To wonder why people that aren't religious have their children christened

[leavethewallalone]

I've been to a lot of christenings lately. None of the families are in any way religious. The other children in the family were also christened, and outside of their christening, do not practice religion, attend church, etc. I have lost track on how much we must have spent on christening gifts which I can't really afford right now, but also don't like turning up without anything.

One family didn't want a christening but instead had a naming ceremony (for a 9 month old...who had been named 9 months ago). They received piles of gifts and in truth I did wonder if the whole thing was just for that.

The only reason I can think of is tradition within the family, but none of the family members are religious either and parents aren't christened

Probably the same reason I celebrate Christmas - tradition I suppose.

School places, because family expect it, excuse for a party

Excuse for a party and more presents is my thoughts most of the time. Are school places affected?

I expect it's because the Christian establishment maintained - by force, both physical and spiritual - a stranglehold on our society and culture for so many hundreds of years that its prescribed social practices became ingrained, and remain so to a greater or lesser extent, long after we have grown out of the supernatural belief side of things.

Its an occasion for attention to be on you and the baby, a piss up and gifts.

Oh and of course social media likes.

I wonder the same, OP.

I remember having a conversation with a colleague who was a talking about how he was a massive Richard Dawkins fan and a fervent atheist. Yet he had his children christened! Bonkers.

I would not normally take or expect Christening gifts other than from godparents.

I think it's tradition.

Having said that it's disrespectful imo to stand in a church and lie through your teeth in the name of tradition.

Then again if you feel this strongly OP, why attend at all?

It's hypocritical.

Tradition, a chance for friends and family to meet new baby all at the same time, excuse for a party or celebration?
I think lots of people would have weddings, christenings and funerals in churches even if they don't go on a regular basis

For a piss up

Same sort of people that have baby showers and gender reveals. Grabby dickheads basically.

To get into certain schools?

*Having said that it's disrespectful imo to stand in a church and lie through your teeth in the name of tradition.

Then again if you feel this strongly OP, why attend at all?*

They're family and close friends.
I'm notnnecessarily an o

But people who aren't religious don't get their children christened.

Didn't mean to hit post and keyboard did its own thing.

I'm not necessarily annoyed about going to them. I'm about £100 down in christening gifts and that's the most annoying part. The last one didn't even provide food.

Tradition and to formally introduce the baby to family and friends. Life is short, big meet ups that aren’t funerals are few and far between, so why not celebrate things when they crop up? Don’t attend them if you are bothered! I didn’t have mine christened but it’s nice to attend these things and see people you never usually get round to seeing.

I think human beings are naturally attracted to ritual, especially when it comes to marking major events whether personal (marriage, baby) or seasonal. Historically we all tended to meet that need through religion and we had these events and rituals to connect us with each other. Now more and more people are agnostic or atheist, but still want that ceremonial feeling. Even if you’re not a Christian I can see why it would appeal.

School places are undoubtedly another consideration. Perhaps people feel that their children ought to have access to the schools, within catchment, that their taxes pay for, and that feigning belief in a largely defunct state religion is the lesser of two evils when compared with publicly funded schools excluding children on the basis of their parents' spiritual beliefs?

I had both my children baptised when they were weeks old and I wasn’t particularly a church goer at the time. There were many reasons - tradition (they both wore the gown that I was baptised in as was my mother and my grandfather), celebration of their arrival, an excuse for a nice get together.

But the real reason was fear. What if something terrible happened to them and I hadn’t baptised them? Would they go to hell? Or purgatory? I don’t know - I’m not convinced I believe in hell. But I wasn’t willing to risk it.

(Note - I was raised in the church - grandfather a vicar - and do now attend regularly.)

Cultural tradition is pretty much the beginning and end of it.

The same reason Christmas is celebrated every year by a vast array of non-religious, non-Christian people and no-one questions that.

Round here everyone does.
I consider myself religious -dh doesn’t- I’d have ideally wanted my children christened but dh being atheist we eventually both agreed it was best we didn’t.
but everyone else thought this was very strange. Went to many many other christenings despite the families not being remotely religious. Obvs all with expensive parties and we took gifts etc. I am totally fine to turn up to a party but I find it all very odd. School places often had something to do with it but not in any cases I know.

An acquaintance of mine's daughter had a baby shower, a gender reveal party, a christening and a first birthday party for her baby.

And looking at the photos on FB, she had a fairly big turn out for all of them. I've seen far less fuss over a royal baby.