Religion & your LO

[Lu28]

Hubby and I aren't very religious people and we decided not to have Bella baptized. I want her to be able to choose her own path and not be forced into a certain religion/baptized into a certain religion. However, we do plan to let her attend some local religious classes they have for children that is non-denominational. We want her to be exposed to it and she can make the choice for herself.

I'm Catholic and DH is Protestant but we plan on having Aisling baptised as Protestant (I'm uncomfortable with where the Catholic church is going under the current Pope). Neither of us is religious really but we want Aisling to have the option of choosing whatever religion she wants or none at all when she's older. We both strongly believe though that a child is much less likely to choose any religion if they're not exposed to something and so we'll go along to church services until she tells us she's made a decision. Totally agree with Venus about religious classes, I think it's very important.

 

[freckleonear]

Hubby and I are both committed Christians, but we didn't have the children christened because we don't believe in infant baptism. Baptism is a symbol of a conversion that has already taken place, so only adults or much older children are baptised in our church. They come to church with us every week simply because that's what we do as a family, they will go to Sunday School when they are older and I will teach them about God's plan of salvation. However, having Christian parents does not make them Christians so faith is something they will need to come to on their own.

 

[bekkie]

I was raised christian but fell out of it on my own when i was a teen and my father and best friend both passed. ("god has a plan" and "they're in a better place" ... I couldn't handle it)

OH isn't religious, but we've both said that if and when Bobby starts asking questions about a higher power, that we will help him however we can and make sure that he is able to make an informed decision about what, if any, religious path he wants to take.

 

[aliss]

I'm not religious but OH is catholic (apparently). He doesn't care enough to get him baptized, but if he wanted, I would allow it. My theory is that if I don't care but it's important to him, then I will defer to his choice.

 

[maisiemoo]

Nope, not religious and will lo will definitely not be christened. I believe its important for my daughter to make her own choices where religion is concerned.

 

[bbyno1]

I was raised christian but fell out of it on my own when i was a teen and my father and best friend both passed. ("god has a plan" and "they're in a better place" ... I couldn't handle it)

OH isn't religious, but we've both said that if and when Bobby starts asking questions about a higher power, that we will help him however we can and make sure that he is able to make an informed decision about what, if any, religious path he wants to take.

I am sorry to hear about your loses x

 

[moomoo]

LO won't be getting christened.. Neither of us believe in it so would be highly hippocritical of us to do so.

We will bring him up with good manners and morals which I think are more important than religion IMO. Also when I see that a lot of what is wrong with the world is mostly down to religion I don't want that for him. Of course if he was to decide he'd like to follow religion I'd support him 100%

 

[KittyVentura]

We're both strongly athiest and our children will be brought up the same. We'll tell them about religions and gods etc but in the same way we'll tell them about other (in our opinions) fictional characters in any other story book.

If I could I'd keep them away from religion all together but there's no avoiding exposure to it and so we'd rather we tell them about religion our own way, before they hit school and/or have others views about it put to them.

No disrespect to anyone that does follow religion and have those beliefs... it's just not for me. I care too much for science and fact to believe in a higher power. I'm the same about most things that cannot be explained with fact or proof.

If they decided to follow religion... well I don't know how I'd feel to be honest. Because of the kind of person and "thinker" I am, and my need for facts, proof and to be able to explain and understand... I can't see things from a believers point of view. Literally can't get my head there... so if any of my children decided to follow religion... It would be hard for me I'm sure!

Edit: Realised it might seem I'm implying people that believe in religion don't care for facts or science. I don't mean it that way at all... just for me facts and science are ultimate and I can't believe in something that can't be prooved

xx

 

[chele]

Neither me or DH are religious so we're not getting Ellie christened. We'll totally support her if she decides to go down that route in later life though.

