Were you Christened? - I wasn't

[ringo747]

I'm a Christian but was never Christened. Seems a bit weird to me that a child who can't make their own decisions can be given the label "Christian" before they can even comprehend the ideas behind the religion.

 

[markk]

Nope, and I won't bother with my children either.

 

[A.N.Other]

As a non christian, can someone explain the difference of Christen'd and Baptised to me?

Same thing.

 

[unclelonghair]

I wasn't - in theory I believe it means you can't get married in Church, nor buried in consecrated ground, though I'm not sure how strict churches are on that these days.

 

[Booner!]

As a child I was christened by my family. I was too little to make my mind up which I still hold against my parents.... as now I want to be "un-christened" (if that even exists). My values, beliefs and style of life completely contradicts the Christening I went through. I therefore would have rather waited till I understood what I was being "forced" into (religion).

I hope that makes sense.

 

[Hobgoblin]

if your kid goes to a normal school. He won't have religion rammed down his throat. they don't teach you anything important about religion. It's a total waste of time. All they do is here the 4-5 main groups. Who roughly believe these things.

weird. i went to a old catholic school (we had nuns) and we learnt some good things on a reasonably broad range of religions considering the time we had, always allowing for moral debates as well. it taught us what other people believed and the basic's of all the major faiths. always good i think as you will inevitably meet people of such faith and its good to understand people.

As a child I was christened by my family. I was too little to make my mind up which I still hold against my parents.... as now I want to be "un-christened" (if that even exists). My values, beliefs and style of life completely contradicts the Christening I went through. I therefore would have rather waited till I understood what I was being "forced" into (religion).

I hope that makes sense.

yes, apart from you dont need to be "unchristened" as you are not catholic as you did not confirm. they did nothing but allow you the choice of confirmation if you want, later in life and allow you to be married in a church if your future heads this way. also presumably they have given you some kind godparents. im deeply against organised religion as it is, however i do not hold anything against my parents for doing so. they opened doors for my future, not close them or force anything apon me.

 

[waterproofbob]

christening is a splash of water/oil on the head of a baby when it is still young, depending on denomination baptism is full submersion (usually) at a later stage. Then if you are high Anglican or Catholic you can also be confirmed which happens as a young adult as a sort of self affirmation thing towards God.

 

[scorza]

The reason for christening before ,I think it was last year. Was in case the child died before they where old enough to be confirmed. This ensuring they still went to heaven

It was never solely about that and not at all Churches. That hasn't been the reason people get their children baptized for decades.

 

[Glaucus]

Same thing.

not at all.

Baptism is usually when you are submerged in water at an age you can decide for yourself. This is to confirm and enrol you into the faith.

Baptism (Greek βάπτισμα and βαπτισμός, from βαπτίζω, baptizô, immerse, perform ablutions) is a religious act of purification by water, usually associated with admission to membership or fullness of membership of Christianity and the remission of original and actual sins.

Jews baptized proselytes.[1] The periodically repeated Jewish purification rite of mikvah is not normally spoken of as baptism, largely because of the Christian associations of the word "baptism". John the Baptist baptized for the forgiveness of sins.[1] The gospel of John says that Jesus too baptized (3:22), but later adds that "Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples" (4:2). According to the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, the most usual form of baptism among early Christians was for the candidate to stand in water and water to be poured over the upper body.[1]

christening is similar but in babies, with many churches reject it. It does not confirm your faith and was until recently a way for children if they died to enter heaven.

In Christian religious practice, infant baptism is the baptism of young children or infants. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism," or credobaptism, from the Latin word credo meaning "I believe", which is the religious practice of baptizing only individuals who personally confess faith in Jesus, therefore excluding small children.

Most Christian churches practice infant baptism.[1] Among them are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Anglican Communion, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, the Assyrian Church of the East, the Church of the Nazarene,[2] the Reformed Church in America,[3] the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Continental Reformed.

Groups within the Protestant tradition that reject infant baptism include Baptists, most Pentecostals, Mennonites, Amish, Community of Christ,Plymouth Brethren, Seventh-day Adventists, most non-denominational churches and other Arminian denominations. Infant baptism is also excluded by Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians and Latter-day Saints.

It was never solely about that and not at all Churches. That hasn't been the reason people get their children baptized for decades.

Not not in all churches and it's not the only reason. But it is one of the main ones. It was only recently that the CoE changed there view on it.

 

[SpeedFreak]

I agree with what you first said, but your somewhat contradictory when you said it shouldn't be done so it feels like it has to belong to something.

For them it was because they have no intent to practice, therefore there was no point in the baptism. If your child is Baptised and you continue to bring it to church then I have no issues.

