Why do so many none-christian families get their kids Baptized - OT

I was baptized but my family never really took the whole thing that seriously, and it's still around today.

So many families around me who aren't really religious, and haven't exactly followed the religion, still get their kids baptized.

 

In Consett its for the family gathering and the booze.

 

Sort of like Christmas I suppose, but I don't think it's quite the same.

You can have a knees up and a family gathering at Christmas, and it's a good excuse, but Baptisms are celebrating a child being brought into the family of god, it's not really IMO a good excuse to get pissed and have a knees up, if you don't really believe in the real reason why the ceremony takes place.

 

I'm an atheist but still give presses at Xmas and also got married.

 

Yes, but them things don't have to be religious. Marriages celebrate two people showing their love for each other with a contract and a ring, and a ceremony in front of their whole family. Xmas can be religious, but it can also just be families giving, receiving, and being together, and having a break from their work ect.

Baptism is all about religion. Getting your kid baptized, if not for the religious reasons, is completely pointless. Just a priest putting water on your kids head and saying a pray to a god that doesn't exist.

The other two can be for other reasons than religious ones, Baptism is really just about religion, and it's pointless if you're not christian.

 

how do you know ???

not everyone needs to shout it out, to follow their faith

 

it's the old thing of, is he less of a supporter, because he's never been to the ground syndrome

 

I'm not saying I see people walking into churches and think "ffs why are they getting their kid baptized".

I'm talking about people I know, and have lived around. So many of them aren't really religious. Some of them don't believe in god at all, and have never been to church apart from marriages and things. Others say they believe in god, in a less than serious way, but don't follow the bible or the religions moral code, and things that are deadly sins, they do on a daily basis.

I mean some of them aren't even married to their partners and have kids with them, have sex with them ect. That's against the religions rules.

It's like saying "yeah I believe in god, but I'm going to shag my girlfriend, **** to porn and get pissed every night".

 

I suppose, but football clubs don't say "go to home games, wear the strip, buy the season tickets or you're gonna burn forever after you die".

 

For exactly the same reason people have a funeral and get buried in church grounds - because its tradition...

First I think you need to remember that Christenings and baptisms are different things - A christening is a naming ceremony (which can often take place in a church) whilst a baptism is specifically Christian. Regardless of religious beliefs, people have their children christened as a bit of a right of passage for them. The white clothes, the water, the naming of the Godparents, its all as much about maintaining cuilture as it is the Christian religion for most people.

 

Imagine getting baptised at Wet n Wild, that'd be mint!!!

 

Funerals like Marriage and Christmas, can include none-religious people doing them for none-religious purposes, there is no none-religious alternative really, you can't really see a point beyond reason which is to join the family of god.

Like lots of things, I don't see the point, but I wont try to stop them doing it if it makes them happy.

I think it's interesting how religion affects everyone, not just religious people. Religion has certainly had a massive affect on everything and has an affect on us whether we like it or not really.

 

You mean I've been going all these years and I wouldn't have gone to hell and burned forever if I hadn't gone?

 

Well the none religious alternative is a christening ceremony, but as they can also be done in a church, I don't think people really know or more importantly care about the difference.

I was baptized and brought up as a Catholic, was made to go to Church until I was 10/11 (starting playing Sunday League football) and went to both a Catholic primary and secondary school...I've been atheist from a very young age - more because no-one could give me an argument that wasn't flawed with regards to the existence of god, but I'm happy to have been brought up that way - its certainly not done any harm and in many ways opened up a lot of opportunities (my School goes on pilgrimages to Lourdes every year and recently started going to Peru to do charity work - that **** looks amazing on a CV.)

Much like my Dad (who is also atheist) I don't mind how my kids are brought up - If I marry a Catholic, Hindu, Muslim or Jew, I'd be happy enough for them to be brought up in that religion if that's what my wife wanted, and if she was as laid back as me, then I'd probably suggest bringing them up Catholic, as much for the heritage as the added bonus of helping kids get into certain schools etc.

Personally I think religion is a good thing for hte most part, and being open minded and learning about other religions helps you to learn about other cultures and potentially progress further in life, the only time I think religion is dangerous is when people use it to incite hatred or for political/power gains.

 

I'm not a religious person and as such when i got married we didn't do it in a religious building. Also, my son isn't baptised or christened as i simply don't believe in god and if my son does then he can decide for himself, I've got nothing against any religion. I think there are alot of people who aren't that sure whether they believe or not and they sort of hedge their bets by getting their children - fear of god is more powerful than belief in god.

 

You should never consent to 'bringing a child up' in a religion.

Educate them and when they're old enough to make a decision, let them. If you've educated them, chances are they won't choose religion and they'll live a life free from its shackles.

 

Weh I was a child 'brought up in religion' and when I was old enough, came to the conclusion that God doesn't exist...Part of my upbringing in religion involved education. It might be different over here though, the number of times I was told I couldn't be Catholic because I'm English is ridiculous!

By the way, do you know either Gareth McMannus, Emma or Stacey Mellon? They're the only people I know from Carrick...

 

I was in the Savers in Carrickfergus last year.. How random...

 

Guys, working in a school I can tell you it's all about being able to get into Catholic (or Anglican) schools which they consider better than non-faith schools.

 

What kind of shackles does a religious belief have??