I recently attended a Baptism. Anyone who has followed this blog for a while or who knows me personally will know I am not religious. I am an atheist and in light of recent World events, I believe more and more that religion causes more problems than it solves.
Does that make me hypocritical then for attending a Catholic Baptism?
I don’t believe it does.
I attended because getting the baby Baptised was important to my friends. Just because I don’t believe something doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t, and ultimately, the day is about the baby, not the ceremony.
The priest talked a lot about individuality and accepting people as they are. I agreed with his sentiment, and I really hope he actually meant it.
That this particular church truly accepts people for who they are and doesn’t judge them. Maybe this priest is quite forward thinking. I hope so, otherwise his words were simply that – words.
What I found really quite touching was that the congregation willingly accepted the new little member unconditionally. they welcomed him with open arms and made all these promises to accept him as one of their own.
As he grows up, it will be nice to be a part of a community that accepts him unconditionally – assuming of course he doesn’t turn out to be gay, want a divorce or use contraception.
Still, no one questioned those possibilities and in that moment, the acceptance was unconditional, and every child deserves unconditional love and acceptance.
I kind of think it’s a shame that traditionally, Baptisms and Christenings are carried out so early in a child’s life. I think it would be nice to wait a couple of years, until the child is old enough to understand a little more of what’s going on.
Knowing that this community of people accept and welcome you would be a very special memory for a child.
I think the theory is that the baby is innocent and without “sin”.
It would be much more special to accept the child so openly and unconditionally knowing they had made mistakes. I think that would speak more to the child and indeed to the parents.
To know you could make a mistake and still be accepted is the basis of confidence in the young and building a child’s confidence would be more beneficial once they are old enough to understand than when they are just babies.
What do you think? Would a child benefit from being baptised in later years or do you like the traditional way? Let me know your thoughts in the comments 🙂
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I think it makes sense early, because it’s celebrating a new baby into the christian faith, and having godparents early on proclaim that they will watch over the child. (My brother thinks the same as you, is an atheist even though he was brought up CofE, and refused to be N’s godfather although he did turn up to the christening).
The confirmation is when the child is older, can decide for themselves, studies some of what makes a christian, the values and makes that step themselves. The congregation again welcomes them for the choice they’ve made in personally joining the community.
I agree to an extent about the confirmation, the child then does get a sense of acceptance. However, this acceptance isn’t unconditional – it relies on the child having studied the faith and committing to upholding the values, whereas the baptism is acceptance without promise.
Thanks for sharing your views 🙂
As we’re Baptists, children aren’t baptised and there’s a dedication / thanksgiving service for instead where people welcome the child and promise to support the parents as they bring them up. People are only baptised when they’re old enough to make that decision for themselves.
It’s not that people aren’t welcomed or loved unconditionally, it’s more acknowledging that you can only be a Christian if you believe in God. (Which is the only test – love your neighbour as yourself and the Lord your God with all your heart. Anything else is manmade and not relevant imo).
I like this way of doing things. It is important that the parents feel supported within their community, but the child still gets to feel that moment themselves too once they are old enough to appreciate it.
That’s a good way to look at it too. I agree that to call yourself a Christian, you would have to believe in God. I like the fact that your church accepts people based only on this 🙂
Debbie I completely agree. Children are innocent and in my opinion dont need baptism. In our church we have a blessing, where the chid is blessed and watched over ..they then have the option to be baptised once they turn eight and can more better understand what it is all about. My daughter Sylvia is getting baptised in May next year when she turns eight. She is looking forward to it and it will be a very special thing for her. She is young but its still her choice and although id like her to be baptised, it is up to the child. Angela
I think that is a lovely way to do it Angela, so you as her parents still feel she has been included into the church, but ultimately, the choice is hers once she is older. It is special and I really hope she enjoys her day 🙂
I certainly do not think you are a hypocrite for attending your friends child’s baptism. It is important to share this special day with her, just like a birthday. Interesting post:)
Thank you 🙂 That’s how I saw it too, I think if I hadn’t attended it is like saying they aren’t important to me.
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My husband and I discussed this at length when our son was born. I come from a Catholic family, but I do not practice. I was baptised as a baby. He comes from a very religious Baptist father and neither of us are sure what his mother believes. He was baptized as a teen. So we researched quite a bit and ultimately decided to wait until he’s old enough to understand what’s happening. It should be a decision, not forced upon him. It will mean more to him if it is a choice to make that dedication. Nice post.
I think it’s lovely that you’ve decided to wait and let your son choose for himself. I completely agree that it will mean more to him when its his choice too. Thank you 🙂
Great post, I really wanted to get my son christened but im really bad at organising anything so have been putting it off, But to be honest its more to do with having religious relatives and peers who are sort of leading me to get him christened, myself i am not really that relig