As for your situation regarding marriage, I feel for you. I am getting married in October and I come from a practicing Irish Catholic family, although I am not practicing myself, I have belief but don't feel the need to go to church to reaffirm that. My other half is not a Christian and not really religious at all. We decided that we were getting married to each other and the ceremony should be one which makes us both comfortable. As such we chose a venue we liked and booked a registrar. Some of my family are a bit concerned that it is not taking place in a church, but it is our choice and we are happy with it.

I would suggest that on the biggest day of your life, you should both be happy with the ceremony and it's content. As such, if you actually have reservations, you should speak to your other half as it is your wedding too. I understand the will to sacrifice your wished for her's, but that's not what marriage is about, compromise is better. Not meaning to be preachy here, just giving you an opinion, my wedding is officially the most complicated to organise in history lol.

 

[Glaucus]

I would suggest that on the biggest day of your life, you should both be happy with the ceremony and it's content. As such, if you actually have reservations, you should speak to your other half as it is your wedding too. I understand the will to sacrifice your wished for her's, but that's not what marriage is about, compromise is better. Not meaning to be preachy here, just giving you an opinion, my wedding is officially the most complicated to organise in history lol.

you can still have religious readings and blessing in other venues. However the registrars have to leave the room, while you do it. It;s a good compromise.

 

[scorza]

not at all.

Baptism is usually when you are submerged in water at an age you can decide for yourself. This is to confirm and enrol you into the faith.


christening is similar but in babies, with many churches reject it. It does not confirm your faith and was until recently a way for children if they died to enter heaven.

Nope it's essentially the same thing. During the Christening service the vicar will say "I baptize you in the name of the Lord...". Not sure why there are two separate names for it, except that at our church it's called a Christening when it's a child being baptized, and a Baptism when it's an adult. The service is the same however, except that once an adult is baptized they usually confirm the vows straight away in the same service.

 

[Neil777]

I was, not particulary religous though.

 

[Glaucus]

The service is the same however, except that once an adult is baptized they usually confirm the vows straight away in the same service.

I thought that was the difference at a baptising the vows are always confirmed. Where in a christening there not. Which is a huge difference. Although they are very similar.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Nope it's essentially the same thing. During the Christening service the vicar will say "I baptize you in the name of the Lord...". Not sure why there are two separate names for it, except that at our church it's called a Christening when it's a child being baptized, and a Baptism when it's an adult. The service is the same however, except that once an adult is baptized they usually confirm the vows straight away in the same service.

as he says. that is only for your religion that it is interchangable, other sections (for example baptists) he is correct and there is a clear distinction. there is a difference

 

[SpeedFreak]

if your kid goes to a normal school. He won't have religion rammed down his throat. they don't teach you anything important about religion. It's a total waste of time. All they do is here the 4-5 main groups. Who roughly believe these things.

Did you go to a Christian school out of interest? I went to an Irish Catholic Grammar which in the eyes of many is one of the most forceful religious upbringings around. We were taught by several Christian Brothers who are male equivalent of Nuns. We were educated about the Protestant core beliefs as well as those of Islam, Judaism and Hindu. These were all portrayed in a positive light and in my eyes, education on religion is much preferable to acting as if it doesn't exist.

 

[A.N.Other]

Nope it's essentially the same thing. During the Christening service the vicar will say "I baptize you in the name of the Lord...". Not sure why there are two separate names for it, except that at our church it's called a Christening when it's a child being baptized, and a Baptism when it's an adult. The service is the same however, except that once an adult is baptized they usually confirm the vows straight away in the same service.

Precisely. Different denominations do it in different ways, but the point of the service is the same in both. After a Christening, you need to be confirmed at 13 (?) to become a full member of the Church, a stage often skipped when you're baptised.

 

[Glaucus]

Did you go to a Christian school out of interest? I went to an Irish Catholic Grammar which in the eyes of many is one of the most forceful religious upbringings around. We were taught by several Christian Brothers who are male equivalent of Nuns. We were educated about the Protestant core beliefs as well as those of Islam, Judaism and Hindu. These were all portrayed in a positive light and in my eyes, education on religion is much preferable to acting as if it doesn't exist.

nope, normal government school. where RE lessons are less than pointless.

 

[Booner!]

yes, apart from you dont need to be "unchristened" as you are not catholic as you did not confirm. they did nothing but allow you the choice of confirmation if you want, later in life and allow you to be married in a church if your future heads this way. also presumably they have given you some kind godparents. im deeply against organised religion as it is, however i do not hold anything against my parents for doing so. they opened doors for my future, not close them or force anything apon me.

My Godfather disappeared, literally. My Godmother means well, but caused a massive family dispute over my grandfather (RIP). So they brought me nothing, no wisdom, no security, nothing that a Godparent should do?

They did it for best intentions, I was first born and no doubt parents of the day thought that it was best to do this. I think it was a total waste of time to be quite honest and just find the whole idea stupid, especially when you have no choice at that age.

 

[Squark]

I'm a Christian, I don't agree with christenings/infant baptism

I wasn't christened, TBH it makes zip all difference to you or the child