Final answer:
Traditional Christian denominations believe God's will is behind infant baptism as a sign of inclusion in the grace covenant and as a ritual for cleansing original sin, in contrast to Anabaptists who advocate adult baptism.
Step-by-step explanation:
God's sovereign covenanting will is understood to be behind the practice of infant baptism predominantly among groups that hold to traditional Christian infant baptism practices. These include various mainstream Christian denominations such as Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and some Methodist churches. The belief is that baptism, whether as an infant or adult, signifies the individual's inclusion in the covenant of grace and the community of believers, and also cleanses them from original sin, the transgression of Adam and Eve. In contrast, Anabaptist movements like the Swiss Brethren reject infant baptism on the basis that only adults can consciously declare their faith and renounce sin. Historically, most Christians have tried to have their newborns baptized promptly due to high infant mortality rates and concerns about original sin. While ritual practices such as baptism have Jewish roots and are distinct from ancient Mystery cults, some early Christian writers like Tertullian did engage with and refute parallels drawn by contemporaries who noted similarities between Christian and pagan rituals.