Christening Advice?

[Milzy]

So I'm an extreme atheist. In the last few years I've refused to attend christening invites. I'm not totally anti religion I respect people who practice their religion but do so properly. I can't stand religious hypocrites.

The brother in law who is still married to his ex has had a beautiful baby with another women. They don't practice any religion but technically he's committing adultery to make matters worse. Also his new partners 7 year old girl is getting christened so her farther will attend which is just even weirder. Then everyone goes for a meal and plays happy families.

I'm married to be a part of civil society and my daughter will be allowed to be christened when she's old enough to decide for her self. I don't need god parents as we've already had people to agree to look after our princess if the worst that should happen. I know I could just turn up and go along with things but I feel so strongly on the subject. An another brother in law had their child christened out of wedlock a few years ago so I did the Calderdale mountain bike marathon instead. They may think I'm a right knobber but I can't help my principles.
Would anyone here just tell them the real reasons why you don't want to attend? Maybe they'll respect my honesty??

 

[pplpilot]

I too am an atheist. Do as I do, politely decline the invite. If they take offence to you sticking to your beliefs then as Christians i'm sure they'll forgive you...

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I too am an atheist. Do as I do, politely decline the invite. If they take offence to you sticking to your beliefs then as Christians i'm sure they'll forgive you...

They're not his beliefs, he's married. And he's an extreme atheist who's not anti-religion! I can't really work it out, I think his problem isn't the church it's his family so my advice would be to formally dump them and have done with it, no more invites.

 

[nickyboy]

Go to the Christening. Your family know your position on religion already. By attending you are not implicitly supporting religion. It's just a nice thing to do for your family and I'm sure they will appreciate the effort you've made given your atheism

 

[numbnuts]

I'm the only one in my family that is religious, but the rest of the family only go to church for wedding and christening which reallys pisses me off and none of the will step inside a church again for a Sunday service, but they all seem to think it is the “right thing to do”. One of them even had it in Salisbury bloody Cathedral and the other in Winchester Cathedral talk about show-offs, I call them bloody hypocrites.

 

[growingvegetables]

Up to you, and obviously I don't know all the personalities and histories involved. So I won't mention "high horses" and "it's not all about you", and just revel in

... he's commuting adultery

So THAT'S why I enjoy riding to/from work so much .

 

[Milzy]

If they were married I'd probably grin and bare it but he's married to another women. The church should refuse to conduct ceremonies unless the families are vetted out to be true followers.

 

[pplpilot]

They're not his beliefs, he's married. And he's an extreme atheist who's not anti-religion!

I know...

 

[Markymark]

Atheism is the rejection of a deity. That has little to do with religion or religious hypocrisy.

I don't believe in any god or any religion but go along to what I'm invited to with good grace. It's not up to me to pass judgement on their choices. I save that for people on this forum

 

[Milzy]

Up to you, and obviously I don't know all the personalities and histories involved. So I won't mention "high horses" and "it's not all about you", and just revel in

So THAT'S why I enjoy riding to/from work so much .

lol had to amend that, I've just had a nice ride out on the commuter hack so that may be why.

 

[Milzy]

I'm the only one in my family that is religious, but the rest of the family only go to church for wedding and christening which reallys pisses me off and none of the will step inside a church again for a Sunday service, but they all seem to think it is the “right thing to do”. One of them even had it in Salisbury bloody Cathedral and the other in Winchester Cathedral talk about show-offs, I call them bloody hypocrites.

I know a few who've done the same and it really boils my wee.

 

[marinyork]

I know plenty of Christians that argue like cats and dogs about whether Christenings should happen or whether they should attend if invited. Many of the people I was brought up with think Christenings are wrong and an abomination.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

For an extreme atheist (whatever that is) you seem to hold some strong views about how people who do religious stuff should do it.

 

[jefmcg]

If you are really an atheist, then it's just a building, all they are saying are just words. They have no power, so why not go in? Not going feels pretty superstitious to me.

Go. Welcome the tyke into the world. It's sounds like she/he is going to need all the love and support that the family can give.

Ceremonies are important markers of transitions. We have secular versions for marriage and death, but oddly not birth.

 

[S-Express]

I believe vampires can actually suffocate when on consecrated ground, so may have valid reasons for avoiding such occasions. For everyone else, just GTF on with it. The day is about them, not you.