choosing to baptise your children according to your own faith doesn’t negate this.

Which is why I was able to answer in question 4 that children should develop their own understandings of religion and make their own decision in regards to faith, Yet I also say I would baptise my children.

 

[maryjk]

Hi, I’m a Religious Studies student writing a report on Baptism in the Catholic Church. The survey is anonymous and will only take a minute. The survey is purely for educational purposes.

Please take a minute to complete this 5 question multiple choice survey.
surveymonkey.com/s/Z982T83

Thankyou.

Maybe before you wrote the survey you should have learned about Catholic Baptism…

 

[TruthLoverJC]

I took the survey, but I agree with the other posters. The last two questions were loaded, as the options are not mutually exclusive. But otherwise it was ok.

 

[triumphguy]

I agree Questions 4 and 5 are not good questions, therefore I couldn’t complete the survey.

 

[mikeywestside]

Hi, sorry about the last two questions, I’ve altered them slightly so that they are more easily distinguishable.

"4. Do you believe that children should adopt the beliefs of their parents?

Yes, children should carry on the beliefs of their parents

No, children should develop their own understandings of religion first"

"5. Would you, or have you Baptise/Baptised your own children?

Yes, I would/have Baptise/Baptised my own children

No, I wish to wait until my children are older"

 

[triumphguy]

I’m sorry, but children always adopt the

• language
• culture
• traditions
• food preferences
• mannerisms
• habits

of their parents.

In their teens they tend to reject them - even language - try understanding the lyrics of a rap song if you are in your 50s.

Also, AS Catholics are we going to say, “Oh, no, Kids shouldn’t grow up Catholic”?

 

[Porknpie]

Hi, I’m a Religious Studies student writing a report on Baptism in the Catholic Church. The survey is anonymous and will only take a minute. The survey is purely for educational purposes.

Please take a minute to complete this 5 question multiple choice survey.
surveymonkey.com/s/Z982T83

Thankyou.

I didn’t answer the survey.

We ought to follow what Jesus taught his apostles and what the apostles taught their descendants. What Jesus taught and what the Church has believed since the death of Christ is infant baptism. This is what is reflected in scripture. Even before the Catholic Church compiled the books in the bible in the late 4th century, the Church wrote about infant baptism.

“For this reason, moreover, the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants too.” Origen, Homily on Romans, V:9 (A.D. 244).

Think about it… the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants.

“Baptism is given for the remission of sins; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous.” Origen, Homily on Leviticus, 8:3 (post A.D. 244).

“But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day…And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism…we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…” Cyprian, To Fidus, Epistle 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).

I would rewrite the survey

Are you Catholic

1. Yes
2. No

Should one follow the teachings of the apostles (who were taught by Christ)?

1. Yes
2. No

If you answered #2) above, should one follow a man-made doctrine instead, not found in the early Church?

1. Yes
2. No

On Infant Baptism, should I listen to my local Pastor or Origen?

1. Local Pastor
2. Origen

Are infants members of a “Household”

1. Yes
2. No

If you answered #2) above, what are they members of
Open ended / fill in the blank ]

Have to understand that the debate in the early Church of when to baptize infants was whether to it on the day of birth OR on the 8th day, in keeping with the custom of circumcision. The early Church did not baptize, waiting until the age of reason. This is totally man-made, not taught by Christ to the apostles and not reflected in the bible.

"But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day…And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism…we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…" Cyprian, To Fidus, Epistle 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).

 

[Allegra]

Hi, sorry about the last two questions, I’ve altered them slightly so that they are more easily distinguishable.

"4. Do you believe that children should adopt the beliefs of their parents?

Yes, children should carry on the beliefs of their parents

No, children should develop their own understandings of religion first"

"5. Would you, or have you Baptise/Baptised your own children?

Yes, I would/have Baptise/Baptised my own children

No, I wish to wait until my children are older"

The answers to 4 are still not mutually exclusive. The second option assumes that a child that deveops their own understandings will certainly come to a different conclusion than that of their own parents. The reality of the situation is that whether or not a child ultimately adopts the beliefs of their parents, unless they are completly braindead, it will happen after they develop their own understandings (or misunderstandings). Either way, it hasn’t much to do with the decision to Baptize a child.

 

[Allegra]

I didn’t answer the survey.

We ought to follow what Jesus taught his apostles and what the apostles taught their descendants. What Jesus taught and what the Church has believed since the death of Christ is infant baptism. This is what is reflected in scripture. Even before the Catholic Church compiled the books in the bible in the late 4th century, the Church wrote about infant baptism.

