Sister asked me to be 'God father' to her son

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Then again, if you agree to be someone’s godfather, it greatly increases the chance that you’ll get to make them an offer they can’t refuse.

Boru

[onlinebiker]

I only asked my Godfather for a favor once.....

When I got out of the service - I came back to.Michigan without a drivers license.
Ok
My godfather's direct boss was Richard Austin - the Michigan Secretary of State.

I had a new driver's license (with a 7 year old picture) in the mail two days later...

Lol, one of my brothers did part of his national service in a documents shop, and one of his duties what to make up driving licenses and license renewals for soldiers on the base.

He didn’t have a driving license when he went into the army, but he had one when he got out.

Boru

Best part - 35 years on motorcycles - and I never took the test - but DID have the CY endorsement....

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Lol, one of my brothers did part of his national service in a documents shop, and one of his duties what to make up driving licenses and license renewals for soldiers on the base.

He didn’t have a driving license when he went into the army, but he had one when he got out.

Boru

Best part - 35 years on motorcycles - and I never took the test - but DID have the CY endorsement....

Same with my brother. He never had a written or practical test, he just printed himself a military driving license, then had it switched to a civilian one when he got out. 

He’s 63 or 64 now and has never had so much as a parking ticket.

Boru

[onlinebiker]

Best part - 35 years on motorcycles - and I never took the test - but DID have the CY endorsement....

Same with my brother. He never had a written or practical test, he just printed himself a military driving license, then had it switched to a civilian one when he got out. 

He’s 63 or 64 now and has never had so much as a parking ticket.

Boru

Never had a DUI or a parking ticket.

I did get two speeding tickets... One for excess of 55 mph in a 35 mph ( was going over 90) and one for - true story - 36 mph in a 35 mph zone.....

[Apollo]

I don’t know—this sounds like a mundane cultural religious stuff that I personally won’t mind going through—I come from a Muslim background and my whole family is Muslim—I still go to eid prayer with them and just sit out during prayer time, and while my family is praying i argue with strangers on the internet about religion and their asshole imaginary friend.

Eid and Christmas are actually two of my favorite holidays—good food, company, some family time. What’s not to like? So what if part of it involves an angry imaginary friend with shitty worldview of humanity at large?

I draw line at eid ul duha though—that’s some sick shit no doubt so I don’t go to prayer on that day.

[arewethereyet]

Hi everyone,

So my sister was telling me today, her and husband were thinking about wanting to have myself as a 'God father' to their son. My sister started by saying, so was going to ask you, but I don't know how you feel on the matter. I told her the basic firebrand stuff, as an Atheist, I said all that shit is a joke. She says, while then I guess we can't have you do it. I responded it shouldn't be about religion at all, so you have a party, put some blessed water on the babe and Jesus saves. I said that's just all bullshit, it won't change anything for her son. I told her teach him, how to rely on himself and not need religion as a crutch. My sister responded, while that's the 'tradition'. She shut down about it, because as you all know, she had no answers to my facts or questions. I told, yes the tradition should be, good without faith and God. My sister, is not super religious thankfully, but just is that 'traditional have to have faith, because we all learned that way kind of thinking'. We were talking about how everyone is dealing with the Pandemic. She states 'while COVID was in the Bible , right as plague? I said no, that's all made up stories, an epic in a way. I think my sister was really hoping, I would share the same views on faith, some reinsurance.

I told her at the end of the day, this is her decision, I won't be involved in anything religion related. I said why waste your time, enjoy your time with your family, not worrying about anything religion related.  My family has always known I strongly dislike all aspects related to religion or faith. They don't debt me ever anymore, as I leave them with too many questions about their faith. Also, because they don't want to think about the very hard questions, we Atheists ask them. Do you agree I handled this good, by telling her I wouldn't do it? Do you every feel, your too tough on the believers in your family? As anything with religion, I just can't stand it. Also my passion about Atheism really comes up, when my family talks about anything with religion, so it makes me not even double think, when someone asks me something like the title.

Being asked to be godfather/godmother is meant to be an honor.  I get the religious aspect being annoying.  Growing up Catholic it was just a thing people did.  You were asked because they felt a level of trust in you as someone to look after their son in the event something happens to them.

You could guide your nephew in ways other than religiously.

I think it's nice that your sister chose you.  Maybe chill on being so militant.  YMMV

[Rahn127]

Your sister is asking if you'll take on the responsibilities of a father to her child in the event that something happens to your sister and her spouse.

Typically godfather is someone who will guide the child along spiritually.
You can still do this as an atheist.

You can alter the definition of spiritual to mean "to be in awe of" or "have an understanding of where we come from"
You can explain to this child that most of the elements in our bodies came from a star that exploded.
You can explain that our connection to every other life form on this planet began billions of years ago.
We all share the same biological roots.

A sunrise will have a greater meaning because they will know where every element from their body was formed.
We are directly connected to the universe. I'm in awe of that when I look at the night sky.

We share a great great great great .....grand parent with every person we meet in this world.
That is connection. In my opinion, that is a spirituality that they may never be taught in any religious class and you have an opportunity to share that with a child that your sister wants to put in your care.

Don't think of this as your sister wanting you to teach this child religion.
Think of this as your sister viewing you as a moral compass that she wants her child to follow.

[Fake Messiah]

Do you agree I handled this good, by telling her I wouldn't do it?

Sure, why should you participate in someone's indoctrination.

You also didn't mention the exact denomination because from what I know in Catholicism, as a godfather, you also have to receive sacrament of confession which means you have to go to a confession room, kneel in front of the priest and tell priest your "sins" and beg for forgiveness, so I really don't see how any atheist could do that.

[tackattack]

As a religious person growing up in Christian traditions, there was nothing religious about my godparents, not did I do anything religious with the godparents of my kid. I actually agree with olb on this.

Side note, if you are more worried about pushing your beliefs down her throat when she genuinely wants you to be a big part of their kids lives, and you find it impossible to be a witness to a christening, Seriously, wtf? I mean we’re you even invited to their wedding? If you didn’t have a problem with that, then why this. Maybe it’s best if you weren’t. I’ll just leave it at that

[Fake Messiah]

Because atheists don't have any religious affiliations religious people see them as easy targets to drag them/ shame them into their religious rites. I mean they would never ask a Muslim or a Jew to be a godfather in christening, although it's supposedly "a same God". They wouldn't dare asking them because they know that that Muslim or Jew would give them a look of "Are you insane?!" Yeah, not even words, just a look. That's obviously something on which atheists need to work on.

So fuck them.