my ds recently went to his cousin's christening - now he wants to be christened

[juicychops]

but i don't believe in god in the slightest

ive tried explaining to ds (nearly 7) that i don't believe in god but if he wants to then thats fine. Ive asked him why he wan't to be christened and he said he wants to be 'one of god's children'. ive told him if he believes in god then he is one of gods children etc but he wont accept that.

what can i say to him to make him understand? Ive told him that when he's older he can get christened if he would still like to. what else can i say?

bump

Well, as you've said it's fine for him to believe, then your role is to avoid obstructing him.

In the short term, I think a chat to the vicar might be a starting point. Are you prepared to sit through services for your DSes sake? (preferable to footie IMO, and you can alway read).

If you don't believe in God, then you can't make promises on his behalf.

Get him to delay a couple of years, while he nourishes his faith.

Since your Ds expresses interest in a faith I would try to get him to learn more about it and speak to a vicar. You seem open-minded about letting him choose. Once he's learned more he can make an educated decision.

I would not delay him finding out more about the faith he has chosen. If in later years he stops believing he can leave the church again. It is and should be his choice.

As others have said there is nothing you can say. You could find out a bit more about God yourself and why it is that you don't believe.
Stephen Gaukroger's book "It makes sense" can be had for a fiver from Scripture Union. It may help you to understand your ds better and also may help you to understand why you do not believe in God.

You could always try sending him to sunday school at your local church? That way he is learning about the concept and what it truely means and can make a decision based on more than one event? It may just be a case of satisfying his curiosity about what all the fuss was abour re the christening.

Children often feel a need to believe in a faith and it can give them comfort and grounding.

I think that you should help him to meet this need, even if you don't believe in it yourself.

Try him at Sunday school and then see if he wants to become baptised once he's got to know a bit more about it.

Just wanted to say that at 7, he's nearly or just about at the age when he can make his own promises, so you wouldn't have to promise for him (at least in the C of E or RC church, other denominations may feel differently). Agree with the idea about Sunday school and having a chat with the local vicar.

Not only that, you have to feel comfortable with what they are teaching at the church. I suggest you don't send him to one which teaches that if you don't believe in Jesus you're going to hell (I don't believe that, but some churches do teach it).

I would say to him that it is a big decision that should affect the choices he makes and the way he lives his whole life. As such he should make an effort to learn more about the religion and if, after attending Sunday school for a certain amount of time, he feels that is the right thing to do you will support him.

But also tell him that the God he says he believes in knows everything and as such will not hold not being christened against him while he is learning.

I asked to be christened at 8, got done at 33 before I got married in church. And oddly I do feel closer to god now.

There baptism/christening preparation classes maybe it would be good for you and ds (and the rest of the family) to go. Sometimes they are at the vicarage or church hall sometimes someone from the church comes to your house. Do you have family members or friend's who do believe that could be godparents?

If not I agree with sending him to church or Sunday school, preferably with you there but if you really can't there will be people who will look after him if you drop him off and pick him up. Try and find a family service, one with modern worship (guitars rather than choirs and hymns) you might need to try a few local churches. This might help www.achurchnearyou.com/

It may be God calling him strongly. I don't choose to have a faith, if you see what I mean, God called me strongly and despite my knowledge of science and archaeology I can't help but believe because I feel His power if I pray. Worship songs can move me to tears. When I live my faith I feel a peace and when I don't I know something is missing. Sorry if I'm rambling but I hope it helps you understand what he may be feeling.