--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When my children were born, I didn't have…" description: "\"When my children were born, I didn't have them baptized because I felt baptism was about erasing Original Sin - something the Church said children got ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png" --- # When my children were born, I didn't have them baptized… ![“When my children were born, I didn't have them baptized because I felt baptism was about erasing Original Sin - something the Church said children got from their mother - and I absolutely refused to believe women carry Original Sin.” quote by Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png) > “When my children were born, I didn't have them baptized because I felt baptism was about erasing Original Sin - something the Church said children got from their mother - and I absolutely refused to believe women carry Original Sin.” [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She rejected baptism for her children because she opposed the doctrine that children inherit Original Sin from their mother. **In simple terms:** She refused baptism, denying inherited sin. Key Takeaway Question doctrine, uphold personal belief. Themes faith family doctrine personal autonomy Mood conflicted thoughtful Type personal theological When to use this quote - parenting - religious practice - church teachings - family decisions Key Concepts Original Sin baptism theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal belief with communal religious expectations? - What impact does rejecting doctrine have on family identity? A Different Perspective Some may argue tradition offers community and moral guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baptism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baptism/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Original sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-sin/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [“ The parson refused to believe the Apothecary could help, said the monster. When times were easy, the parson nearly destroyed the Apothecary, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/the-parson-refused-to-believe-the-apothecary-could-help-said-the/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [They were so ignorant, so naive, so resigned to their lot. They refused to believe anything that didn't fit in with what they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-were-so-ignorant-so-naive-so-resigned-to-their-lot-they-refused/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I refused to believe that love could take any other form than mine: I measured love by the extent of my jealousy, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/i-refused-to-believe-that-love-could-take-any-other-form-than-mine-i/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“He refused to believe in his own weaknesses, and with her he had not found a weakness to fit himself against.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-refused-to-believe-in-his-own-weaknesses-and-with-her-he-had-not/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“It had been three days, since I had seen the sun, or humans for that matter. I admit, I was sulking. And on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jannat-bhat/it-had-been-three-days-since-i-had-seen-the-sun-or-humans-for-that/) [Jannat Bhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jannat-bhat/) > [Never to read another book that was born and baptized (with ink) at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/never-to-read-another-book-that-was-born-and-baptized-with-ink-at-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“mk.16.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. mk.16.16 He that believeth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mk-16-15-and-he-said-unto-them-go-ye-into-all-the-world-and-preach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I taught what was clear in Acts 11:26: SAVED = CHRISTIAN = DISCIPLE, simply meaning that you cannot be saved and you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-mckean/i-taught-what-was-clear-in-acts-11-26-saved-christian-disciple-simply/) Kip McKean > [Church membership was so important that Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer into the membership of Christ's church at midnight with Paul's back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-adams/church-membership-was-so-important-that-paul-and-silas-baptized-the/) [Jay Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-adams/) > [“By all of your beauty I am so inspired. Your love has baptized me by fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/by-all-of-your-beauty-i-am-so-inspired-your-love-has-baptized-me-by/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist, he did so not because he was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-jesus-stepped-into-the-waters-of-the-jordan-and-was-baptized-by/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I was baptized a Baptist, but I'm just Christian, as far as I'm concerned. I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I don't want to say I drank the Kool-Aid because I'm definitely not religious and I don't buy into any religion at all. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/i-don-t-want-to-say-i-drank-the-kool-aid-because-i-m-definitely-not/) [Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/) > [If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/if-i-was-to-ask-you-tonight-if-you-were-saved-do-you-say-yes-i-am/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Olympia Dukakis > [My husband is a fall-away Catholic, but with a vengeance. He's actually more of a feminist than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/my-husband-is-a-fall-away-catholic-but-with-a-vengeance-he-s-actually/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [So I constantly play women who are damaged and out of touch, who are seeking without knowing, or knowing without the skills to transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/so-i-constantly-play-women-who-are-damaged-and-out-of-touch-who-are/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [I think it's because most of us talk one way and live another. There are a few people who truly, truly walk the talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-talk-one-way-and-live-another-there/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [“Rhythm of life runs in cycles there are times in the darkness and time in the light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/rhythm-of-life-runs-in-cycles-there-are-times-in-the-darkness-and/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [Follow your heart, your instincts. People might try to dissuade you from your passion, but no one can live your life but you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/follow-your-heart-your-instincts-people-might-try-to-dissuade-you/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [Sometimes I feel as if four thousand years of silencing women, of the fear of women who were burned in oil or eviscerated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/sometimes-i-feel-as-if-four-thousand-years-of-silencing-women-of-the/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [Stories about the ongoing dramas in our lives as we age are not being told because women find it difficult to be honest about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/stories-about-the-ongoing-dramas-in-our-lives-as-we-age-are-not-being/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [What you don't know about women is alot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/what-you-don-t-know-about-women-is-alot/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [Thankfully, it became clear to me that when I compete, I lose my connection to the passion I have for my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/thankfully-it-became-clear-to-me-that-when-i-compete-i-lose-my/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [Most of us are not real eager to grow, myself included. We try to be happy by staying in the status quo. