(June 28, 2014 at 9:42 am)blackout94 Wrote: Tomorrow I'm having a baptism of my 2 year old little brother as a part of the catholic church (he is 19 years younger than me), my question being, how should an atheist behave in such ceremonies? If the priest asks me about my 'faith', should I be straightforward or lie about it to avoid compromising the ceremonial? I already refused to be my little brother's godfather because I had to do my religious education, something my parents never put me into (despite being catholic they never liked churches and priests)
My second question is, should I allow my family to give religious education in the future (in a few years ahead) to my little brother? I wouldn't mind if it was given by my mother, since the same happened to me and she didn't teach me to fear hell and the indoctrination basically didn't exist. But should I allow official religious church education? I'm not very sure about those but I'm sure if I opposed my mother would understand and avoid giving such education. What are your views on this?
I hope this is supposed to be in the Christianity forums since it's related to catholicism
Beginning at the end, I don't think you have the right to allow or not allow your brother to be given religious instruction. You are not his guardian.
How to behave at religious ceremonies? Well, if it's family and I'm invited, or the wedding or funeral of a friend I attend. I'm quiet during the ceremony. I don't participate in the religious portions. I don't pretend to pray. I don't kneel. But I don't make a show of this either.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
