AIBU?
Is it unusual to have no godparents?
windmills88 · 15/11/2019 16:44
Do your children have godparents and if so, who are they and how many? Do most kids have godparents or is it quite unusual these days?
I wasn't planning to have any for our first child and wasn't going to have a christening either, but DH is keen - even though we're not religious.
I'm just wondering what most people do really!
GettingABitDesperateNow · 15/11/2019 16:50
Mine dont have any. It seems odd when you're not religious and it's like trying to force a special relationship to me. I am not sure either if the whole looking after them when you die thing holds either - I understood SS take wills etc into account but not sure if they take godparents into account- either way it's not legally binding and they will look into what's best for the child at that time.
xyzandabc · 15/11/2019 16:51
I don't have any god parents, my kids don't have any god parents. We are not religious.
If you're religious, have a christening, nominate godparents. If you're not, don't.
I thought the whole idea of God parents is an extra adult who can bring up the child within the teaching of the church.
No reason why you couldn't ask people to be significant in your child's life, setting good examples, moral guidance, being an extra person to look out for them, support them and listen to them. Just don't call them god parents or have a christening unless you want them to also bring a 'godly' element to the relationship.
modgepodge · 15/11/2019 16:51
I find it a bit odd when non religious people christen their children to be honest. Aren’t you promising to raise them in the way of the church? If you aren’t going to do that, why the christening? Just for the party/presents?
I see the poster above wants adults who are kind of stand in parents in case of anything happening to them. Makes sense, but I don’t think the religious element is necessary - wouldn’t this go in a will?
I hardly know anyone who has godparents for their children these days - those that do are religious and attend church regularly.
FizzyGreenWater · 15/11/2019 16:51
No, because we aren't religious.
The nominating someone who can raise the child if you die is something completely different and should be stipulated in a will anyway.
I kind of get the idea of nominating an adult who can be someone for the child to turn to but in practice Iit seems that non-religious people suddenly getting enthusiastic about godparents and christenings are about one thing - presents and cash. I know at least one person who had about five godparents, at least one of whom was selected because they were well off. Bit grim really...
meow1989 · 15/11/2019 16:56
I'm not christened and neither is my sister, we dont have god parents. Dh was baptised catholic so does have god parents but never had his confirmation as a child and hasnt seen his god parents in years, I dont know if he even knows who they are.
Neither of us are religious so ds will not be being baptised unless he makes the decision to be.
I do have a godson but it's been years since I've seen him 
Confusedbeetle · 15/11/2019 16:57
The idea of christening is to bring the child into the arms of the Christian Church. The idea of Godparents is to ensure that the child is brought up in the Christian faith if the parents are not able to do that. If you are not religious why promise to do these things?
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