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

jillie1974

Limbo - is not going to heaven and not going to hell, but in between. many RC children were christened within weeks if not days of birth so this didnt happen although the vatican have said in recent years that this 'limbo' does not exist anymore.

shelly

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.

Hubby and I don't go to church but we got married in one because I personally wouldn't have felt properly married if we had got married somewhere other than a church.
Does that make sense? I can't really explain it.

lab-lover

jillie1974 wrote: »

Limbo - is not going to heaven and not going to hell, but in between. many RC children were christened within weeks if not days of birth so this didnt happen although the vatican have said in recent years that this 'limbo' does not exist anymore.

Oh, Ok - thanks for explaination. Makes sense, if you are a believer. xx

lab-lover

searching me - pleased to hear Iam not the only one who gets freaked out by churches, was thinking summit wrong with me.

shimmershelly

I do have faith but haven't had my kids christened because I honestly don't know any one with any religion I could consider to be their godparents. I think to stand up and say "I believe and trust in god" when you obviously don't is hypocritical.
I think lots of people do tend to do it for the party more than anything else these days (sorry to generalise).
Much better to have a naming ceremony instead.

iwanttosave_2

Neither of mine are Christened, I don't believe in God so I'm not going to subscribe my kids to a religion I don't follow. Once they're old enough I'll support them fully if they want to be a Christian, Budist or Jedi if they find it's what they want to follow.

I think too many people do do it for the presents and the knee's up but there are other ways to do that without bringing religion in to it.

As for weddings, I think its just for the pretty church on the photos, although I have come across "cos its not a proper wedding if its not in a Church is it" on some wedding boards.

tiamai_d

DH was christened and is from a very christian family, but is a non beleiver. Goes to church only as part of his role within the boys brigade.

I had meningitis when I was born and the hospital tried to have me christened as they didn't think I'd make it. My mum refused (she was also unmarried so it went down well) she was of the view that any God who refused a baby entry to heaven for not having been christened was no god she believed in . I view myself as pagan if anything.

Neither my boys were christened, nor will the lil lady be. They can chose their own religion at any time, but it's not for me to decide.

We were also married in a registery office

LouBlue

shelly wrote: »

Hubby and I don't go to church but we got married in one because I personally wouldn't have felt properly married if we had got married somewhere other than a church.
Does that make sense? I can't really explain it.

Not really, but each to their own.

JCP

Can't say I get it either. My attendance at various churches is strictly marriages and deaths only, and that is out of respect for the people involved in those ceremonies. I don't do christenings, even for my nearest and dearest.
I turned down the invitation to be a godmother to my niece a few years ago on the basis that I thought it would be hypocritical cos I didn't believe in God. My brother got a bit bent out of shape over that for a while, but hey, he got over it.

money_maker_3

We gave DD a naming ceremony in the church rather than being christened. My mum is a regular church attender and although me and OH are from different religious backgrounds, we decided that we would have her named in the church and have a blessing in the chapel.
Some of this was to do with parents (OHs mum is a strict catholic !!) but as it was a naming ceremony, I did not have to say that I would bring her up in the eyes of God, just that I would inform her of the ways of God, which I am happy to do.