36. Baptism is Central to Anabaptists
The Anabaptist denomination began about the same time as the Protestant Reformation, a period of intense conflict between the Catholic church and those who opposed its teachings and corrupt practices. The Anabaptists believed that true baptism must be preceded by faith in Jesus Christ, something that an infant cannot profess. Therefore, the Anabaptists did not baptize infants. “Anabaptist” literally means “baptize again,” as many were baptized for a second time, this time as believing adults rather than infants.
