So who exactly would qualify for this, then? If I understand you, you're saying it'd be a person who has never had the chance to become a Mormon, but wants to become one, but for whatever reason can't do it, but makes it clear he WANTS to do it, but never gets the chance, so his family has him baptized after he dies?

That about it? Just trying to be clear here.

We can't communicate with the dead. So we do baptism for the dead for all of our ancestors and let them decide whether they want it or not.

These people can be your great-great grandpa, or the king of France in 1678. We think everyone deserves the chance.

Again, no one is forced to accept it. We believe many many people refuse it, and that's fine. We just want them to have the opportunity.

So this is like, if I'm dead in the year 8352 and my ancestors on Alpha Centauri A baptize me into the Triple Headed Cow Cult or whatever, I can be like, "No thanks, guys, I'm good,"?

Isn't a baptism supposed to be a commitment?

That's why there's baptism during life, and Confirmation for Catholics. You only get one chance to decide what religion to be part of, and that's the one you're part of when you're alive.

I guess as far as the Catholic Church is concerned the after-death baptisms are meaningless. It all comes down to what religion you believe in. Naturally the Catholics are going to abide by Catholic ritual and reject anything they see as being untrue.

And doesn't everyone reject anything they see as untrue?

Well,

1. They voiced their rejection 150 years after the fact and

2. Their rejection comes in the form of disallowing Mormons from researching their own ancestors in parish records.

3. I'm not sure the media is sensationalizing anything. It is a fairly surprising development. See Point 1.

my avatar would like a word with you

he would actually just probably stab you to death

You're right there, I've seen nothing but drama from this guy since he got into the Vatican.
I think it's a good thing that he's trying to deal with modern issues, and is not afraid to voice his beliefs. It's just a lot of people (myself included) don't agree with his beliefs.


As for the whole after death baptism thing I'm not sure what to think. I mean there is a whole lot of time between when you die and judgement day, so a person's soul has a lot of time to decide what to believe, if you want to think of it that way. But then again, time has no meaning when you're dead.
My church tells me to reject things like this, and also Catholic things such as prayers for the dead, because it's not mentioned in the bible. But the bible never says not to do it either so I think it might be ok.

The one issue I have is this: Say there are two twins. They are exactly the same in every way. Both die, both are not Mormons. One gets baptised after death and the other does not. So if you believe in Mormon teachings and whatever, would only the one who got baptised be saved?
That seems a little unfair. Salvation is supposed to depend on a person's own decisions not those of others.

You're right there, I've seen nothing but drama from this guy since he got into the Vatican.
I think it's a good thing that he's trying to deal with modern issues, and is not afraid to voice his beliefs. It's just a lot of people (myself included) don't agree with his beliefs.


As for the whole after death baptism thing I'm not sure what to think. I mean there is a whole lot of time between when you die and judgement day, so a person's soul has a lot of time to decide what to believe, if you want to think of it that way. But then again, time has no meaning when you're dead.
My church tells me to reject things like this, and also Catholic things such as prayers for the dead, because it's not mentioned in the bible. But the bible never says not to do it either so I think it might be ok.

The one issue I have is this: Say there are two twins. They are exactly the same in every way. Both die, both are not Mormons. One gets baptised after death and the other does not. So if you believe in Mormon teachings and whatever, would only the one who got baptised be saved?
That seems a little unfair. Salvation is supposed to depend on a person's own decisions not those of others.

The one issue I have is this: Say there are two twins. They are exactly the same in every way. Both die, both are not Mormons. One gets baptised after death and the other does not. So if you believe in Mormon teachings and whatever, would only the one who got baptised be saved?
That seems a little unfair. Salvation is supposed to depend on a person's own decisions not those of others.

Everyone will have the opportunity. Every single person who has been born will get a shot at baptism.

To God, every soul is precious. Salvation is individual. Everyone makes their own choice, everyone does their own work. On earth, we must be baptized one at a time... that extends to people who have passed on, as well.

This Triple-Headed Cow Cult sounds interesting. Can someone send me some literature?

We're a cult apparently. All hail our Cow headed god with one thousand arms, Cesnoctelopes

That seems a little unfair. Salvation is supposed to depend on a person's own decisions not those of others.

Everyone will have the opportunity. Every single person who has been born will get a shot at baptism.

^ Very true. I wouldn't want it to be fair either...

he would actually just probably stab you to death

Why not?

Also, Baptists are pretty much Catholics that disagree with the Church. They're more dedicated to Christ than Protestants, but they... agh, hell with it, it's confusing.
Wait, we were talking about Baptism right?

Not meaning to be rude, but if everyone will eventually get a chance at baptism, why bother with post-death baptism at all?

Well, what I mean is, most Protestant religions... Puritans, etc., don't take Christianity as seriously as Baptists.

Biscuithead, wouldn't you rather God just forgave everybody automatically?