Most Protestants accept two sacraments, baptism and Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Baptists, however, do not believe in baptizing babies, as many other churches do. They feel that only people who are old enough to understand and accept their faith should receive the sacrament. Baptists also feel that people being baptized should be immersed, or plunged into water. In other churches the person being baptized may only have a little water poured or sprinkled over them.
Like other Christians, Baptists believe in the Trinity (meaning the three). This is the idea that three figures are united in one God: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Along with other Protestants they also believe that people are saved by having faith in God, not because of anything they do. They also see the Bible as the only guide to belief and practice. Baptists believe strongly in the separation of church and state. They think that the government should not have a say in how people practice religion.
