Do I go to the christening?

[Random Mutant]

I just received a christening invitation from a friend I haven't seen in ages, she's been living overseas but is back with her hubby and child for a short visit.

Do I go and bear witness to this travesty? Should I quietly pull her aside and explain the lack of free will of the infant, that there is no such thing as an Anglican Child?

I want to go for social reasons, but I would hate anyone to think my presence counted for anything. I expect everyone's replies will be along the lines of go, don't sweat it, don't make a fuss, and of course that is what I will do. But it just sticks in my throat that people will equate presence with approval and support. Has anyone got ideas on how to subversively attend? And I hate that little atheist A, I won't be wearing it as a lapel pin. Something else might be good...?

[Chinaski]

Dress in black and explain that you're mourning the death of free will.

[Feck]

If there is a party or social bit go to that, just refuse to do the Branding the baby bit .

[hackenslash]

Offer to be godparent, then bump off the parents, then teach the child critical thinking*. :twisted:



Or you could eat the baby, if the buffet's crap...

[Azathoth]

If there is a party or social bit go to that, just refuse to do the Branding the baby bit .

+1 you get the piss up without the magic water sprinkling

[maiforpeace]

I just received a christening invitation from a friend I haven't seen in ages, she's been living overseas but is back with her hubby and child for a short visit.

Do I go and bear witness to this travesty? Should I quietly pull her aside and explain the lack of free will of the infant, that there is no such thing as an Anglican Child?

I want to go for social reasons, but I would hate anyone to think my presence counted for anything. I expect everyone's replies will be along the lines of go, don't sweat it, don't make a fuss, and of course that is what I will do. But it just sticks in my throat that people will equate presence with approval and support. Has anyone got ideas on how to subversively attend? And I hate that little atheist A, I won't be wearing it as a lapel pin. Something else might be good...?

As the child has absolutely no clue what's going on, and it's just a bunch of reciting mumbo jumbo and the child isn't harmed, I can only be amused by christenings myself. Just the thought that people think babies could get trapped in a middle world between the real world and heaven if they aren't baptized is so ridiculous it's hard to get upset. It's so not worth it in my book to stand on principle about religion in this type of instance, my relationship with friends and family are more important to me.

Just tell the parents where you stand, and that you are attending to support the parents and the child, not the christening or the religious part at all. Ceremonies are very meaningful to people, I don't think we can get rid of all of them at once. But, you can go there and express your personal support to them, in a warm and human way and show recognition of it as a rite of passage? From a secular perspective an equivalent ceremony might be a formal and public introduction of this new family member to the world. So, you might think of it that way.

I am attending my cousin's daughter's christening. Both my cousin and her bridegroom are secular. Even more amusing and ironic is the fact that they are getting married the day after, so essentially they are christening their illegitimate, bastard daughter. They could absolutely care less about christenings and weddings, but his parents are old school Catholic who have wished for this for their son all their lives. So, they are willing to go through this harmless ritual and have a party to boot after to celebrate, to make both the parents and themselves happy. If there's anyone who absolutely HATES what the Catholic church and it's religion stands for right now is me, but since this makes my cousin happy and I love her, I support it.

Also in my case these events are going to be held in an old cathedral in Brittany which I know will be beautiful, the church music can be beautiful, and the rituals which I totally don't understand are beautiful in their own way. It's OK to appreciate those things.

I would probably give you a different answer if it was an invitation to a Bris though, since that IS harmful to the child.

[Feck]

This WILL OFFEND

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

[maiforpeace]

Since I've had two abortions I suppose I will be offended, but I have to watch that you tube later. I'm recording the Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D'Sousa debate right now.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I received a similar invitation to my brother and his wife renewing their marriage vows (in church) after 10 years. I just told them I'd be happy to attend the reception afterwards but I would not feel comfortable attending the service because I would be cringing inside at every word!

They were OK with that. I am looking forward to a few interesting conversations at the party - I have some VERY xtian relatives...

[virphen]

I'd be similar to XC... I'd ask if perhaps I could meet the new parents afterwards, but I wouldn't want to go. I would go to a church wedding though.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I'd be similar to XC... I'd ask if perhaps I could meet the new parents afterwards, but I wouldn't want to go. I would go to a church wedding though.

I attend those - and funerals - but this event is VERY religious in nature and billed as such. I never sing hymns or kneel for prayers though - it just feels so hypocritical.

[Feck]

I'd be similar to XC... I'd ask if perhaps I could meet the new parents afterwards, but I wouldn't want to go. I would go to a church wedding though.

I attend those - and funerals - but this event is VERY religious in nature and billed as such. I never sing hymns or kneel for prayers though - it just feels so hypocritical.

Never been to funeral .. not for a two legs anyway.. turned down lots of wedding invitations .

[Reverend Blair]

Go to the christening. Go to the party afterwards. Be polite. Be a little subversive, nothing too blatant. Then you get a chance to influence the kid as it grows up.

When the kid is six or eight and tells you that "Jesus Saves," say, "Excellent, because the son of a bitch owes me money. Now he can pay me back."

[JimC]

Go to the christening. Go to the party afterwards. Be polite. Be a little subversive, nothing too blatant. Then you get a chance to influence the kid as it grows up.

When the kid is six or eight and tells you that "Jesus Saves," say, "Excellent, because the son of a bitch owes me money. Now he can pay me back."

+1

(and I endorse everything that Mai said - life's too short to worry about meaningless ceremonies, mostly they are just going through the motions, and rarely would be followed up these days with full-on religious indoctrination...)

Sometimes doing the full-on RD style of atheism gets a little precious...

[Valden]

I just received a christening invitation from a friend I haven't seen in ages, she's been living overseas but is back with her hubby and child for a short visit.

Do I go and bear witness to this travesty? Should I quietly pull her aside and explain the lack of free will of the infant, that there is no such thing as an Anglican Child?

I want to go for social reasons, but I would hate anyone to think my presence counted for anything. I expect everyone's replies will be along the lines of go, don't sweat it, don't make a fuss, and of course that is what I will do. But it just sticks in my throat that people will equate presence with approval and support. Has anyone got ideas on how to subversively attend? And I hate that little atheist A, I won't be wearing it as a lapel pin. Something else might be good...?

Go, but feel free to tell her that her child is still NOT an "Anglican" just because the parents seem to think so.