anyone not getting there babys christend?

[BabyJayne]

That's a great point Amanda.

Madeline is getting christened tomorrow. She will be christened in the church that I went to as a little girl, which is the church I married in, that my brothers were christened in and that held the funerals of my beloved mum and my nanna.

I am not a devoted Christian. I haven't been to church regularly for many years. But I used to go as a little girl, and I still have contact with many of the people that we met through this particular church when I was young. To me, tomorrow is about Madeline being welcomed into a community where she will always be able to turn should she wish. It's about continuing a strong family link to this particular church, and while I do not attend church week in, week out, and am not a practicing Christian, I do not feel hypocritical for choosing to christen my daughter.

 

[pinklightbulb]

We won't be getting Eamon christened. We aren't religious at all.

 

[Dopeyjopey]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

It's a good question (albeit one which might kick things off!)

For me personally, we do celebrate Christmas (although it is the celebration of family rather than the birth of Jesus). We don't celebrate Easter (although I'm sure we'll get Rebecca the odd Easter egg when she's older as I wont want her to feel she is missing out).

In my opinion, Christmas in many ways has gone beyond just celebrating the birth of Jesus (I'm not arguing whether this is right or wrong!) . It is a time for family and to share with those you love. There are many aspects which don't directly link to religion (Santa, Christmas trees etc). and it is those which we tend to focus on. I do still sing religious carols etc. as I'm not so against religion as all that!

When Rebecca is older I will be teaching her the Christian beliefs around Christmas and Easter, but equally I will be telling her why Jews celebrate Hannukah, Muslims celebrate Eid, Hindus celebrate Diwali etc. etc. I think that's an important part of a rounded education.

i feel exactly the same way. I will be mark many different religious holidays with albert, not necessarily because i want him to believe the religious aspect but because i want him to be open minded and accepting of different views.

 

[Seity]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

Fair question. No, I don't celebrate Easter. Christmas is a holiday that was changed to make it more appealing to those who celebrated other 'holidays' near that time frame and incorporated a lot of different traditions (solstice anyone?), so I don't feel it is hypocritical to celebrate at that time and spend time with family and give gifts. Also, celebrating a holiday along with others who do believe isn't hypocritical. I help my Jewish friends celebrate Hannukah and yet I'm not and never have been Jewish.
However, at a baptism you specifically state that you will plan to raise your child in that faith, so yes, I think it would be hypocritical to baptize my child when I have no intent of raising him and teaching him about that faith.

 

[Jchihuahua]

We are having a naming ceremony rather than a christening as we are not religious.

 

[Dragonfly]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

chocolate eggs and Christmas trees have nothing to do with Jesus I dont think. Or do they? And I want my kid to know about all religions not just Christians so no i dont think its hypocritical. Its called being open minded and allowing your child to have a choice in my eyes.

 

[MrsBandEgglet]

We're not having Arthur christened and although I haven't really looked into it yet I would like to do something as a compromise because although my husband doesn't believe in God, I do and I'd like my children to at least be aware of my faith even if they don't share it. I would never inflict it on them when they're too young to understand but I think when parents have conflicting views and beliefs it's important to compromise. I'm not going to suddenly stop believing and I wouldn't expect OH to suddenly start. If, when they're old enough, my children decide they want to be christened that's absolutely fine by me, if not that's also fine xx

 

[moomoo]

We don't celebrate Easter or Christmas, but we all eat drink and get merry at that time of year as everyone has the time off! If it was another religious time we'd still do the same. Easter we don't celebrate at all.

 

[HollySSmith]

I don't plan on getting Dominic baptised. DH is Lutheran and I'm Catholic (though we are both non-practising). We were married in a church but that was to keep the peace and neither had to convert. I know both our families want us to get him baptized but I don't want to have a fight over which is the better religion. Luckily we don't have to get him done to get into the catholic schools (if thats what we want)....Our families haven't brought up baptism yet but its only a matter of time lol...

 

[08marchbean]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

well nowadays both holidays seem to be nothing about the faith to most people and is a 'holiday' for everyone regardless of faith. and i think the thing that people(including myself) are saying is hypocritical is standing in a church, sometimes in a rather formal ceremony, stating that you will bring up your child in accordance to that particualr faith etc. when they have no intention of doing so. i dont see eating and giving a few presents at christmas being hypocritical in the same sence as that.

 

[pinktaffy]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

well i will be celabrating xmass not so much easter will get her a egg
but we dont go to churge or pray or give thanx or anything on xmass. to me its a nice holliday to get to gether with yor famley and freinds.
im not a jehovah's witness or any other religine that doesnt celabrat xmass. im just not getting her chrisend

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

We didn't get Aidan christened as I am unsure of what my religious beliefs are. And a christening is a Christian ceremony where a child is accepted into the church and to god. Therefore I believe getting hin christened would be mocking the meaning of a christening and the Christian faith
xx

 

[pinktaffy]

We didn't get Aidan christened as I am unsure of what my religious beliefs are. And a christening is a Christian ceremony where a child is accepted into the church and to god. Therefore I believe getting hin christened would be mocking the meaning of a christening and the Christian faith
xx

totally agree

 

[Amandabelk05]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

chocolate eggs and Christmas trees have nothing to do with Jesus I dont think. Or do they? And I want my kid to know about all religions not just Christians so no i dont think its hypocritical. Its called being open minded and allowing your child to have a choice in my eyes.

I think your being quite patronising where there is no need to be (and pretty much what I find most of your posts to be) I'm sure every one realises that chocolate eggs and Christmas trees have nothing to do with religion!!!!

 

[Amandabelk05]

Does christening make my child a Christian? No, because it is up to your child to decide whether or not to follow Jesus Christ, and no church service has the power to force a child to make a particular choice. The best way of ensuring that your child does become a follower of Jesus is to attend church regularly as a family, so that you can all grow as part of the community which follows Jesus.

From: https://www.baptism.org.uk/christening.htm

Sorry to the OP as a bit OT. I know plenty of people who are not getting their LO's Christened and I have been to a few naming ceremonies instead of Christenings and these are really nice.

 

[Amandabelk05]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

That's exactly what I was wondering! And I have a little Poppy too! Great minds think alike hey?

Most definitely

 

[Linzi]

We didn't get Aidan christened as I am unsure of what my religious beliefs are. And a christening is a Christian ceremony where a child is accepted into the church and to god. Therefore I believe getting hin christened would be mocking the meaning of a christening and the Christian faith
xx

totally agree

Yep 100% agree with that x

 

[catfromaus]

Both DH and I are Christians, we go to church every week and have every intention of bringing Emma up in the church.
She's still not getting Christened though!
I see baptism as a choice for her to make. In DH's family (who don't go to church) all the kids are christened, and it is really an excuse for a party. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable, tbh. God knows how I want to bring Emma up. I don't need to have a ceremony to confirm it.

 

[newmommy23]

Just a question - which I'll probably get shot for and I don't want to cause an argument but you're all saying it's hypocritical does this mean that none of you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your LO's as surely this would be hypocritical too??

Not to cause an argument here either, but what does Christmas really have to do with Christianity for most people? Very little heh. For most people its about family!
As for me, I do not celebrate christmas or easter. No mark for Easter, and our family gets together at the "christmas" time and we get presents but it is in no means a celebration of the birth of christ, its just a nice holiday since we're all out of school anyway....

 

[SamGames23]

My OH and I never were, so we never plan on having it done to our kids. Our parents didn't care either way.

Don't really see the point when we don't go to church or anything.