Christening when you don't believe in God??!!

MX5huggy

My parents go to church all the time they but did not have me christened. They say it would have been presumptuous of them to presume I was a christian, there is no way of knowing a 1yr olds religion.

MsChazzer

What interesting lunchtime reading! I'm an atheist, from an atheist family so not christened and no pressure be involved in any kind of religious activity (and I'm from Scotland and Yorkshire, so 'up north').

I'm getting married in a couple of weeks and it would never occur to me to even consider a church wedding (we're having a humanist ceremony, these are legally recognised in Scotland). For one thing, I don't feel that I would be properly married as the promises made at church weddings I have attended have included references to God within them, so I feel that if you don't believe you're can't really make those vows and promises. Plus, as another poster said, it would feel disrespectful towards people who do believe.

Someone mentioned debaptism, the National Secular Society have more information about this. If you want to know more about why people might do this, they also have lots of letters and experiences from people who have done this. It's quite interesting reading, I originally thought it was a silly waste of time at first but then I was never christened in the first place.

lostinrates

margaretclare wrote: »

Anyone can believe anything when they are adult enough to do so. A sprinkling of water when you're a baby doesn't really do you any harm, especially if it is warm water poured into the font from a kettle, as it was at a baptism ceremony DH and I attended.

Spare a thought for someone who went through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision which, at 8 days, could be considered to be similar to Christian baptism of a baby.

No chance that a grown man can 'un-circumcise' himself!

Thats true, but there are reasons other than religion, and its not confined to Jews. My DH is of Jewish decent, if we had a son I would be happy to 'subject' him to circumcision. (OTH even if our cultural background were different I would NEVER submit girl to the equivlent). It might be relevant that my aethiest father of C of E decent is also crcumcised and so, incedently, by coincidence have all my partners been, so it is ''culturally'' familar to me.:o

Some one posted they were intrigued as to my earlier repsonce in this thread. I'd be happy to expand ...I'm just not sure what part of it was intriguing

ETA: A serious typo changing what I meant in the extreme!

galvanizersbaby

LouBlue wrote: »

I would be interested in any couples out there who did get married in church or had their baby christened but are not religious/don't go to church. What the reasons were, it intrigues me.

I think there's a number of reasons though none of them very intriguing (well not to me anway)

I didn't marry in a church as my ex HB was a roman catholic (non practising I might add) and we would have had to have marriage lessons etc,.. to marry in a catholic church and that way our marriage would be recognised by the church - so we picked a hotel.:p

I've been christened church of england although my parents weren't devout church goers - Mum told me it was the thing to do in those days - plus it helped entrance to church of england schools which were good in this area - my mum said it was up to me to make a choice re religion but it would be easier if I wanted to get married in a church.

We got both our children baptised in the RC faith as my ex HB's mother was a devout catholic and would probably have keeled over on the spot if we hadn't.
Also the RC schools round here are very good and we wanted to keep that avenue open as in the admission criteria they normally take children that have been baptised.

So I'll admit I'm hypocritical as was my mother, and I wanted the best for my kids schools wise and to give them as many options as poss

galvanizersbaby

lostinrates wrote: »

Thats true, but there are reasons other than religion, and its not confined to Jews. My DH is of Jewish decent, if we had a son I would be happy to 'subject' him to circumcision. (OTH even if our cultural background were different I would submit girl to the equivlent). It might be relevant that my aethiest father of C of E decent is also crcumcised and so, incedently, by coincidence have all my partners been, so it is ''culturally'' familar to me.:o

Some one posted they were intrigued as to my earlier repsonce in this thread. I'd be happy to expand ...I'm just not sure what part of it was intriguing

:eek:Isn't that barbaric though and also illegal in this country? or have I completely got the wrong end of the stick with what you are suggesting here?

lostinrates

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

:eek:Isn't that barbaric though and also illegal in this country? or have I completely got the wrong end of the stick with what you are suggesting here?

Yes, it was, and most certainly a typo I shall correct! Thank you!
i would NOT consider it for a girl even if it were culturally relevant, so I was highlighting a potential hypocracy of mine.

galvanizersbaby

lostinrates wrote: »

Yes, it was, and most certainly a typo I shall correct! Thank you!
i would NOT consider it for a girl even if it were culturally relevant, so I was highlighting a potential hypocracy of mine.

I thought you quite possibly meant the opposite of what you had posted!

Georgiabay

I'm not religious, married in a registry office and wouldn't dream of having my two kids christened.
I can't understand why non religious people having their children christened don't feel guilty promising to bring their children up in a certain way when they have no intention of doing so.

I personally think the CoE is too soft. If they are going to let people blatantly use it, it should at least charge them heavily for the privilege

YasMia

I am religous but my current partner isnt. I have 2 DD's, only youngest is current partner's.
My eldest was christned ( no party or gifts) and all her godparents are religous and I knew they would keep all there promises.

I'd love to have my youngest christened, her dad says he doesnt mind but I'm not sure how I feel. Also partners parents keep hinting his sister should be god mother but again she isnt religous.

I think his family just want it for the party but I've already made it clear if I do have her blessed there wont be any party and we don't expect gifts as that is not what the ceremony is about.

Rachie_B

I know many people who have their children christened, or get married in a church,attend church schools etc <sigh>

( inc some family members!) who are not in the slightest religious and even admit they do it because of the " do & presents" etc !!

Myself and my 2 siblings are not christened,our parents are not religious (though we did go to sunday school lol)

I am not religious,neither is my husband.We chose a lovely venue for our civil ceremony ( as did my sister) which can still be just as "big and nice" as a church wedding ,just ommiting the religious message / wording

We have 2 children that are not christened,if we have another child,I would like a civil naming ceremony

If i was asked to be a Godparent I would most definitely decline,as wouldn't get christened just to do so ( I know people who have done this also!)

I do like biblical names for children though ,does that make me hypocritical ?! lol