Same here

We weren't married in a church (couldn't get a vicar to marry us as DH is divorced, but never got married in church)
so we decided little point getting Max christened

 

[Gingerspice]

We're both Christians and lead a very godly orientated life. We both grew up in christian families and count ourselves blessed with that as both our parents are still very much in love with eachother and I think sharing the same beliefs has helped this to happen. However, we won't get LO christened as that is affirming something into their life which is our decision not theirs, so we will thank God for his gift to us, but any decision they take to follow any religion (they will get told bout others too) will be their choice and at that point then they can choose to partake in 'a joining' ceremony. If it is christian then they can be baptised by their choice when older/adult.
They will come to church with us each week though, until they are 16 when they can then choose whether to continue going or not. At that age I will be happy for them to remain at home should they not wish to come with us.This was the same principal my parents took with us.

 

[Rhiannon]

i was never christened as a baby, although DH was. we have no set religion that we believe in so arent getting LO christened.

i do think that leaving the decision until they are older is a good idea

xx

 

[Marzipan_girl]

I'm catholic...I don't go to mass as much as I should but I do have very strong beliefs. FOB on the other hand, doesn't want LO baptised at all, as he thinks religion is evil lol! He doesn't want his son turning into a "wierd religious freak."
However i'm going to baptise him anyway, and I know FOB will come round to it in the end. A baptisim doesn't suddenly alter your entire mind for life...both me and my brother were brought up in the same way, yet he isn't religious and doesn't believe in anything, and I do. We both made our own decisions in the end, as will LO--and i'll be supportive of that.

 

[New Mrs W]

I am a practising Catholic and have taken Frankie to mass every Sunday since he was born apart from the first Sunday as he had only just been born the day before! The priest came to see him when he was only a few days old and we booked his baptism then, it will be on 5th December. Hubby is not religious at all, but understands that my faith is important to me and is fully supportive.

 

[Dragonfly]

My son is not christened I want him to make up his own mind when he is old enough. though where i live you need to be to get into schools, we have one mixed primary school he can get into and no secondary schools so by then I am sure he will have made his mind up. Dont care if anyone else does it. My family arnt happy with me at all over it but we arnt religious.

 

[SAmummy]

I'm 'religious' although i dont like that word, I would prefer christian My daughter will attend church with me and hubbie and I will talk to her about my beliefs etc but she will make her own choices when she's old enough. I'm lucky that me and hubbie have the same religious views so it hasn't been an issue. My LO will have a blessing which is an alternative to christening and can be done whenever. I think if the fob wants baby to be christened and u dont mind then go for it x

same here. We will have Jed "dedicated" which is not quite the same as christening, but kind of like a blessing.

 

[Lyndz]

I wasn't christened & i'm not religious, DH was christened but also not relgious. We wont be getting Bella christened either. It's upto her when she's older if she wants to study any particular religion & make her choice if any, well be supportive of that.

 

[Lyndz]

I wasn't christened & i'm not religious, DH was christened but also not relgious. We wont be getting Bella christened either. It's upto her when she's older if she wants to study any particular religion & make her choice if any, we'll be supportive of that.


EDIT: OOOPS DOUBLE POST! SORRY!

 

[EmyDra]

I was born into a family of evangelical Christians.

Niether me or my brother were christened, my parents believe since it isn't in the bible then it is just a tradition and therefore not applicable to their faith.

So there's a complete different turn for you. Despite this most of my friends and family are christened. I quite like the traditional side of it, but won't be doing it myself for my LO. Maybe a 'naming ceremony' or something.

 

[Dragonfly]

I was born into a family of evangelical Christians.

Niether me or my brother were christened, my parents believe since it isn't in the bible then it is just a tradition and therefore not applicable to their faith.

So there's a complete different turn for you. Despite this most of my friends and family are christened. I quite like the traditional side of it, but won't be doing it myself for my LO. Maybe a 'naming ceremony' or something.

what is a naming ceremony? I thought that was a christening and seen it in williams baby book, you know like details of it and its blank for me. what do you do like throw a party to name baby? I dont think my ones would ever turn up for next baby if I had one, probably be even more pissed still no religion brought in.

 

[EmyDra]

I'm a bit unclear on it, think it's just like a party where you can appoint Godparents? I've seen we sell cards in work for it so it must be fairly normal now?

Really not sure, but it's a non-religious or multi-religious alternative to Christening was my understanding. A bit of googling maybe required.

(oh, and - come on baby Dragonfly!)