Christening/ baptism should I or shouldn't i?

Person_one

margaretclare wrote: »

The idea that 'they can decide for themselves when they're old enough' is fine just so long as they DO decide on something rather than nothing. Wasn't it Hilaire Belloc who said that 'when people stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything'. And that, in essence, is what's wrong in today's world. We have lost the 'moral compass' that we once had, the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule.

As someone pointed out in DT yesterday, you can rape your wife and beat your slaves without breaking any of the ten commandments.

OP, here's a great reason not to baptise your children, you wouldn't want them to end up as blinkered, obtuse and prejudiced as this poster would you?

The idea that all the world's problems are caused by atheists, my word!

Humphrey10

All the people I have ever met who call themselves 'christian' or 'muslem' or whatever have either been brainwashed into believing all that stuff by their parents, or are mentally ill so will believe anything, or have such unhappy lives that the only way they can survive is to delude themselves that when they die they will be happy (and it's much easier to just believe in a magical man in the sky than it is to sort their life out).
So get in quick with the baptism and brainwashing (I notice you are already taking them to church - good start!) before they are old enough to make their own minds up, or else you might not like what they decide.

Lotus-eater

An an atheist I would say that if you intend to bring them up as RC's and if you intend going to church with them and if you intend sending them to a RC school, then get them baptised.
If they decide in the future to not care about religion, then it won't matter an iota. If they decide they do, then it will help them.
I can't see the problem either way.

My DD goes to a CoE school but as I said, we are atheists. She believes totally and I'm happy for her to do so, I'm sure that will change later, but if it doesn't I hope she gets the support and guidance that alot of religious people seem to need. She's not baptised, that's a desicion for her to make at a later date.

borokat

Person_one wrote: »

As someone pointed out in DT yesterday, you can rape your wife and beat your slaves without breaking any of the ten commandments.

OP, here's a great reason not to baptise your children, you wouldn't want them to end up as blinkered, obtuse and prejudiced as this poster would you?

The idea that all the world's problems are caused by atheists, my word!

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40).

I would go with Jesus' interpretation which would stop you from doing either of the things you mentioned.

Person_one

Lotus-eater wrote: »

If they decide in the future to not care about religion, then it won't matter an iota. If they decide they do, then it will help them.

I was christened, no idea why as I was then raised in a thoroughly godless household!

However, you wouldn't believe how many people think its ok to insist that I am in fact a Christian just because I was, despite my current beliefs! Its a minor irritation, but I really do wish my parents hadn't wanted that party so much...

cazziebo

This is such a personal decision that you have to make as a parent. As parents, we have to make lots of decisions for our children. I wanted my children to belong to the church, so they were baptised. In the Church of Scotland, baptism is as much about welcoming you into the Church community as it is the symbolic rinsing free of the sin of man.

We were lucky in that our church was great - lots of activities for young people and both of mine thoroughly enjoyed going right up until they were much older. We moved house and the younger one (10) decided she didn't want to go, the older one (then 12) continues to go albeit to a different church (and denomination) and irregularly (now 21). I don't think either of them are brainwashed, both made their decisions based on experience and knowledge. I believe that being part of the church community was/is such a positive experience with excellent role models that both gained a lot . DD2 may now have rejected being "religious" as such but I believe the lessons and values she learned will stay with her.

PS I don't consider myself "mentally ill" and wasn't brainwashed by my parents - quite the contrary! Just an ordinary Christian with many faults...

Nicki

Humphrey10 wrote: »

All the people I have ever met who call themselves 'christian' or 'muslem' or whatever have either been brainwashed into believing all that stuff by their parents, or are mentally ill so will believe anything, or have such unhappy lives that the only way they can survive is to delude themselves that when they die they will be happy (and it's much easier to just believe in a magical man in the sky than it is to sort their life out).
So get in quick with the baptism and brainwashing (I notice you are already taking them to church - good start!) before they are old enough to make their own minds up, or else you might not like what they decide.

:eek::eek::eek:

You do mix in very odd circles then!

I have a lot of friends who are practising Christians, most of whom did not come from Christian families so weren't brainwashed. They tend to be doctors, lawyers, city people and show no signs at all of being either unhappy in their loves or mentally ill.

I also have a lot of friends who have no faith, or who are fairly outspoken atheists. Funnily enough, they are also professional people, seem to be as happy as anyone else and not mentally ill. Some have come from Christian backgrounds and some haven't.

Some very strong opinions being expressed on this thread. If you personally are an atheist, why do you care what other people do or don't believe? And as for person one :eek::eek: why would you think that bringing your child up to attend church on a regular basis would make them a bad person? Personally, based on the posts on this thread alone, I'd far rather have margaretclare in my circle of friends than you, as you come across as displaying all the negative traits you have attributed to her

Person_one

borokat wrote: »

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40).

I would go with Jesus' interpretation which would stop you from doing either of the things you mentioned.

If you need a long dead joiner to tell you not to rape or beat people you've got bigger issues.

Slinky

Person_one wrote: »

I was christened, no idea why as I was then raised in a thoroughly godless household!

Bit of an excuse for a party probably. My sister-and-brother-in-law are having to attend a Christening where none of the family are religious and nobody attends Church except for the occasional wedding or funeral. Pointless exercise with pressure being put on other members of the family to rearrange holiday so they can attend event!

Complete waste of time and money

LilacPixie

Mojisola wrote: »

By trying to be fair, you've got yourself into awkward position.

It will seem strange to your children to be taken to church but not being allowed to join the club with their first communion.

If you do want them to go to a Catholic school but still not be baptised into the faith, that's another mixed message.

The fact that you did not have a Catholic marriage and haven't baptised the children may affect their chances of getting into school, depending on your area's rules.

Although you would be baptising them before they fully understand what's going on, they don't actually make any promises about their religious beliefs - that's what the parents and godparents do. Baptism doesn't scar you for life and it doesn't stop you deciding what you believe for yourself when you're older.

See the bit i have highlighted is the bit that is currently bothering me. I have no idea why but suddenly it has made me think about the message I am giving my children.

School is not an issue, We have placed DD1 at a very good but non denominational local school. She starts after the holidays and i'm scared, nervous and excited all at once. I'm less excited about labelling the clothes.

Our kids do mix with children from a wide range of backgrounds at various groups and clubs they attend but the fact is their particular group of peers will, in the not to distant future, be moving on to preparing for first communion and my child wont be able to participate for reasons that she had no say in.

I think it will be something we will need to discuss as a couple over the next few months