to not want to go to christenings?

[GreenGoth89]

On several grounds - firstly because I feel in this day and age if you want a naming/welcoming to the world ceremony it doesn't need to be in religious context. I feel it's hypocritical when the parents aren't religious and have no plans to become so, and not allowing a child to have free choice in later life about their spiritual choices - you can't be unbaptised! It's one thing bringing a child up in a culturally religious context or with the teachings of religion or spirituality but I feel especially if you don't actually believe in God baptism of a child without them knowing what it means and agreeing with it isn't right.

DP thinks I'm being highly unreasonable even suggesting I won't go to a (not even remotely close) friend's new born and 5 y/o daughter's joint christening ceremony because I feel it's not right, in the same way that people that don't have religious families or are religious themselves shouldn't have a wedding in a church just because they like the venue. It makes it a meaningless practice! (I'm not religious btw, but I am spiritual) I'm aware I'll most likely be hounded out of town but I just wondered if anyone felt the same?

My child isn't christened as I wanted her to make her own mind up. My mil said she wouldn't be let into heaven if she died... What a nice God.

I think my dc would make their own mind up about religion whether I'd had them christened or not tbh. If having a ceremony as a baby were enough to decide their future behaviour and decisions about things, I think I'd have had a 'keep your room tidy' ceremony, an 'eat the dinner your mother/father has slaved over' ceremony and a 'do your homework happily and without procrastination ' ceremony.

Yes, one of the reasons mine weren't baptised Cinnamon - that old sheep and goats, heaven and hell thing (sorry sheep and goats is a biblical reference not everyone may know ) But what kind of crazy God would let some babies into his heavenly nursery and others not based on a bit of water sprinkling, or even their parents faith. I don't think so!
Fortunately I've always thought hell was a ridiculous idea, I think most people do nowadays? Hope so anyway

LOL I think we're very like minded Tehlu

Yeh, parties are good Lumpy
A new baby is a good excuse to have one!

DD and DS were dedicated at our Church. We didn't want them baptised as that's something they can decide to do as adults if they want to. However we wanted to acknowledge our faith and our decision to bring them up within those values, as children.

We invited close family only, with no expectation they would come and specifically said no gifts. It wasn't about presents or who was watching from the pews.

I would only go to a Christening of a child who's parents were Christians, otherwise I don't quite get why you'd do it. I wouldn't go to a naming ceremony, not sure what the point is and it seems like a second opportunity for baby gifts [cynical]

My husband and I were both Christened. We were married in a church. Our eldest has been christened and our youngest will be in may. A big part of the day is the religious aspect but it's also such a happy occasion where you get to enjoy a lovely afternoon with friends and family to celebrate your child. If my boys grow up and decide it's not for them fine. At least they know we did what we thought was best and that is what being a parent is about. If people are so miserable about life that they can turn their noses up at being invited to something so happy then I pity them. You have been invited because you were wanted there. Accept graciously and try and enjoy it. Weddings and christenings are such happy events I wish there were more!

Tricky one. We got DC1 baptised because DH felt very strongly about it at the time for religious reasons and I wanted some kind of ceremony to welcome DC1 to the family, so was happy to have one that fitted with DH's faith.

Since then he has become Buddhist (!!!) and when DC2 was born we did consider just having a Humanist naming ceremony but a) (and most importantly) we wanted to do the same for both children, just because that's what felt fair to us, b)they're growing up in a CofE country, would be going to a CofE school and it seemed like it might make their life easier in some ways and c) (although it wasn't a huge part of our decision) Humanist ceremonies cost money, a couple of hundred quid, but Baptisms are free. Just saying.

So YANU to not want to go, but YMBU (you might be unreasonable) to disapprove unless you absolutely know 100% what the family's reasons are and still believe them to be hypocritical.

YABU. If parents choose to have their child christened or a religious name changing ceremony what's it got to do with you? Maybe they have beliefs that you aren't privy to? You sound like you have a massive chip on your shoulder to be honest.

I have been to ceremonies of many different faiths, and I have no problem with that, it's just why do it if they don't believe in it. They were either lying when they told me their lack of Christian beliefs or they're doing it purely to have a party in which case fair enough but why have a religious element that they don't believe in?

Life's too short to judge - there are at least 50 shades of grey!
Though I've not read the book - it sounds dreadful

why do it if they don't believe in it.

Have you asked them?

Most of the Christenings I've been to have been purely for the party after. None of the kids christened have regularly attended church after and neither did their parents before them. Very hypocritical me thinks. I don't go to Christenings anymore as I'm not religious and it feels wrong sitting there listening to stuff I'm not interested in and all the while wishing they'd hurry up so I can go get drunk

YANBU - winds me up something rotten. I believe that most people do it these days to get their DC into certain schools which again I don't agree with.

I am vaguely pagan

Speaking of your Paganism-ish....what do you mean by that?

What does it mean to you? Do you anything for it? Like go Stonehenge at the Solstice.

You sound as wishy washy as them tbh.