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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if and why you Christened your baby?

211 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 12/02/2014 17:14

Currently 34 weeks pregnant with mine and DH's first baby

I was not Christened myself, have never been bought up with religion in my life or particularly believing in it and I would never think to have the baby Christened.

My DH was Christened but is not religious. He teaches at a Catholic School (circumstantial, not because he 'believes') and although he attends certain services with the school he otherwise has nothing to do with the Church.

He announced yesterday that he wants to get the baby Christened - I asked him why and he came out with some line like, "It's just what's done isn't it?"

I said that neither of us were religious so what's the point? He then dared to say, "I think my mom would be upset if we didn't...." Shock

I told him it's not his mother's baby and it's nothing to do with her!!
(there have been previous issues with him wanting to please MIL)

Has anyone else had their baby Christened, despite not being religious, purel as you felt there is a sense in society that all babies should be Christened 'just because' ??

OP posts:
HollyMiamiFLA · 13/02/2014 22:22

Ah - Bingo!!!!

It is possible to celebrate Christmas without going to church or mentioning Jesus.

But that never stops people making that comment.

I celebrate the cultural festival of Christmas. Jesus doesn't get a mention.

TheScience · 13/02/2014 22:22

The names don't really matter though, do they?

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:24

Of course they do - the festivals held around the time of Easter and Christmas celebrated something completely different. We celebrate them now to mark important events in the Christian calendar - although they becoming increasingly non-secular obviously.

TheScience · 13/02/2014 22:25

Most people celebrate them as cultural events, not religious events.

HollyMiamiFLA · 13/02/2014 22:26

Christians celebrate them to mark important events in the Christian calendar.

Non Christians go with the flow, give presents and get pissed. At Easter, we give chocolate eggs.

TheScience · 13/02/2014 22:28

I think it's fine for Christians to claim a mid-winter festival as a religious event and randomly move Jesus's birth to December, but they shouldn't be precious about it.

Easter is all about Spring and fertility, yet I've even seen some Christians try to claim the eggs are about tombs Hmm Grin

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:29

Most non-Christians celebrate them as cultural events (and even then, it's amazing how popular the Nativity plays at school are, and the midnight masses...)

Christians still celebrate them as religious events obviously.

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:32

One interpretation of Easter eggs is that they represent the Jesus' empty tomb, yes. There are plenty of other Christian symbols that the egg represents - have a quick look around the internet.

HollyMiamiFLA · 13/02/2014 22:33

Nativity plays are popular because of tradition. It's what's expected as it's what parents did when they were young.

Try being a reception teacher and not doing a version of the Nativity. You'll get lynched. And get a post in AIBU!!

TheScience · 13/02/2014 22:33

Nativity plays are part of our culture.

Most people aren't Christians, even amongst those who would describe themselves as Christian if asked about religion. As this thread demonstrates, even a lot of people who have their children baptised aren't really religious.

HollyMiamiFLA · 13/02/2014 22:34

I was taught that eggs mean birth - like Spring. Which is when Easter is - even though I do not understand why Easter always moves. If Christmas is fixed, why can't Easter be fixed?

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:35

Exactly - but parents still want to see the Nativity regardless! It's the one time during the festivities when us atheists make a vague nod to the religious meaning of Christmas.

HollyMiamiFLA · 13/02/2014 22:35

What is a Christian? I think you have to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

You can lead a Christian life in terms of morals. You can lead a moral life without being a Christian.

What makes someone a Christian?

TheScience · 13/02/2014 22:35

Delicious chocolate tombs delivered by, erm... bunnies.

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:36

Here's the Wiki meaning of Easter eggs from a Christian pov to explain why they are linked to Easter en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg#Christian_traditions

HollyMiamiFLA · 13/02/2014 22:37

I think children understand that Christmas is an important event for Christians.

Some schools also do plays about Hindu stories, Jewish stories and Muslim stories. Especially those in inner cities which have a more mixed population.

TheScience · 13/02/2014 22:37

I'm not doubting that Christianity has been very good at co-opting existing festivals and symbolism.

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:38

What makes someone a Christian?

Bloody hell, it's too late at night for that!! I think that believing that Jesus was the son of God is a pretty basic starting point though...Grin

SirChenjin · 13/02/2014 22:39

I think religion as a whole as been very good at co-opting all manner of things - as has 'culture'

anothernumberone · 13/02/2014 23:40

I find it confusing that some people believe that christening your child means they automatically get into heaven. There's no Biblical evidence to support this, completely the opposite in fact. That's all.

Well the religion I do not subscribe to but DH does has the long held belief that you don't get into heaven if you were are not Christened. Hopefully that clears up the confusion.

McPheezingMyButtOff · 14/02/2014 00:02

Writerwannabe83 Thu 13-Feb-14 14:37:33
mcpheezing - would you have rather her dad attended and just lied his way through the ceremony? Make promises he had no intention of keeping?

That wasn't the reason. He got injured, and didn't want to be in the photos with bruising. Like I said. Bastard.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 14/02/2014 06:26

Easter is fixed ... in a lunar calendar. Grin

TheRealAmandaClarke · 14/02/2014 06:58

T here's no pleasing us Raggy Grin
Thing is, that being christened, IMHO, does not give you any obligation to be Christian.
I sort of see it as welcoming that pson/ baby into the church. There's no ceremony required to reverse a christening if the person later decides they don't want to be Christian.
And someone else said it's nice to have the photos etc. I think that's tue too. It is nice to look back and be aware that people went to the trouble of arranging that special occasion for you. ImHO. IYSWIM.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 14/02/2014 07:09

No. I am an athiest. I didn't do it for the same reason I didn't get married in church, I think it is insulting to those who genuinely believe to treat in like a photo opportunity or a quaint funny custom.