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Original poster

Atheists call for 'debaptism' - should be 'An Atheist'

87 replies

beanieb · 17/03/2009 23:13

story

I suppose I am an Atheist, though I am not sure. I was raised without religion, was never Christened, don't think I was taught not to believe but rather that I was not exposed to any kind of religion at home.

So I call myself and Atheist, but I am not calling for 'debaptism' - Personally I don't need to be debaptised.

Anyone else here feel that strongly about their Atheism that they would get debaptised?

OP posts:
Pruners · 23/03/2009 17:14

Message withdrawn

Pruners · 23/03/2009 17:15

Message withdrawn

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 23/03/2009 17:18

And no frozen orange juice for hubby in the morning, btw, only WHORES use anything other than fresh....

muffle · 23/03/2009 17:19

I love the bit at the end about how to do all this "without getting into big long discussions with unbelievers" - because of course you wouldn't want any questions would you, or rational arguments? La la la la la laaa, not listening!!!

It's got to be satire surely? If it is it's v. good.

Pruners · 23/03/2009 17:20

Message withdrawn

UnquietDad · 23/03/2009 18:05

She is after a reaction - any reaction - as is made clear in the comments. It's a bit like those smug "you can't stop me praying for you" Christians one occasionally meets - they love it if they annoy you.

UnquietDad · 23/03/2009 18:06

Jesus H Christ on a bike, have you read her stuff on "liberals"? She is Ann Coulter.

Pruners · 23/03/2009 19:12

Message withdrawn

Pruners · 23/03/2009 19:17

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OldLadyKnowsNothing · 24/03/2009 12:48

You'll burn in hell for that, Pruners.

Mumcentreplus · 24/03/2009 13:02

Debaptism?

Pruners · 24/03/2009 16:52

Message withdrawn

EachPeachPearMum · 26/03/2009 09:50

Hmm... you see- this is why they have Dedication- so that parents can choose to raise their children as Christians, but the child (who is too young to make a choice) can decide when they are older whether to be confirmed/baptised or not, thus escaping damnation.

Why don't more churches offer it?

I and my siblings were all dedicated not christened as my parents did not want to make that decision for us- they strongly believed a person chooses his own path... but unfortunately my father had been indoctrinated as a child, and feared (still fears ) damnation.

(He has only been buddhist for 50+ years now... wonder when Catholicism wears off?)

Btw 2 of us chose to be confirmed christians, (1 still practices, 1 is lapsed), 1 of us is buddhist, 1 of us is atheist. Not too hard to work out which one I am...

elodiemum · 07/04/2009 16:07

Many churches are now moving towards thanksgiving services for infants and adult baptism rather than infant baptism, the thanksgiving service is a service where the parents say thank you for the gift of a child and pray that the child will in time come to know Jesus themselves.

I noticed lots of people saying that people had been hurt by organised religion etc. I am sorry for anyone who has been hurt in anyway and it is true that some people have done some evil deeds in the name God, however, this is mainly the bad things of men and it is faith and belif which are the basis of any faith - religion is very different to faith and belief. I think it is so important to see that.

IMO - If you are a baptised Atheist and want a de-baptism - then just stand up and say that you know longer believe. Obviously, you can't say this to a God you don't belive in, but if it makes you feel better then why not - if Atheism is your belief (I believe that assuming there is no higher being is as much as a belif system as any other) then you can choose to have whatever ceremonies you want.

If you have an issue about your baptism, then it should be discussed with the people who made the promise and baptised you - your parents and God parents in most cases. They will have made a promise to raise you and to teach you about the Christian faith, and they would have made this promise to God - if you don't believe in God then surely this record is nil and void anyway?? #

AS someone has already said, the church record is just an historical record of who was baptised on that day - when you fill in forms that ask for your faith etc - you don't have to say you are Christian just cause you where baptised, being baptised does not make you a Christian - it's believing that does that.

I hope you feel at peace whatever choices you make

Higglepig · 07/04/2009 20:16

Just had a quick gander through this thread. All very interesting/thought-provoking etc but that link... surely a piss-take, non?

The stuff about being a good Christian wife?

"ALWAYS serve fresh orange juice. Only whores use frozen.

"Bake lots of cookies and cakes and treats. ALWAYS REMEMBER a fat Husband is a faithful Husband."

Anyway, compelling nonetheless

nooka · 13/04/2009 06:03

Aetheism is not a belief. It is I guess more accurate to say it is an "anti-belief".

