Baptism meeting with father

notanewuser

amus wrote: »

Well yes, which makes it all the more odd he felt the need to discuss it with me.

Sorry if i've confused you with someone else, but did you say elsewhere that you'd had your children christened to get them into a school?

amus

Yes.



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notanewuser

amus wrote: »

Yes.



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Perhaps he was trying to put you off......?

amus

notanewuser wrote: »

Perhaps he was trying to put you off......?

To be fair all he would have known is that I was not a regular church goer, which applies to pretty much 95% of people who get their children baptised.

WillowCat

jaylee3 wrote: »

I have never in my LIFE, ever known anyone furious at their parents for having them christened.

I have known a few people who were quite cross with parents for NOT having them christened though.

What harm can it POSSIBLY do? How is being christened EVER going to affect a person's life?!

I may not be furious, but I am quite cross that my mother had me christened as a baby.

I've been an atheist for as long as I can remember, and have never consciously accepted religion.

fraz_babe

Thanks everyone for your replies. Did not expect so many.

Firstly I do not go to church no but that does not mean im not a believer in god etc. I do believe in god. And I have every intention to go church on a sunday. I am going speak to father about it at the meeting.

The reason for my post was because I know hes going ask why i want my children christened but I was not sure if he would ask anything else. Like marriage etc.

It will be my first time meeting him along with my partner and children who need to be present as I double checked today with him. I obviously want to make a good honest impression of myself my partner and children.

I'm also worried as me and my partner are not married at the moment. I am also not baptized which he knows as I asked if this is ok when i spoke to his secretary in april/may time. My partner is baptized.

The reason i called him father on the post is he is called eg father brian and says hello father brian speaking.

I am just nervous that's all. I am sorry if my post/question offended anyone that was not my intention. I just didn't know what to expect.

My children are not being baptized for just a party its because I want to go to church and would like them to follow the same path, also.

I am even worried about what to wear to church on saturday for the meeting. Smart casual? Smart? I dont want go ott.

thanks again everyone.

mountainofdebt

Personally I would go smart casual.

Yes there are people out there who 'do it for a party' just as some people get married in church 'so the pictures will have a nice setting' .

Fortunately alot of priests, vicars etc live in the real world and hopefully yours will be one of these ......and I wouldn't worry about indocrinating your child....the whole point of a christening is whilst you are promising to bring them up in the Christian faith now, if they choose to confirm that promise they can do it when they're old enough

Torry_Quine

fraz_babe wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies. Did not expect so many.

Firstly I do not go to church no but that does not mean im not a believer in god etc. I do believe in god. And I have every intention to go church on a sunday. I am going speak to father about it at the meeting.

The reason for my post was because I know hes going ask why i want my children christened but I was not sure if he would ask anything else. Like marriage etc.

It will be my first time meeting him along with my partner and children who need to be present as I double checked today with him. I obviously want to make a good honest impression of myself my partner and children.

I'm also worried as me and my partner are not married at the moment. I am also not baptized which he knows as I asked if this is ok when i spoke to his secretary in april/may time. My partner is baptized.

The reason i called him father on the post is he is called eg father brian and says hello father brian speaking.

I am just nervous that's all. I am sorry if my post/question offended anyone that was not my intention. I just didn't know what to expect.

My children are not being baptized for just a party its because I want to go to church and would like them to follow the same path, also.

I am even worried about what to wear to church on saturday for the meeting. Smart casual? Smart? I dont want go ott.

thanks again everyone.

I would wear what you feel comfortable in and would be wearing to church, which these days means nearly anything is appropriate. Most churches are much more relaxed and don't expect suits for the men for instance. For instance is not unusual for my pastor to wear jeans or to see someone in shorts.

Why do you want your child christened at that church when you haven't gone there yet as it may not be the place for you?

I would think he may well ask about your intentions re marriage.

Alchemilla

@notanewuser I think it is lovely because I am glad every time a person is welcomed into the church. I also wanted to express some support for the OP who seemed to be gettng attacked for no very good reason. There is no mutilation involved in baptism.

I am sorry that you seem to have had such a terrible time linked to organised religion.

@fraz babe just wear what feels good.

seven-day-weekend

Alchemilla wrote: »

Why?

It is interesting that distinction is made between C of E and Roman Catholic Godparent roles. I'm a C of E Godparent to a child being brought up Roman Catholic and I seem to have missed the distinction.

I am sure it is a failing in me that I can't see why an atheist would object to the baptising of babies. Surely if it doesn't mean anything its not an issue?

I am a non-denominational Christian Godparent to a child baptised RC but who chose the Anglican Church later. I promised to assist her parents (one Cof E, one RC) to bring her up to know what it meant to be a Christian. No denomination mentioned.

I too don't know why baptism of any flavour would have any interest to an atheist. I was baptised by full immersion when I was 31 and to my atheist family it was a total non-event and none of them attended.