Why baptism is fucked

For background information, please see the Catechism of the Catholic Church as attached. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm


Also, please note that in addition to Catholic Christians, the Orthodox Christians as well as many mainline (non evangelical) protestant denominations such as Anglicans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, though not all groups baptize infants for the same reasons.

Your view as stated in the OP appears to be dependent on the premise that Baptism is merely an initiation rite into an arbitrary religion, as well as that all religions have exactly the same effect and it doesn’t matter which one a person belongs to. To the Catholic Christian however, Baptism is understood to provide actual graces. Forgoing Baptism would be akin to forgoing vaccines because the parent wants the child to decide when they grow up.

That being said, is a baby who isn’t Baptized banished to hell? There isn’t a revelation on where infants would go, but considering they had not committed any personal sin, there is reasonable assurance that no they are not going to hell. Historically, there has been speculation that they could be in a limbo, a natural (as opposed to supernatural paradise), but that has always been speculation and there is no definitive basis for that. Modern understanding would indicate as they had not yet made a free will decision to turn from God that they likely attain Heaven.

As to the thought that children should grow and pick what they want (implying it doesn’t matter), it is true that there’s plenty of overlap, particularly in present day religions. Billions believe in a monotheistic God even though they disagree on particulars (Judaism, Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant), and Islam are three major ones), most rally against the unjust treatment of people, and so on. Objectively, there is a correct answer. Either one group (which could include Athiests) are correct, one group is very close, or a yet undiscovered view is correct. Christians, especially the majority which are represented by the Catholic and Orthodox denominations, have almost two thousand years of research, history, philosophy, and knowledge passed down to make a strong case for their argument. There are numerous Apologetic resources that discuss the cases, building a case that is reasonable, not just an “I believe” statement.

 

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P29.HTM

Please see paragraphs 846-848 in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). It’s more than a rare exception. Simplified, it accounts for everyone who hasn’t made a free will decision to reject the Gospel that God can choose to save them anyway, provided they respond to Him as they know Him. A good example would be that island off of India where the evangelist was killed in the last year. As they have no contact with outsiders, it wouldn’t really make sense for them to have a full understanding of all of Christianity. Infants (especially those lost to abortion) would also qualify. At the end of the day, it’s God’s decision at final judgment, and biblically and as taught, God doesn’t judge us on what we don’t know. But for what we do know and we don’t repent and align ourselves, the sin remains, so we will be held accountable for that.