Have your children been christened

Thekwango · 15 Jul 2016 at 12:47

yes.

not particularly religious but the wife and my folks are so was easier to just do it, but at the end of the day being christened wont do my daughter any actual harm so didn't bother me

something daft already!! · 15 Jul 2016 at 12:51

No. I'm an atheist. If they wanted to be part of a pointless, archaic religious ceremony, they can do so themselves. I do not think it is correct or right to enforce any kind of religious indoctrination on anyone, before they are able to make up their own minds. They are all grown up now and never chose to do so.

I was Christened and went to a Christian primary school. I had that crap forced down my throat daily. I would never want that for my kids.

Uriel · 15 Jul 2016 at 13:05

Avenged7Fold said:
I am not familiar with that archangel,

Uriel or the other one?

Uriel's only in the deuterocanon / apocrypha. So not in the 66 book Protestant canon but included in the books that Catholics, Orthodox and some Anglicans use.

On Christening, If I didn't believe, I wouldn't want to take some of the vows / promises that parents and godparents are supposed to do.

Back when I wasn't in favour of infant baptism I was asked to be my niece's godparent (in CofE). I can remember thinking the godparents vows were pretty heavy for a Christian to make, let alone someone that didn't believe.

I'd rather that people maintain a degree of integrity, not making promises they don't intend to keep. Some churches offer a 'thanksgiving' service as an alternative to christening. You give thanks for the kid, they say some prayers but there's none of the promising to bring them up in the church stuff or reciting creeds and so on (or getting wet, for that matter). We offer it at our church but most people just want 'a christening'.

Craig R · 15 Jul 2016 at 13:23

If I had my way the Christening of children would be banned.

If they want to be Christened when they are 16 and old enough to think for themselves and understand what is going on, fair enough.

Avenged7Fold · 15 Jul 2016 at 13:30

Uriel said:
Uriel or the other one?

I am familiar with Uriel and other old testament angels but not 'Beef Flavoured Nipple Paste'.

The problem people seem to have on christening seems to be focused on poor attitudes of certain educators rather than the religion or all religious institutes of education.

Casdawer · 15 Jul 2016 at 13:32

You're all going to burn in Hell!! :mad:

On a serious note, I was christened as a child but I am an Atheist. It has not affected me in anyway.

My partner is Catholic (getting married in Sept :eek:

) and I've agreed that the kids can be christened.

It won't impact on my kids future as they're too young to even remember it!

Also keeps some of my family happy and most of her family happy too.

pinkpound · 15 Jul 2016 at 13:53

Casdawer said:
You're all going to burn in Hell!!

On a serious note, I was christened as a child but I am an Atheist. It has not affected me in anyway.

My partner is Catholic (getting married in Sept ) and I've agreed that the kids can be christened.

It won't impact on my kids future as they're too young to even remember it!

Also keeps some of my family happy and most of her family happy too.

I'm also an Atheist both my sons 12/17 are not christened I partly did this to annoy my wife's father who is catholic

(tho only ever goes to church for funerals or marriages ) but mainly as its all BS

It was after he first said about christening and I said "meh" His reply "they wont grow up right"

And after that comment there was no chance

Destination · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:11

Yes, my child is Christened within the Catholic church, as just because I am agnostic doesn't mean I am right.
She attends a Catholic primary school, and learns the basics of religion there, Most of the teach is of a moral nature, right and wrong etc, this I find is of great benefit to people in general.
It seems a good school, and seems well run.
I am happy with my choice, but I do wish there was some sort of God, as the once you are gone you are gone seems rather sad actually, given the mess within this world. I doubt one exists, but I will be rather interested if I am wrong. I do believe I'd take a similar opinion to Stephen Fry on a meeting with such an entity, if he is as the various faiths ascribe him.

