Christening or no christening?????

Kerry39

mintymoneysaver wrote: »

You could always have a dedication, where you just name the child in church, but leave the baptism decision to them at a later date.

I had something similar for my daughter, it was called a blessing and thanksgiving ceremony.
I had it in church on a saturday as my family are spread throughout England. It still has a little religious part to it but I did nt have to repent sins etc for anew born baby. The service was about 40 minutes, no hymns, 2 reading a passage from the bible and a beautiful song called the blessing played on the vicars cd player.
This did nt cost us anything although we gave the church a little something to thank them for accomodating our request.
If I can help further let me know. x

absolutebounder

cazziebo wrote: »

Do you believe your children love you? Why? You can't prove it.

Love is a human emotion nothing to do with faith

Some things "you just know". My faith has been a tremendous inspiration and strength for me. I wasn't "mugged into" belief.

Once again emotion

My family weren't (aren't) churchgoers but my DD1 wanted to go to sunday school because her friends did

Herd principle and peer pressure at work


and I went along to sit in the church rather than wander about for an hour. It made sense to me and I learned more and took the decision to be confirmed at the age of 33.

Nothing wrong with making a decision at 33 as you have the critical mind to make the decision, A baby doesnt.

Bestthingsinlifearefree

absolutebounder wrote: »

Nothing wrong with making a decision at 33 as you have the critical mind to make the decision, A baby doesnt.

You choose to be an athiest absolutebonder and no doubt you will choose your child to be brought up as an athiest.

I think for many bringing their children up in with a faith is not always about "the does God exist" debate but more about giving them a sence of morality e.g the 10 commandments.

Is it so wrong for children to believe that if they are good they go to heaven and if they do bad they will get punished but also they can be forgiven for their sins and redeem themselves.

I would rather my child to be brought up in a moral / religious context than an athiest amoral context.

Will you be telling you child that Santa does not exist to?

MortgageMamma

So is the baby going to be christened or not ? do we have a decision yet?

Ignore absolutebounder I do, he's just gets his kicks out of making people upset and causing people unecessary pain and confusion. He's not worth responding to.

Spendless

OP- It is up to you and the babys dad if you wish your child to be baptised, it has nothing to do with anyone else.;)

I am baptised,(C of E) my husband is not. Here are some of the things we can/can't do. To be married in a Church (we weren't) one of us would have to be baptised. To be a god-parent, you need to be baptised, some vicars will also say and confirmed but others will waive the confirmation. If you wish your child to go to a church school (mine don't) one of the criteria *may* be that they are baptised, or baptised children *may* be higher on the list of the order they select children in than non-baptised ones.

As to cost, a Cof E ceremony itself doesn't cost anything.(no idea about other faiths). You don't need to buy a special robe/dress though some parents prefer to. you may wish to go and have something to eat a lunch/tea afterwards, again you don't have to or you can go back to your own/a relatives house.

inkie

As to cost, a Cof E ceremony itself doesn't cost anything.(no idea about other faiths).

I don't charge - neither do I charge for weddings and funerals.

pamaris

Interesting thread... funny the tangents it has ventured...

DH & I are both Christians but we were from the background that one should make their own decision to be baptised... so when DD was born we had a "dedication" in which she was prayed for. However about a year ago we did a stint in a more traditional church and we ended up getting both kids baptised (age 2 and 5). Was it the right decision? There are deep theological arguments on either side. We couldn't decide which side was "right" so we figured it couldn't hurt. I don't see the point in baptism/ Christening as an excuse to party though, because it is supposed to be more important than that; to have some meaning.

However, since the OP's BF and family do have faith, then I think that the OP should allow the Christening. Like I said it won't hurt will it. Brainwashing is one thing, but bringing up a child lovingly in faith with respect for God and his creation is a different story.

Regarding evidence, I just read this book: The Language of God by Frances Collins. Francis Collins is the top dog of the Human Genome Project, who mapped the entire human genome... He is a Christian and apparently also a smart dude. The book was dry and scientific at times (what do you expect from a molecular biologist) but it was fascinating as well, and at least it proves we're not all idiots as some people think. Such a book will not change anyone's mind, but maybe they will at least realise that one does not always become a Christian because of brainwashing or intellectual bankruptcy.

poe.tuesday

Claire_Jones wrote: »

I feel I need to defend myself a bit here, I went to Church as a child with school, brownies, guides & my Nan etc but never went with my parents as they chose not to go. I found the church we went to very unwelcoming and not somewhere you wanted to spend your time, therefore I stopped attending but my faith did not stop.

However my FIL is a regular church attendee (every week if work allows but to a different church) and I love going there with him when I can. The Vicar is a wonderful man who is approachable and above all human, he doesn't make you feel insecure or out of place.

Due to this man it completely changed my views on the C of E church as a whole and enjoy going again as much as when I was a child. Therefore I wanted to re-affirm my feelings with God and although I don't preach to anyone else about my beliefs God is still with me. This is why we wanted to be married in the eyes of God and by this particular Vicar as he is so wonderful. My husband and I will give our baby the best start we can but feel with the guidance from Vicar Harvey and its Godparents baby will be a better and open minded person. I could speak to the Vicar about anything that was worrying me about our wedding and life together and he was very approachable.

I have been to Midnight mass for the last few years with my husband and FIL apart from the last one as I was ill. We also try to go at other times of the year but it is difficult to attend as often as I'd like as its 200 miles away! Its just such a shame we can't move the church nearer to us.

When someone mentions christening I just collected the service together in my mind I didn't realise a thanksgiving service was something that can be done but my baby hasn't even been born yet so I've not spoken to our Vicar about it. As this is my first child and no-one in my family has been christened in the last 15yrs I don't necessarily understand the full implications of each type of service.

Everyone choses to live life differently, some with religion some without but as long as we, our families and friends are happy then it is up to the individual how they choose to live their life. Parents just want to give the best start in live to their children and for me if that means the church's door is always open to them for prayer/support or whatever they need it for by having them christened as a child I will do that.

Maybe we should all take from this thread that we are different and respect each others opinons without having to make judgements about them. The OP just wanted an idea of cost and of peoples experiences of christenings not a debate on religion and who is to blame for everything wrong in the world, how about instead of moaning about why its wrong, do something about it.

I was not having a personal pop at you or your life choices, they are yours and who am I to judge on your choices, you are the one who has to live by them not me, and you should never defend or have to explain your choices.

as long as you are happy and you don't hurt anyone with your choices, surely that is all that matters?

roversbabe

Personally, I will NOT be arranging for my child to be Christened - and I AM religious. I believe that it is my son's choice whether or not to be Christened and he can make that decision when he wants to.

absolutebounder

snowmaid wrote: »

The fact that 'Man' has always believed in a 'God' of some form, through the ages, to me is sufficient 'evidence' that there must be 'something' somewhere.

probably not true religion as fa as we know is no where near as old as man

The native americans believe that after death they go to the 'happy hunting grounds in the sky', the native africans call on their ancestors and the Gods etc etc.

Just because one doesnt believe in a god doesnt mean one doesnt believe in the spirit and some afterlife

As a Christian I do believe that Jesus and God exist. I also do believe that there is life after death. I do believe that we have spirits guiding us, if only we listen to that '6th sense'.

the olest religion is VooDoo why do you not believe in that? What is it about christianity that is better than the others? Or is it that that is the religion you were most taught about in which case the choice is not a balanced decision