Going to church for family events?

[Demonaura]

I've never seen a double-post that wasn't a double-post before...

[lukec]

Steal the baby!

[leo-rcc]

There is nothing I can add that hasn't been said. so: Welcome to the forum from me as well.

Steal the baby!

I hear they are great with BBQ sauce.

[chatpilot]

When I was with my wife she wanted to have our daughters christened and logically me being the dad I was supposed to participate.By then I was a strong atheists and I refused,my brother in law stood in for me at the time since I told them I would never participate nor set foot in a church again for any reason.I might be a little on the extreme side but I dont do weddings or funerals and I have made it clear to my daughters that when the time comes for them to walk down the aisle I would only attend if it were not conducted in a church.I am a very outspoken atheist and am not hypocritical about my unbelief in God or christianity in general.

I am also not concerned about offending anyone as long as they know my position and respect my views I will respect theirs.If they try to force their primitive belief systems on me aggressively I will aggressively defend my position.I figure you have to give respect to get respect.My daughters are now 14 and 11 and they are leaning towards atheism already without my direct influence.Their mom is not really a christian she is one of those that professes belief but does not practice what she beleives.If you dont feel comfortable going to the christening just dont go stand up for your unbelief and if asked why be clear and dont beat around the bush.They need to respect your unbelief and if they cant do that then that is not your problem,it's an issue that they have to deal with on their own.

[Greenbeast]

When I was with my wife she wanted to have our daughters christened and logically me being the dad I was supposed to participate.By then I was a strong atheists and I refused,my brother in law stood in for me at the time since I told them I would never participate nor set foot in a church again for any reason.I might be a little on the extreme side but I dont do weddings or funerals and I have made it clear to my daughters that when the time comes for them to walk down the aisle I would only attend if it were not conducted in a church.I am a very outspoken atheist and am not hypocritical about my unbelief in God or christianity in general.

I am also not concerned about offending anyone as long as they know my position and respect my views I will respect theirs.If they try to force their primitive belief systems on me aggressively I will aggressively defend my position.I figure you have to give respect to get respect.My daughters are now 14 and 11 and they are leaning towards atheism already without my direct influence.Their mom is not really a christian she is one of those that professes belief but does not practice what she beleives.If you dont feel comfortable going to the christening just dont go stand up for your unbelief and if asked why be clear and dont beat around the bush.They need to respect your unbelief and if they cant do that then that is not your problem,it's an issue that they have to deal with on their own.

I commend your strength of character

I've practically decided no to go, but i will be seeing my parents this weekend and they're already aware of my wavering on this issue so i wonder if it'll get brought up.

[lilphil1989]

I don't think there's anything I can add that hasn't been said already, so welcome to the forums

[allan175]

In some ways I find it quite odd when atheists take such a strong stance (eg: Chatpilot never entering a church again).

I am firmly in the atheist camp but have attended weddings, funerals and christenings in churches (not many but I have been to all three ceremonies) and as far as I am concerned they are pointless ceremonies with no meaning. The christening in particular struck me as ritualistic nonsense.
However, I went because the people who invited me wanted me to attend, the fact the children at the christenings were too young to have made their own minds up doesn't really matter, with or without the christening (and with or without me attending) they will receive the same upbringing and religious input.

[Greenbeast]

Many thanks all

[moodydaniel]

I go to Christenings.

Yes, it's a horrible that children are indoctrinated, but the baby won't even remember the Christening. I find Sunday schooling of children more abhorent.

I go to celebrate the naming of the child, nothing else.

Finally, pissing off parents is bad for you, them and the child. You do want to be around to give the child a differing point of view as it grows don't you?

You can't change it, you won't suffer from it and it'll mean a lot to your family. Fight the battles you can win.

[chatpilot]

allan one of the reasons I dont set foot in a church for any reason is because I came from the Pentecostal faith and one of the things they love to do when they see a new face is publicly announce your presence and spend the rest of the service badgering you to accept Jesus as Lord.My other reason is that just by being there I feel that I am indirectly supporting them.I dont give to charities that have any religious affiliation although I am aware that the government probably supports the church with my hard earned tax dollars but there is nothing I can do about that.

My reasons for being so extreme are pretty simple.I feel that the same way a christian,muslim,Jew or any other religious group has the right to propagate their beliefs openly I have the right to announce my unbelief openly.