I was christened and confirmed a Catholic. It is part of my personal history, and not something I think of as being a problem. However it would be if for any reason it became important - like if I wanted to marry the heir to the throne, I guess. There are instances where people may want to formally distance themselves from the previous association, and at present no mechanism. Personally I think a note on the register would be fine, if it was a formal thing. I guess people are looking for the equivalent of divorce really.

nooka · 13/04/2009 06:18

Oh, and that blog has to be 100% "satire" and not terribly clever with it. I have never met a Christian who called anyone a twat (when attempting to spread the word of god that is) or talked about people going to hell, pissing on Christ etc etc. A bit pathetic really.

Nighbynight · 13/04/2009 06:52

I have noticed very strong atheist beliefs voiced on mumsnet, and a surprising level of vitriol against the church of england. (why do you say it's not a belief, nooka? It's not a coherent set of beliefs like a religion, but it's certainly a belief, that there is no god)

I think atheists are on a roll at the moment, and are attacking organised religion across the board, eg through employment law, adverts on buses, anti-islamist hysteria and de-baptism.

justaboutspringtime · 13/04/2009 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

onagar · 13/04/2009 11:04

The blog is clearly meant to be funny, but you can find everything there in some real life christians.

Of course the part about burning in hell is a central part of many christians beliefs and one that many evengelical christians use to try and frighten people into joining them.

I know hell has been phased out for the 'Sunday Only' christians. You know the "as long as I say I love god I can do what I like" crowd.

Nooka, you don't have to look far. Just read the threads on here. There is one at the moment where a woman is being abused by the vicar for not going to church one night.

Nighbynight, two different things. Atheism means those people who have not been talked into believing there is a god by someone with a collecting plate in their hand. It's not even a group as such just a description. If you don't believe the hindu gods are literally true then you are an atheist where they are concerned.

Opposition to organised religion is another matter. I would leave you all to it but christians demand and get the legal right to force our children to worship their god.

That's disgusting and I opppose it like any decent person should

Nighbynight · 13/04/2009 17:17

Very clever to try and frame the debate with religion as the opt-in minority, onagar, and the majority silently agreeing with you. You seem to have left out agnostics, though.
Why do you feel the need to be so unpleasant about christians? ("..talked into believing there is a god by someone with a collecting plate in their hand.")

By the way, would you find it equally "disgusting" if the teachers at the school told your child that god doesnt exist? I suspect that you wouldnt mind about that. In other words, when the school teaches what you believe, you would find that OK. Oh sorry, I forgot - you are right, arent you

onagar · 13/04/2009 17:40

Not me being clever.

"I contend that we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all other possible gods, then you will know why I dismiss yours." (Stephen F. Roberts)

The point being that if there is one religion that you believe is false then any argument that you could come up with to dismiss that religion will just as easily apply to yours. Of course you may believe that every religion is true.

And what I said was disgusting was one religion demanding and getting the right to force others to worship it.

It would also be disgusting if schools demanded that your children stand up and say "there is no god" as a condition of accepting them.

I am advocating a neutral position under the law.

onagar · 13/04/2009 17:48

Just realised what you meant about the opt-in minority. A misunderstand there I think.

I do not believe in god. That's not the same as believing there is not a god since that as you say would be a belief too.

My opposition to organised religion having legal rights over non believers you can think of as a seperate moral/political view and would be the same whether god existed or not.

As for agnostics, well technically agnostic IS the correct word. We discussed this on here a while back. The trouble is that agnostic has come to mean to many people "not sure if I believe in god or not" so I avoid it.

Nighbynight · 13/04/2009 17:48

that is just a piece of arguing. You don't have to think that all religion is true to reject it, merely that all recognised religions are valid.

I attended c of e schools, and dont recall ever being forced to stand up and say that god existed. And the complaints I see on mn usually dont involve that either, just children being told things that the parents dont agree with.

I dont mind if my children get christianity, islam, hinduism, atheism etc from the teachers at school. The education that they get from home is that they should make up their own minds. which is why I find posts like your "disgusting" comment hard to agree with.

onagar · 13/04/2009 18:27

All UK schools are required by law to perform an act of worship. There are lots of threads on MN about it. You will find that many religious people think that is wrong too.

That's seperate from teaching ABOUT religion which is ok because it's like history and geography.

If you believe all religions are valid then the quote "I contend that we are both atheists" doesn't apply to you.

However I note that you said "all recognised religions" which suggests you are dismissing some as not 'proper' religions.

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