Is faith given to babies at Baptism?

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Holly3278

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Hey everyone. I am on a different forum site debating others. Some people are saying that babies are born as Atheists. Well, I believe that the Church teaches that the gift of faith is given to babies at baptism. Am I right? If so, where in the Catechism or other Church documents can I find this? Thanks!
 
Absolutely!

The gifts of faith, hope & love are conferred into our hearts at Baptism as well as the indelible mark of God, receiving us into His Church.

However, our understanding of the faith given as baptism is different in a sense to the faith of a believing, mature, adult.

We receive Jesus into our hearts at baptism - who is the ultimate faithful man and this gift is, in a baby, a tendency towards faith in Jesus and God as he or she grows up rather than the consenting belief (of which a baby is obviously incapable.)

In simplest terms, baptism is a wonderful thing. As well as receiving the Trinity into our hearts, it gives our sons & daughters an affection and a tendency towards the good and holy things of this life. A temptation to do good, if you like.
 
The above is more of an answer to a Catholic to help us appreciate what a wonderful thing Baptism is.

In the more specific context of “Are we born atheistic or with faith?” I think the answer is quite simple. Neither. A baby neither believes in God nor disbelieves in Him, on a conscious level at least. So, the baby’s mind is neither Atheistic nor Christian.

Any discussion around what a baby “believes” or “doesn’t believe” is mostly going to devolve into a certain ridiculousness of us imposing our own ideas onto them.

If their line of argument consists of “A baby doesn’t believe in its Father in heaven when it’s born, that’s something the evil Christians poison its mind with after” I would counter with “Well, most babies don’t even believe in their Fathers on Earth at this point!” - or at least have a particular conscious knowledge of them until they grow and understand more.

To go on the offensive I would point out the nearly universal human tendency throughout history to believe in God.

Every society in history has had some form of farming, hunting or gathering. From this widespread collection and even enthusiasm for food we would rightfully conclude that human beings are in need of sustenance and food.

Every society in history has had some form of religion, god or belief. From this widespread collection and even enthusiasm for belief we would rightfully conclude that human beings are in need of spiritual sustenance and food.
 
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