To wonder why non religious people get their babies christened?

[Topsyshair]

Before anyone gets very offended, I do realise that it's entirely up to the parents what they do.

I just wonder the reasoning behind it. I know a few people who are not religious at all, never set foot in a church unless to attend a wedding, yet have their babies christened.

What puzzles me more is some of these people claim to have no money and be very poor but pay for a christening do.

Most reasons above. My baby will be christened but I'm truly not arsed either way. I really want it to be a celebration of the birth of possibly my last child. All my family and friends who haven't met him and may not have an opportunity to do so again will be together. Thats the bit i like, having everyone together to celebrate a little baby.
The Catholic schools also perform better,another reason i chose to get them christened. I was never christened and i couldnt get one child christened and not the other.

“I am intrigued by non believers getting their children christened, though. It must be a deep psychological need to officially belong to the Church?”

I think your intrigue is making you overthink it tbh- it’s nothing to with a deep need to belong. We christened our children and I’ve not thought about it since.

There is no desire to be in the church. I want to broaden the range of schools available to my dc.

I am a Christian and attend church regularly so obv. my DC were baptised but I don’t have a problem with non-believers having their DC baptised. It welcomes new babies into the family. It’s traditionally been a rite of passage in the UK for two millennia and old habits die hard. It doesn’t seem any different to non-believers wanting a church wedding or a church funeral.

MarklahMarklah Do pagans have some sort of dedication or naming ceremony that parallels a christening?

Interesting. I'm over thinking it because I was raised in a very strict RC family. It's all a bit more relaxed now. I am lapsed and my husband is atheist, so we didn't get ours baptised or christened. Then again, we're in the fortunate position of being able to pay for independent schools. If it helps your kids, go for it!

There are people who get their children baptised to try and get them into better schools, but OP mentions low income people in her OP and there's not going to be much overlap between those two groups.

Don't underestimate cultural factors OP. Some people do it because they like the ritual, it's what they had and they want the same for their child.

“There are people who get their children baptised to try and get them into better schools, but OP mentions low income people in her OP and there's not going to be much overlap between those two groups.”

?? Are you saying poor people don’t care what school their children go to?!

Clinoba- that makes sense- I was raised RC and it is easy to expect everyone to be as indoctorined and controlled by the church as we were! I find cofe particularly far more relaxed

My children were never baptised. I was and deeply regret it but my name is now on the baptismal roll along with millions of others who have no belief in the Christian god but whose presence on that said roll is used by the church to justify their interference in our government.

It is virtually impossible to have your name removed. I wonder actually now whether GDPR might work.... all my earlier attempts have failed.

I feel very, very strongly about not having our baby christened. I'm not christened myself for a start which doesn't go down well! I normally go with the flow but I am willing to annoy family on this one.

I just think religion should be the choice of the child.

I've often wondered too and schools are a big factor.

Same happens with first holy communion too.

There was a mum who would drop her DC to church when preparing for HC... (as weekly mass attendance is compulsory during that time) just when the register needed signing then they'd leave.

Our parish priest said for some kids their first holy communion is actually their last and you never see them again.

Once they have the certificate for high school admission they're done.

Yes glintandglide I think the C of E seems to have moved with the times.

Sandys post is a perfect example as to why any frustration with the system should be directly at the clergy. They’re the ones deciding to christen/ Marry non attenders

Children no longer have to be Christened/baptised where I live. My DGM taught in a Catholic primary school for decades and eventually, the school had to drop the rule of Catholic children only because there just wasn’t enough uptake.

Anyway, I think some do it for the party and the presents in all honesty.

I think a lot of christian ceremonies have become part of traditional culture in the UK - as people become less religious they still want to maintain those traditions. Christening your baby is also a chance to show it off to friends and family and have a little party.

You don’t have to be baptised anywhere, but when a school is over subscribed that’s high on a church schools admission criteria so you’re less likely to get a place.

There are 2 crap catholic schools near me who will take anyone and still has spaces. They can’t reject non christene people when they have spaces (unless private)

"If my DD doesnt want to believe in that when shes older she can do as she pleases when shes old enough to make her own decisions."
She can't unbaptise herself though, can she?

I don’t think it’s for the presents. Christening presents are pretty much always the sort of thing you don’t want

Presents and a party.

For thousands of years religions shoved themselves into every aspect of people's lives, took over all the important life events, controlled mating and fertility. They'd still do it if they could get away with it. If they feel hard-done-by now because non-religious people get married and have christenings in churches...tough shit.

Totally agree with that juells. More fool them, about time the little man got a little revenge.

Schooling or indoctrination / parents bothering them

My ILs bother us regularly - we nearly did at one point but I'm over it - not interested - naming ceremony perhaps but they're a bit older now so when grown up they can make their own choices

Schooling! Statistically religious schools do much better

I think that's part of it. Also some people see it as a cultural right of passage... and of course some people are just cheeky present grabbers

I think very few actually religious people actually think the christening does everything it says on the tin though.

Tradition, family pressure, excuse for a party and schooling.
DS is not christened because I'm agnostic, but he attends a catholic school - when he is old enough to make his own decision he can go ahead. I'm not christened but my adoptive parents were heavily methodist and I've had all the guuilt trips about getting DS christened 'what about if he dies' etc.... Lovely.

I think it’s a bit odd but it does help to fund the church.
We are regular attenders at church but haven’t christened our child as I believe it’s a nonsense to baptise a baby, they should decide when an adult.
If the school issue became a problem I would simply get letters from a few priests and vicars confining our regular attendance.

Confirming*