Christening not my idea.

[Morgysmum]

My FIL, wants my son to be christened, I am not religious and FIL hasn't mentioned anything for 12 years. We have asked my so. If he wants to get christened, he has only agreed, because OH, said he will get presents. Thing is I am an Athesit, and we aren't even married, so don't see the point of a christening. In the service, will I have to say I will raise him in the name of God, as that will be a No, from me. Anyone knows what happens?

Why on earth are you doing what your FIL wants? Do you let him make all the major decisions about your child?

Yes you will have to say you are bringing the child up to be Christian. In fact I don’t think you can have a child christened if you are not practicing and a member of a church. When I became a godmother I was asked if I was christened. Wait until the child is an adult they can make there own mind up.

Is your name Pip Archer?

Wtaf? And your fil says jump and you ask how high? Batshit. 🦇

My son is 12, so we decided to let him., choose. I am against it, I think my partner is too scared to tell his dad where to go.

No.

I'm an atheist and we're having our son christened. I can hold my nose and go along with it for a day as it will make plenty of people happy.

My feeling is that Sunday school etc are a bit like a form of cultural education and based on my personal experience is unlikely to make you religious.

Don't do it.
I gave mine the choice, they said yes, my eldest now isn't into church really, but my youngest says she believes. But I also think she was wanting to wear a pretty dress and have cake.

I was christened as a baby. I think I'd have liked to have the choice. To be fair, whilst I'm not a Christian, I was considering doing confirmation classes a few years back, I enjoy study and books and it might sound weird but I have nowhere to go to celebrate what I think, feel and believe. I found church peaceful and it meant something inside. I think if I hadn't already been christened then that's what I would have had done.

Please don't do it because someone else says you have to. It's harmless, but in this particular case I'd stand your ground because your son sounds like he wants to for the wrong reasons and your FIL shouldn't get to feel he can push you both into something he wants, it's not right.

If your son is 12, he will be the one making the promises, not you, and it is really his decision, not yours. Show him what they are and ask if he can honestly promise those things: www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/christian-initiation/baptism-and-confirmation

If he says he wants to do it, then the vicar should also go through them with him as well before doing the baptism.