Changes

With baptism, the individual acquires authority to determine matters of religion and [[faith]] for himself, or as part of a local congregation of believers. Although each Baptist is free to define his own beliefs, a revised collection of common principles held by Baptists was set forth by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.<ref>http://www.sbc.net/bfm/</ref>

With baptism, the individual acquires authority to determine matters of religion and [[faith]] for himself, or as part of a local congregation of believers. Although each Baptist is free to define his own beliefs, a revised collection of common principles held by Baptists was set forth by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.<ref>http://www.sbc.net/bfm/</ref>

Baptists differ from many Christian denominations doctrinally. The most obvious difference is that Baptists reject infant baptism, and instead practice "Believer's Baptism", the belief that only born-again believers, old enough to understand what it means to become a Christian, are eligible baptism candidates. In practice, children are baptized at the age of 5 to 10.<ref>see Strategic Information and Planning Section, ''2001 Annual Church Profile Statistics:

Baptists differ from many Christian denominations doctrinally. The most obvious difference is that Baptists reject [[infant baptism]], and instead practice "Believer's Baptism", the belief that only born-again believers, old enough to understand what it means to become a Christian, are eligible baptism candidates. In practice, children are baptized at the age of 5 to 10.<ref>see Strategic Information and Planning Section, ''2001 Annual Church Profile Statistics:

Number of Baptisms by Age Divisions'' (Nashville: LifeWay Christian Resources, April 22, 2002).</ref>  This belief in "adult" baptism is also held by some other prominent Protestant churches (such as the Churches of Christ and Pentecostal denominations), although the baptism of infants is customary in such Protestant bodies as the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Lutheran churches.  

Number of Baptisms by Age Divisions'' (Nashville: LifeWay Christian Resources, April 22, 2002).</ref>  This belief in "adult" baptism is also held by some other prominent Protestant churches (such as the Churches of Christ and Pentecostal denominations), although the baptism of infants is customary in such Protestant bodies as the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Lutheran churches.