To ask if and why you Christened your baby?

[Writerwannabe83]

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...."

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' ??

Can I ask pigsmummy if it makes you feel irritated (for want of a better word) when you know non-religious parents get their children Christened for reasons that have nothing to do with faith? I.e in order to keep the Grandparents happy or so they can go to better schools?

Writer no it doesn't irritate me in the slightest I am just happy that it is being done, I don't mind the motive.

I thought you had to be an active Catholic to teach at a Catholic school. Don't you have to get a reference from your priest?

I think baptism is becoming cultural rather than religious for many people though.

I'm not sure Orange?? My husband has been working at the school for almost 10 years now and is definitely not an active Catholic The only time he attends Church is when the school goes for Mass.

Ah okay. I suppose it's not the same everywhere but where I live it's normal to get some kind of reference from your priest for a teaching job - in primary anyway. Don't know about secondary. I know that I would have struggled to get a reference from the priest though... as he wouldn't have had a clue who I was!

I got mine christened RC. We don't go to church that often but we do believe and go to the main events. I am not RC but DH is (I'm CofE). We fully intended to follow one of the religions and admittedly were torn between the two. As I'd attended RC schools and colleges, I felt more connection to RC so we went with that.

I'll be honest though, schooling did influence me as there isn't one school near me that doesn't involve religion in their criteria. All the CofE schools even specific religion and are more strict than the RC schools in terms of attending church etc. all the non religious kids end up getting whatever place is left near us, some travelling some distance to poor schools

We had a humanist naming ceremony :)

Was a lovely excuse to get everyone together, it was a lovely day!

Both mine were christened and have subsequently made their minds up. The love support and help I've received from godparents and the Church in the most dire circumstances have kept me going. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

None of ours were christened. I am heavily into rationality, which precludes crap like religion.

We were both christened as children, I'm not sure if we both believe in god or not, though it intrigues us and when we have went to church we have thought it very relaxing and the whole church was very welcoming and everyone was really nice and seemed pleased to see us. We decided we were going to christen our dd even before she was born because we felt it was the right thing to do.

Surely this is the same as the rights and wrongs of a church wedding for non believers ? Mind you it's probably more contentious as with a christening you have to agree to raising your child within that faith (don't really know the ins and outs as you can tell !).
I think it's the same for both if you are not a Christian - nice excuse for a knees up somewhere pretty that provides the warm fuzzy glow .