You've asked about how a baby's religion is determined in different faiths, focusing on a few key methods. Here's a breakdown of the practices in major religions.
Judaism is a unique case in that it traditionally assigns Jewish identity to a child through the mother. This is a central tenet of Halakha (Jewish law) for Orthodox and Conservative Judaism. 👩👧
Matrilineal Descent: According to this principle, a person is considered Jewish at birth if their mother is Jewish. This rule is often cited as a way to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people, as the identity of the mother is always certain.
Patrilineal Descent: In contrast, some more liberal movements, such as Reform Judaism, accept that a child can be Jewish if either parent is Jewish, as long as the child is raised with a Jewish identity.
While Judaism is distinct in its use of the maternal line, other religions often follow the paternal line or, more commonly, don't use a strict descent model at all.
Islam: A child is typically considered Muslim if their father is Muslim. 🧔♂️
Christianity: This faith does not generally follow a strict rule of descent from either parent. A child isn't automatically considered Christian by birth. Instead, a person becomes a Christian through a conscious decision or a formal rite of initiation.
Many major religions use formal ceremonies to welcome new members, often as babies or young children, rather than relying on birthright alone.
Christianity: Baptism is a central rite in many Christian denominations, symbolizing an individual's entry into the faith. 💧
Some denominations, like Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, practice infant baptism (christening), where a baby is baptized, and the parents and godparents make a commitment to raise the child in the faith.
Other denominations, such as Baptists, practice believer's baptism, where a person is only baptized after they are old enough to make a personal declaration of faith.
Islam: While a child of a Muslim father is considered Muslim, there's no formal "swearing in" ceremony like baptism. Instead, children are raised within the faith, and their identity is reaffirmed as they grow up.
Sikhism: There is no specific infant ceremony that "assigns" a child's religion. Rather, a child is welcomed into the community through a naming ceremony called "Naam Karan." A formal commitment to the faith is made later in life through the "Amrit Sanchar" ceremony.
Hinduism: Hinduism is a diverse religion with no central authority, and there is no single ceremony that "assigns" a child's religion. A baby is considered to be of the same religion as their parents and is introduced to the faith through family and community life.