To laugh at the request to be godparents

How can you be a godparent if you are not religious yourself? I know in Ireland at least you have to be catholic and have been through all three sacraments before you can become a godparent. My atheist brood have been spared ever being asked for that reason.

Unless things have changed, then usually to be Godparents, there is a Baptism, in a church and the ceremony is religious. If you're not religious, then I would have thought it would go against your own standing, to make religious pledges in church. I couldn't be a Godparent, for that very reason, I am not religious, didn't marry in church and my own son hasn't been baptised - I'd be a hypocrite to go along with such a ceremony. I would politely decline, stating that I couldn't make religious pledges, but by all means I am willing to be an active part in the child's life, and am grateful they think enough of me as a person to ask.

It's also rude and disrespectful to suggest only uneducated people should have faith. It's worth remembering that many scientists are and have been Catholic (or other faiths of course) It is entirely reasonable to be both educated and accepting that we don't know all the answers that form our existence. In fact, a good and educated scientist knows that until something is wholly proven to not exist it cannot be entirely dismissed. At this stage in life, we do not have the resolute proof to state atheism as fact. That's not to say we can resolutely state faith as fact either, just that as we do not know 100% either way it would be reasonable to say we don't yet know. Personally I'd find it mind boggling that genuinely educated people would say otherwise

Yeah. I'm not at all religious. But in my experience it's the staunch atheists that feel the need to evangelise about it constantly and feel they tell everyone they meet about it whether they want to hear it or not. The OP is a classic example of this.

No, that is the role of a legal guardian not a godparent.

Interestingly, most of the congregation at our local church are intelligent professionals or retired professionals - doctors, lawyers, accountants etc.

All people capable of logical and rational thought.

Well it sure beats being a judgemental atheist who starts a thread to laugh at a friend's daughter that's for sure.

In my opinion, like you, just expressing it!

I always thought this was more to do with, who's going to have our child if we die in a car accident. Nothing really to do with church in today's day and age.

I won't. But it isn't disrespectful.

I think it's much more fun (for some) to make a thread on the internet mocking Religion, than to just quietly and politely decline the request to be a Godparent.

Don't do it then. It's not difficult. Why do some people have to make such a massive song and dance about stuff.

Yes, the laws and political structure of the country is historically Christian.

But the majority of the actual people of the country are not now Christian.

Didn't take long for the bigotry to set in. 🙄

Newsflash, people who believe in God and Religion really don't give a stuff that you find it 'mind boggling.'

Don't do that then.

But is the role also about being a parent/guardian if both the parents die?

No it isn't. Not at all @Pumpkins89 . The role is to be a spiritual guide to the godchild. A legal guardian is a different role. Basically, godparents do not have legal rights while guardians do.

There seem to be a few posters on here who are under the misapprehension that being a godparent is the same as being a legal guardian.

This.

My very atheist SIL is a Godmother and I find it the most contradictory thing. We are religious and I find it disrespectful, especially as she is very opinionated on her views. I think it’s better to be an honorary aunty rather than Godmother if it’s not a religious position.

It’s certainly rude and disrespectful to laugh. You can politely decline. At the same time, I do find it mind boggling that educated people can still believe in god and religion.

Declining the offer to be a godparent because you are not religious is not alienating anyone from anything.

I would be happy to go to witness the Christening of a friend's child. I would not be happy to seriously pledge to encourage that child to follow a religion I don't believe in.

In my church (church of Ireland) it didn’t matter if godparents were christened or not.

Godparents are asked if they renounce the Devil and all his works. If they can't answer that in the affirmative, they shouldn't be there.

It does seem odd, but to say you want to laugh at her is rather unkind, and rude.

I hope she sees this thread and retracts the offer pretty soon.

You are correct.

I think it's disrespectful to alienate people from their cultural heritage, family and friends on the basis of personal belief.

Edited to respond to your edit. We most certainly are a Christian country with a head of state who is head of church and faith leaders sitting and voting in the house of Lords.

I wouldn't do it myself (lifelong atheist). It's such rubbish!