Christening or no christening?????

Baileys_Babe

Why does your partner want to have a 'christening'? Everybody else in my immediate family is religious yet no one has chosen to have their children christened (including my parents). Many have elected to have a naming ceremony, which has in some instances included religious elements. All the ceremonies have included sponsors for the child. After each occasion there has been a celebration.
Hopefully you can find a comprimise that suits all the people that are important to you and you partner. Please be assertive and if your not happy with the idea of a christening don't settle for it to keep the peace.

inkie

Well, this thread has really provoked some deep theological debating. I think that for a lot of people 'religion' is the stumbling block to faith.

absolutebounder

inkie wrote: »

Well, this thread has really provoked some deep theological debating. I think that for a lot of people 'religion' is the stumbling block to faith.

I think possibly its the other way round. Faith is the stumbling block to religion
You are being asked to accept things with blind faith that are totally illogical, because religion doesnt have the answer and if you accept something with faith you dont go looking for truth and end up embarrasing the religion. There is a lot of power and wealth at the top end of religion so faith stops you rocking the boat. it wouldnt surprise me if the pope knew god didnt exist but he isnt about to give up his jollies is he. He will keep on spouting the same old lies and half truths and those people suffering in Africa from aids? well its their fault and no they cant have condoms they can carry on dying.
Approximately 1 billion people believe this man is the closest to god we can get. Some message of compassion he gives out. if that is gods love I dont want to see his hate

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Hi Absolutebonder,

From reading your posts it seems your faith in your athiest views is very passionate and deeply held and you articulate your belief in athiesm well and almost with an evangelical enthusiasm

If your 5 year old child asks / asked you "mummy / daddy does God exist?"

What would your answer be?

absolutebounder

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote: »

Hi Absolutebonder,

From reading your posts it seems your faith in your athiest views is very passionate and deeply held and you articulate your belief in athiesm well and almost with an evangelical enthusiasm

If your 5 year old child asks / asked you "mummy / daddy does God exist?"

What would your answer be?

Best question on this thread. An Atheist doesnt believe in a god but that doesnt mean he doesnt accept others do.
As part of the time I am a hypnotherapist I study the mind and much of the work as a hypnotherapist is to correct mind problems and the vast majority of peoples problems have been manifested before the age of about 6 ie before the critical mind gets going. Up yo this age it is vital you put as little bad information into a childs mind as possible as it may haunt them for life.
To answer your question which fortunately my daughter never asked. I think I would answer along the lines that no one knows for certain Some people believe in different gods and some people dont think there is one.
If the child was persistent I think I would use an age old hypnotist trick and distract the child to something else. I would not want to say to a child of that age a direct no because they would come into contact with others at school who taught differently.
There is no doubt that religion of any type has caused severe disorders of the mind in some people and severely held some people back. I actually see it as one of the root causes of poverty along with war which is often as a result of religion in the first place.
I believe the world would be a better place without it but that isnt going to happen so I have to carry on treating the consequences of it.
What I am passionately against is the peer pressure and tactics of the faiths and parents to make the child conform before it can make its own mind up. Babies and children should not be the subjects of religious rituals just to satisfy their parents insecurities regarding faith.

Bestthingsinlifearefree

absolutebounder wrote: »

I would not want to say to a child of that age a direct no because they would come into contact with others at school who taught differently.
.

Surely you should tell the child the truth?

Your child asks you if God exists. You are an athiest. So surely the only honest answer is no.

Or maybe the only truthful answer in your case is mummy / daddy does not believes in God but many others do.

Or if your answer is no one knows for certain does than not make you agnostic?

Then the next childs question maybe is.

"Why don't you believe in God mummy / daddy?"

Bestthingsinlifearefree

absolutebounder wrote: »

Best question on this thread. An Atheist doesnt believe in a god but that doesnt mean he doesnt accept others do.
As part of the time I am a hypnotherapist I study the mind and much of the work as a hypnotherapist is to correct mind problems and the vast majority of peoples problems have been manifested before the age of about 6 ie before the critical mind gets going. Up yo this age it is vital you put as little bad information into a childs mind as possible as it may haunt them for life.
QUOTE]

In regard to the putting "bad information" into childs minds. I think if you are saying teaching religion to children is "bad information" etc You are entering mumbo jumbo territory.

As I have said before on that basis you would tell children Santa Claus does not exist because the concept of Santa delivering presents down the chimney to good children all over the world is clearly "bad information".

Could you provide a web link to academic proof that children brought up in a faith household have more psychological issues than those brought up in non-faith households?

absolutebounder

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote: »

Surely you should tell the child the truth?

Your child asks you if God exists. You are an athiest. So surely the only honest answer is no.

Or maybe the only truthful answer in your case is mummy / daddy does not believes in God but any others do.

Then the next childs question maybe.

Why don't you believe in God mummy / daddy?

You love the tricky ones dont you? i think my answer was truthful and would suffice. I do like your answer as well. The child would be far too young for a full blown debate. As it is there are several mainstream religions all fighting for your vote that cannot in amongst them selves agree much on God. They all think their god is better than yours. The problem with a straight no is that at 5 they are going to come into contact with religious education of some sort and this RE in this country is likely to be subtle but extremely powerful because the bible has been rewritten into nice story's for the children and children believe story's with a vengeance. The bible has in fact been rewritten for adults as well by the catholics to leave out a lot of things hence the fuss over the davinci code and Jesuses brothers and sister. I could debate the existence of god with a teacher but a 5 yr old cant and certainly wouldnt.
Your last question is much easier as I would point to all the suffering on the world and say if god was really the creator of this he wouldnt want to see so much destruction of his own good work.

Mrs_pbradley936

The oldest recorded religion is Hinduism. Philosophy and religion are very similar but part company when religion attempts to influence future events by prayer, sacrifice and behaviour.

absolutebounder

[quote=Bestthingsinlifearefree;5217579
In regard to the putting "bad information" into childs minds. I think if you are saying teaching religion to children is "bad information" etc You are entering mumbo jumbo territory.

With religion, why is it so important a child gets religion at an early age? What do the parents or church get out of it. Religion is a sugar coated pill follow our rules or burn in hell. Follow our church or be an outcast. Children dont like being an outcast its very powerful,

Could you provide a web link to academic proof that children brought up in a faith household have more psychological issues than those brought up in non-faith households?[/quote]
Search google for mental abuse or child abuse in religion there are millions of sites.
By not putting religious restrictions in to achilds mind is not going to cause problems later in life.