“For this reason, moreover, the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants too.” Origen, Homily on Romans, V:9 (A.D. 244).

Think about it… the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants.

“Baptism is given for the remission of sins; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous.” Origen, Homily on Leviticus, 8:3 (post A.D. 244).

“But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day…And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism…we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…” Cyprian, To Fidus, Epistle 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).

I would rewrite the survey

Are you Catholic

1. Yes
2. No

Should one follow the teachings of the apostles (who were taught by Christ)?

1. Yes
2. No

If you answered #2) above, should one follow a man-made doctrine instead, not found in the early Church?

1. Yes
2. No

On Infant Baptism, should I listen to my local Pastor or Origen?

1. Local Pastor
2. Origen

Are infants members of a “Household”

1. Yes
2. No

If you answered #2) above, what are they members of
Open ended / fill in the blank ]

Have to understand that the debate in the early Church of when to baptize infants was whether to it on the day of birth OR on the 8th day, in keeping with the custom of circumcision. The early Church did not baptize, waiting until the age of reason. This is totally man-made, not taught by Christ to the apostles and not reflected in the bible.

"But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day…And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism…we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…" Cyprian, To Fidus, Epistle 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).

Hee hee. I think I’ll rewrite question four;

a) I believe children should be beaten and tortured out of their own self will so that they will never question anything I teach them.
b) I think parents have a responsibility to teach their children their faith and to require adherance to that faith while said children are under their roof.
c) I intend to let my children rot spiritually and will toss them into the world with no spiritual guidance whatsoever. That’s the only way their beliefs will be truely authentic.

Psst! The right answer is B.

 

[RoseMary131]

Hi, sorry about the last two questions, I’ve altered them slightly so that they are more easily distinguishable.

"4. Do you believe that children should adopt the beliefs of their parents?

Yes, children should carry on the beliefs of their parents

No, children should develop their own understandings of religion first"

"5. Would you, or have you Baptise/Baptised your own children?

Yes, I would/have Baptise/Baptised my own children

No, I wish to wait until my children are older"

A practicing Catholic will totally bring their child into their family. The family will provide for all of the child’s need… love, food, clothing, shelter, faith.

People are mind, body, and soul. A practicing Catholic parent would not forget to nourish the soul of the child.

Most parents who practice any faith will nourish the child’s soul as taught by their faith.

A practicing Catholic understands the teachings of the Catholic Church to nourish the child’s soul through Baptism and raising them daily in the Faith.

A practicing Protestant whose denomination does not practice Infant/child Baptism is going to nourish the child’s soul through the practice of raising them daily in the Faith and encouraging them to be baptized at the age that denomination allows for baptism.

Maybe your question is…

Does your faith practice Infant/child Baptism?

Do you practice your Faith and bring your infant/child for Baptism?

If no, are there other things in your faith that you also do not practice?

If your faith does not practice Infant/child Baptism, do you practice your faith and wait until the age your faith does accept one for Baptism?

 

[triumphguy]

Hi, I’m a Religious Studies student writing a report on Baptism in the Catholic Church. The survey is anonymous and will only take a minute. The survey is purely for educational purposes.

Please take a minute to complete this 5 question multiple choice survey.
surveymonkey.com/s/Z982T83

Thankyou.

The problem is that a (biased) survey like this could be used to make the totally unfounded point that " most Catholics don’t want their children to have free will…" or some such nonsense.

(Infant) Baptism is not about choice it’s about acceptance and belonging.

 

[styrgwillidar]

The problem is that a (biased) survey like this could be used to make the totally unfounded point that " most Catholics don’t want their children to have free will…" or some such nonsense.

(Infant) Baptism is not about choice it’s about acceptance and belonging.

Well, it really is about whether baptism is a necessary step for salvation. If it is a sacrament wherein the grace of God removes the stain of original sin from the soul. If it is, then one should be baptized as early as possible. The first christians baptized infants for this reason- there was no benefit to delaying baptism and it was seen that the child’s soul was at risk until it was done.

In approximately A.D. 251 this issue was addressed by a council of 66 bishops. St. Cyrprian passed the decision of the council:

“… As to what pertains to the case of infants: you said that they ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the old law of circumcision must be taken into consideration, and that you did not think that one should be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day after his birth. In our council it seemed to us far otherwise. No one agreed to the course which you thought should be taken. Rather, we all judged that the mercy and grace of God ought to be denied to no man born.”

