Godparents

Feek · 13 Jan 2008 at 18:01

Von Luck said:
Going to a christening tomorrow and my wife and I are going to be the godparents.

Not the kind of thing you can say 'no' to when you're asked by a long time friend, however I don't believe in god, nor have I ever been baptised/christened/whatever, as both my parents are atheists as well.

I think it's very wrong of you to say "yes". You're in the same position I was in a few years ago when a very good friend of mine asked Mrs. Feek and I to be godparents. If you say yes then you're a big smelly hypocrite.

If your friend is as good as you are suggesting then he/she won't be offended and will understand.

If they don't, then they're not really very good friends.

Diesel · 13 Jan 2008 at 18:04

hiroofheroes said:
Isn't it just a meaningless title?

Yes, pretty much.

Von Luck · 13 Jan 2008 at 21:33

Feek said:
I think it's very wrong of you to say "yes". You're in the same position I was in a few years ago when a very good friend of mine asked Mrs. Feek and I to be godparents. If you say yes then you're a big smelly hypocrite.

If your friend is as good as you are suggesting then he/she won't be offended and will understand.

If they don't, then they're not really very good friends.

:shrug: That's your opinion, I don't place any value on it, but thanks for sharing.

Vonhelmet · 13 Jan 2008 at 21:42

Von Luck said:
:shrug: That's your opinion, I don't place any value on it, but thanks for sharing.

He's got a point though. A Godparent is supposed to help with raising a child as Christian. If you aren't a Christian yourself, then you're unlikely to be able to do that.

The title you're actually after is the nominal "uncle".

Feek · 13 Jan 2008 at 22:59

Von Luck said:
:shrug: That's your opinion, I don't place any value on it, but thanks for sharing.

Yeah well, you've first said you're an atheist and then you've openly admitted you lied in the ceremony and said you believe in god.

I find that pretty hypocritical, don't you? Or am I missing something important?

Gilly · 13 Jan 2008 at 23:05

I'm a godparent but will not teach the child to follow christianity. If that makes me a hypocrite then so be it. I did it for my brother and as God doesn't exist then it isn't harming anyone.

Feek · 13 Jan 2008 at 23:13

The point I'm trying to make which I didn't do very well (at all) in my previous post is that if you are asked by someone who is a long term friend and obviously religions to be a godparent that surely that person would be more offended by you lying in the ceremony and saying that you believe in god when in all actuality you're an atheist than by you turning them down.

I've been there and when I explained my feelings to my friend, he accepted it fully and was pleased that I didn't go through with it.

If you tell porkies in such a ceremony then you shouldn't be taking part in it.

gillywibble · 13 Jan 2008 at 23:26

Surely his long term friend knows he is an atheist and yet still asked him because he considered him to be conscientious and of sound morals for the well being of the child?

I really don't see the problem.

Gilly · 14 Jan 2008 at 15:48

That's the way I looked at it. My brother isn't particularly religious and isn't at all offended about the fact that I don't believe in god or heaven. He knew these things before he asked me.