Is this Weird?

Ok, off the bat, I don't believe in *. I respect people who do and have no issue with their beliefs at all.

Right, I got my wee lassie Baptised the other day because even though I don't believe myself I still maintain my upbringing helped shape the person I am today and I want the same thing for my daughter.

I used to be an altar boy, then attended every week the whole nine yards, and for reasons I can't be arsed going into I lost my faith when I was about 16, by losing it I mean I stopped believing in an omnipotent being, I hadn't been at Chapel for a while before that (except in school).

Am I a hypocrite for choosing something for my Daughter that i don't believe myself just so that she can have the same upbringing as me or is it alright to guide her in a certain direction, all the while giving her the same freedoms to make up her mind as I did?

I must admit I felt very uncomfortable renouncing the Devil and the believing in * stuff but I got on with it.

I'd like to hear from the religious lads especially because I'd love to know what they think about me essentially lying during the Baptism.

I'm really not comfortable with this whole thing to be honest and if i could rewind the clock I probably wouldn't have done it.

So aye there ye go.

 

Is your other half religious

 

* sake is he schitzophrenic as well?

 

No.

My Grandmother (who brought me up) is very religious though and puts a lot of stock in this.

It's partly because of that but I must be honest and say most of this was my idea.

 

Naw!

Aye!

Naw!

* you!

 

I bring my kids up catholic even though I don't practice. When they make their confirmation they can make up their own mind. Their religious teachings come from school rather than home. I don't feel guilty as I feel I am giving them an opportunity to practice if they so want

 

If my parents had gotten me baptised under the same circumstances, I'd be wondering what kind of drugs they where on at the time..

Kidding on mate, but does seem like an odd thing to put on your child if you and your wife are non believers.

 

Strikes me as a bit peculiar. Don't really understand why you'd initiate your wean in a religion you don't follow. Bare in mind that I've been an atheist since before there were hairs on my baws. Maybe it's "an identity thing".

 

I can relate to that Sean. I had a reasonably religious upbringing, I can't say I subscribe to it all these days but I think it helped shape my character in a good way and at least gave me a reasonable moral compass.

I'm not Catholic so if I had a kid of my own I wouldn't get them baptized, but I think an understanding of religion and other belief systems is a good thing to have in life.

 

Don't think it's weird at all. In fact most people i know get the kids baptised but never attend church etc. - only enough to get the required number of visits to be able to use the church for their wedding/christening etc :smiley-laughing002:

I'm not sure why they do it, but they do and good on them if that's how they roll.
Personally i haven't baptised our kids even though i am a (ex?) Catholic.

 

Weird possibly but unusual no. Many parents who hold no or little actual religious beliefs will have their child baptised so that when at school the child doesn't become seen as someone different who is then bullied and mocked.

You as a parent are the child's ambassador and guide and can only do what you think is best. It's not for others to say what you have done is wrong.

 

I believe it's wrong to baptize a child when there is no reasonable hope that the child will be raised with the faith. As a non-believer, you might think that it's just a little sprinkle of water, but for * and the Church, it is so much more. By baptism we enter the Church as through the door, and the Church is none other than the Mystical Body of Christ. When we are baptized, we become members of Christ. This is an unequaled and unsurpassable dignity. We are vested with the three-fold office of Christ and share in His royal priesthood. We receive the baptismal character that marks us as adopted sons of * and grants us right to enjoy eternity with *. By baptism we are restored to sanctifying grace, which we lost through Adam. And that is nothing less that participating in the divine and intimate life of the Most Holy Trinity. Eastern Catholics (Greeks, Ukranians, etc.) talk of it as a process of divinization.

And although we given an exulted dignity that soars above the clouds, we also contract a grave responsibility in our baptism. In our selves, and also for those who have charge over us. In our selves, we are held even more to account before Christ to live a life in conformity with His, as we have been privileged with the waters of regeneration. And for those who have care over us, they must come to grips with the aweful and terible responsibility they have in seeing that the child is raised a Catholic. They will answer for their religious upbringing of their children. And woe to those that scandalise these little ones!

But there is no black and white standard for what constitutes a "reasonable hope". Some things are clearly beyond the pale, but others are not. Must parents be saints to have their children baptized? Absolutely not! But nor can they be in such a state where there can be no repair. I think that with you, there is a reasonable hope that the child will be raised as a Roman Catholic, albeit imperfectly. Should you have had her baptized? I'm not entirely sure. But what's done, is done. And I think you should honour the commitments you made in the chapel that day. Although you may not put any stock in it... what is there to lose? Even if you want to think of it int erms of * not-existing, at least you can assure that she's raised in a tradition where hope exists, where love is the cardinal virtue. Aye sure, she might believe a few fairy-tales about bread turning into the Body of Christ, but that's a small price to pay for the support and succour she'll receive in life, right?

And if the Church is right... if * does exist... then you have everything to win for her.

 

Surely that's just an every so slightly selfish way of looking at things?

It's like breaking faith down into game theory where the most positive choice is to believe in * due to the chance he/she exists and will lead you to ultimate happiness.

I don't think faith should be based on a potential reward at the end.

 

Lots of religious talk today here on talkceltic l, innit?:smiley-laughing002: I was baptized Catholic and had my confirmation done Protestant. I only did get confirmed because of the gifts though and I think my parents were aware of that.:smiley-laughing002:

 

Pretty much everyone I know who was brought up Catholic/went to Catholic school does this, I don't think it's weird at all.

Why not take her on a pilgrimage to Mecca, then buy her a wee statue of Buddha as well? You're no hurting anyone, you can do whatever you want. :smiley-laughing002:

 

I certainly do not see any problem with it all. why shouldn't you get her baptised, and she obviously will have the same freedom as you choose in later life.

I personally think its a very opened minded thing to do.

the church has been given the chance to present its ideals, if that only results in another human being having a bit more moral guidance from the teachings of the church then so be it.

good look to you and your family fella!

 

Yeah, it's just pouring water on her head.

 

That reminds me of the first time one of my mates had a wean.

He gave me a phone call one weekend to say we were going to "wet the babies head", I thought he meant it was her Christening. We ended up going to the pub and getting absolutely smashed.

The next weekend he phoned me to say we were going to wet the babies head again. And again, another night spent getting plastered.

The third time he phoned me I said, "Look mate, we need to go easy on the bevvy this time or the wean's never going to get Christened!"

 

Pascal's Wager.

 

couldn't remember the name of it.