Note, it was controversial to propose delaying the baptism until just eight days after birth. Just eight days, not years. The earliest Christians baptized within a couple of days after birth.

Whatever course or beliefs the child eventually comes to hold is irrelevant. Baptism for Catholics is not just a ceremony, it is a sacrament with effects on the soul of the infant necessary for salvation. This has nothing to do with whether the child ultimately decides to follow the Catholic faith in the future, or what the parents believe the child should be free to do in terms of following their conscience. This is about Catholics doing the best thing for their children in accordance with the teachings of the Church and its practices from its earliest foundation.

ETA:
"1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”

“1231 Where infant Baptism has become the form in which this sacrament is usually celebrated, it has become a single act encapsulating the preparatory stages of Christian initiation in a very abridged way. By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate. Not only is there a need for instruction after Baptism, but also for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth. The catechism has its proper place here.”

Baptism does not make one Catholic, it also requires education in the faith and its acceptance as an adult. Hence, while I have educated my children in the faith and required them to fullfill all the requirements to be confirmed, it is up to them whether they become confirmed or not. Our church will not allow a child to participate in confirmation who indicates they do not want to be confirmed in the faith.

 

[RoseMary131]

All children have free will to follow or not follow any faith or no faith.

Having been Baptized as an infant does not take away the child’s ability or free will to decide at a later date to no longer follow the faith. There are many who were baptized and no longer practice the Catholic faith.

The questions in this survey are worded with bias choices.

 

[RoseMary131]

Hi, I’m a Religious Studies student writing a report on Baptism in the Catholic Church. The survey is anonymous and will only take a minute. The survey is purely for educational purposes.

Are you a high school student or college student (Undergrad or Grad)?

Where did you get your other information for your report on Baptism in the Catholic Church?

Were you Baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church?

 

[PaulGH]

I completed the survey, but I agree that question #4 is somewhat loaded, though probably not intentionally. One problem is that no distinction is made as to what the beliefs of the parents are. Is it asking only about Catholic parents teaching their beliefs to their children, or does it include **any **kind of religious belief that a parent might teach to a child? For me, the answer to the question depends in part on how correct the parents’ beliefs are.

 

[Gullveig]

You might want to reconsider your survey design, OP. I’m assuming that you’re an undergrad and haven’t had any courses on good research design yet, but surveys can be tough to balance against bias.

Here are some suggestions that might get you less biased outcomes:

1. If you are only giving people a chance to choose yes or no, remove the “statements” from the answers. If you have phrased the question clearly to start with, you shouldn’t need them.
2. Consider changing some of your questions from yes or no questions to something like a 5-point Likert scale. You are more likely to get a more meaningful spread of opinions that way.

Here is how I would have put your survey together if it was me:

1) Do you consider yourself to be a practicing Catholic?
(a) Yes, I am currently a practicing Catholic.
(b) No, but I have been a practicing Catholic at some point in the past.
(c) No, I am not currently a practicing Catholic and I never have been.

2) Were you baptized in the Catholic Church?
(a) Yes, my parents or another guardian arranged for me to be baptized when I was a child.
(b) Yes, I chose to be baptized.
(c) No, but I was baptized in another Christian denomination either as a child or as an adult.
(d) No, I have not been baptized.

3) I believe that baptism is a symbol that a person accepts the Christian faith.
(a) Strongly Agree
(b) Somewhat Agree
(c) Neutral
(d) Somewhat Disagree
(e) Strongly Disagree

4) I do not believe that there is a real difference between choosing to be baptized as an adult and being baptized as a small child in the Catholic Church
(a) Strongly Agree
(b) Somewhat Agree
(c) Neutral
(d) Somewhat Disagree
(e) Strongly Disagree

5) I would like to have my children baptized in the Catholic church as infants if possible.
(a) Strongly Agree
(b) Somewhat Agree
(c) Neutral
(d) Somewhat Disagree
(e) Strongly Disagree

6) I think it is important for parents to raise their children in their faith.
(a) Strongly Agree
(b) Somewhat Agree
(c) Neutral
(d) Somewhat Disagree
(e) Strongly Disagree

And maybe a few other questions, depending on what it is that you’re actually trying to find out. Then you can do some simple statistical analysis to see, for instance, if people who agree with #3 are more likely to respond to #5 in a certain way, and compare that with the answers to #1 & 2. You want to be able to capture some of the fine meanings of what people are saying when they answer yes or no and not prime people towards a specific response.

Also, you have neglected to collect demographic data. May the gods shield you from the wrath of my old human research design professor if she ever found out.