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/most-of-us-are-not-real-eager-to-grow-myself-included-we-try-to-be/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [God is not something I think about but something I experience as an energy, a Presence. I do find it easier to pray to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/god-is-not-something-i-think-about-but-something-i-experience-as-an/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [You don't stay married for thirty-nine years because of sex or even because of love, but because your partner is a real friend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/you-don-t-stay-married-for-thirty-nine-years-because-of-sex-or-even/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [Winning is everything in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/winning-is-everything-in-hollywood/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [I talk to women's groups all over the country and see women struggling with this. The fear of not being accepted, of being different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/i-talk-to-women-s-groups-all-over-the-country-and-see-women/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) > [When I was a kid, I'd kneel down at the side of my bed every night before I went to sleep, and my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/when-i-was-a-kid-i-d-kneel-down-at-the-side-of-my-bed-every-night/) [Olympia Dukakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) [Explore all 22 Olympia Dukakis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/) ## More Baptism quotes > [“Baptism is a symbolic narrative not only of incorporation into Christ but also of ongoing life in Christ. Although a once-for-all death to sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-gorman/baptism-is-a-symbolic-narrative-not-only-of-incorporation-into-christ/) [Michael J. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-gorman/) > [Men can be attracted but not forced to the faith. You may drive people to baptism, (but) you won't move them one step further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcuin/men-can-be-attracted-but-not-forced-to-the-faith-you-may-drive-people/) [Alcuin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcuin/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. So, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/wicked-sons-do-not-have-the-holy-ghost-in-the-same-way-as-do-beloved/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [It is this one Spirit who makes it possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that infant is brought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/it-is-this-one-spirit-who-makes-it-possible-for-an-infant-to-be/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Each restorational advancement of the Army of the Lord has established denominational forts that are given responsibility to maintain the purity and power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hamon/each-restorational-advancement-of-the-army-of-the-lord-has/) [Bill Hamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hamon/) > [True greatness,true leadership,is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. True service is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/true-greatness-true-leadership-is-found-in-giving-yourself-in-service/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins is an essential covenant to make with the Lord. Faith and repentance precede this ordinance. Confirmation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-theodore-tuttle/baptism-by-immersion-for-the-remission-of-sins-is-an-essential/) [A. Theodore Tuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-theodore-tuttle/) > [Knowing that there is one Baptism, we who hold the head and root of the One Church know for certain that to him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/knowing-that-there-is-one-baptism-we-who-hold-the-head-and-root-of/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [I know that with consecration on the part of believers, separation from the world, disentanglement from enslaving sins, and a mighty baptism of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/i-know-that-with-consecration-on-the-part-of-believers-separation/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [I respect journalism. I was always very aware of journalism from a very broad point of view, but I'd say my baptism by fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-arcy/i-respect-journalism-i-was-always-very-aware-of-journalism-from-a/) [James D'arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-arcy/) > [I taught what was clear in Acts 11:26: SAVED = CHRISTIAN = DISCIPLE, simply meaning that you cannot be saved and you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-mckean/i-taught-what-was-clear-in-acts-11-26-saved-christian-disciple-simply/) Kip McKean > [Any investigator worthy of baptism becomes a convert worthy of saving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/any-investigator-worthy-of-baptism-becomes-a-convert-worthy-of-saving/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Baptize first the children; and if they can speak for themselves, let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolytus-of-rome/baptize-first-the-children-and-if-they-can-speak-for-themselves-let/) Hippolytus of Rome > [“The Second Council of Mileve (416) anath ematized all "who deny that new-born infants should be baptized immediately after birth." n The Tridentine Council…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/the-second-council-of-mileve-416-anath-ematized-all-who-deny-that-new/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/origen/the-church-received-from-the-apostles-the-tradition-of-giving-baptism/) [Origen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/origen/) [Browse all 314 Baptism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baptism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When my children were born, I didn't have them baptized because I felt baptism was about erasing Original Sin - something the Church said children got from their mother - and I absolutely refused to believe women carry Original Sin.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Olympia Dukakis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have-them-baptized-because-i-felt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baptism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have-them-baptized-because-i-felt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9c/olympia-dukakis-26257_baptism_when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have_1602122.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When my children were born, I didn't have them baptized because I felt baptism was about erasing Original…” — Olympia Dukakis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Olympia Dukakis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-dukakis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When my children were born, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have-them-baptized-because-i-felt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-dukakis/when-my-children-were-born-i-didn-t-have-them-baptized-because-i-felt/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```