Where God may or may not exist, I think religion is man's invention, I just find modern reformed post-abuse Catholism a good religion in terms of the vast majority of its teachings. Contraception aside.

boxman2000 · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:13

My wife and I are Christians and we had ours dedicated (basically a promise by parents to be good moral and spiritual example to child). It is a Roman Catholic teaching that having child Christened (with water poured over childs head) it guarantees a child will go to heaven (not found in bible BTW). Ultimately it is for my children to make their own mind up about faith and religion.

If someone is not religious then I have heard people having a naming ceremony which I think is a great idea and fundamentally it's a great way to bring family and friends together to celebrate the birth of the child.

Hades · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:18

Negative.

Tosno · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:20

Yes.

It's heartwarming to see that many atheists here are passive to their wives or business partners and let their children be Christened.

james.miller · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:22

Casdawer said:
My partner is Catholic (getting married in Sept ) and I've agreed that the kids can be christened.

because you're getting married or?

Avenged7Fold · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:24

james.miller said:
because you're getting married or?

Because some marriages are sexless even if the Husband gives in, he would be a fool to **** her off before the marriage and honeymoon!

Gilly · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:25

Tosno said:
Yes.

It's heartwarming to see that many atheists here are passive to their wives or business partners and let their children be Christened.

Why is it heartwarming? Why would it be business partners? :confused:

ebilcake · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:27

Avenged7Fold · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:28

People often assume atheists to be anti-theists. Some really dont care either way and if indulging their missus in her fairy tale makes her happy, then fair enough.

I am agnostic, so rather than don't care i believe you cant even know, so investing anything beyond the odd jape for or against religion for the sake of spite for the other side, is silly. I will happily accept the benefits it offers though if it involves just going through with their procedures.

Gilly · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:30

Avenged7Fold said:
Good move, not doing it closes some opportunities. The ceremony means nothing in terms of bring the kid up, if you dont follow up on it. Not taking advantage of what a christening can offer just because you dont believe in it, is another silly form of self detrimental faith.

This is very strange. What does a christening bring you? How is not being christened self detrimental? What are the opportunities missed?

Tosno · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:31

Gilly said:
Why is it heartwarming? Why would it be business partners?

Because it's a beautiful thing!

Some people nowadays call their husband or wife their partner. A clinical term, so I can only assume without extra details it's a business partnership for mutual benefit.

Avenged7Fold · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:35

Gilly said:
This is very strange. What does a christening bring you? How is not being christened self detrimental? What are the opportunities missed?

Certain catholic schools such as Salesians schools heavily prioritise christened children. With how filled schools are, more choice is better regardless. Dont listen to the 'dont want religion shoved into my boy' crap, as taht is down to teh educators and school more than the fact that its catholic. The school i went to did not have a touch of religious bias.

If parents chose a school which forces religion onto a children, then that is the fault of the parents for not looking into the school enough, the fault of the educators who have too much religious bias and the fault of the school teacher for not allowing the child to have a choice in the matter. None of the downsides of a catholic school is due to pouring a bit of water on a childs head.

Tosno said:
Some people nowadays call their husband or wife their partner. A clinical term, so I can only assume without extra details it's a business partnership for mutual benefit.

I have to ask for clarity sake, did you make the assumption that anyone in this thread had their child baptised to please a business partner?

Gilly · 15 Jul 2016 at 14:37

Tosno said:
Because it's a beautiful thing!

Some people nowadays call their husband or wife their partner. A clinical term, so I can only assume without extra details it's a business partnership for mutual benefit.

Avenged7Fold said:
Certain catholic schools such as Salesians schools heavily prioritise christened children. With how filled schools are, more choice is better regardless. Dont listen to the 'dont want religion shoved into my boy' crap, as taht is down to teh educators and school more than the fact that its catholic. The school i went to did not have a touch of religious bias.

If parents chose a school which forces religion onto a children, then that is the fault of the parents for not looking into the school enough, the fault of the educators who have too much religious bias and the fault of the school teacher for not allowing the child to have a choice in the matter. None of the downsides of a catholic school is due to pouring a bit of water on a childs head.

There are no schools near me that take any notice of christenings, certainly none that I've been made aware of and I'm a parent to two school-age children.