Disrespectful, hypocritical, dishonest?

sink · 05-10-2010 01:09PM #1

I was confirmed into the Church of Ireland even though I was an atheist.

It was my own personal choice, I was not forced or coerced into doing it. I did it for a friend who wanted to be confirmed but didn't want to go through it alone. I was about 15 at the time and being entirely honest I also did it for the money.

It meant nothing to me, I really don't care about religion in the same way many here do. I'm not anti-it or pro it, just entirely apathetic towards it. I do find it interesting from a anthropological perspective however.

One might say I was disrespectful, I would say that disrespect implies respect is due.

One might say I was hypocritical, however I am not anti-religious, what people choose to believe does not concern me, so long as it does not greatly impose upon me.

One might say I was dishonest, and I have to concede on this point, I probably should not have fooled people into thinking I believe in any of it. My friend knew that I was just going through the motions but the priest and the bishop most certainly did not, let alone my parents and god parents who gave up their time and money to go through with the charade.

Anyway it's long in the past now, don't know exactly why I'm digging up old bones. Just thought it was interesting if anyone was ever looking for an example of an atheist getting confirmed.

05-10-2010 01:13PM

You were 15.

Galvasean · 05-10-2010 01:14PM

sink wrote: »

and being entirely honest I also did it for the money.

Shh... me too

sink · 05-10-2010 01:22PM

Galvasean wrote: »

Shh... me too

Yeah I had a feeling many others did the same. Looking back now I do feel slightly guilty, but why should money even be given for a religious affirmation ceremony, surely it only corrupts the ceremony? It should only be about ones spiritual conviction, I don't understand why the religious would choose to have it this way. Not that it matters to me.

Beruthiel · 05-10-2010 01:44PM

sink wrote: »

Looking back now I do feel slightly guilty

Don't feel guilt for what your 15 year old self did. You were still a kid.

Des Carter · 05-10-2010 02:48PM

I wouldn't worry about it.

Honesty is over-rated.

Rev Hellfire · 05-10-2010 02:55PM

One might say you're thinking too much...

robindch · 05-10-2010 03:14PM

Des Carter wrote: »

Honesty is over-rated.

Amongst the non-religious, you'll find it often isn't.

sink · 05-10-2010 03:18PM

Tbh, I'm not that bothered about it. It was more the discussion going on about giving a reading in a Church at a wedding/funeral that got me thinking about it.

seamus · 05-10-2010 03:20PM

The vast majority of people brought up as Catholics in this country received communion at 7/8 and were confirmed at 11/12.

The only thing we looked forward to in either case was the money. The ceremony and the meaning of it was irrelevant. Was that wrong? No. We were children. Children are materialistic.

DeVore · 05-10-2010 03:21PM

If not really believing in it but participating in the ceremony and putting on a facade for others is a crime....

.... we better just wall around the coast of this island and be done with it.

DeV.

Gleise 581g · 05-10-2010 03:35PM

I certainly wouldn't worry about disrespecting religious belief, since it was forced down my throat all my life. I find that they demand respect for there beliefs, yet are hurtful and deeply patronising towards my, and other peoples, worldview. There is a high level of hypocracy amoungst the religious(or at least my family and friends. Obviously there must be lots of respectful religious people out there, I just haven't met them yet).

sink · 05-10-2010 03:42PM

seamus wrote: »

The vast majority of people brought up as Catholics in this country received communion at 7/8 and were confirmed at 11/12.

The only thing we looked forward to in either case was the money. The ceremony and the meaning of it was irrelevant. Was that wrong? No. We were children. Children are materialistic.

It's a little different in the COI. You can't receive communion until you have been confirmed and you must choose to be confirmed of your own free accord. It's seen more as an affirmation of faith and less as a rite of passage as in the Catholic church. Most will choose to have their confirmation at 13-14, but you can also choose to have it at any later age or not at all. I didn't bother with it at first but went through with it later, at the behest of a friend.

MagicMarker · 05-10-2010 03:54PM

I'm 27, if I were to get confirmed into the CoI would I get money?

Where do I sign? :pac:

sink · 05-10-2010 03:58PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

I'm 27, if I were to get confirmed into the CoI would I get money?

Where do I sign? :pac:

Only if you can convince your parents, god parents, grand parents aunties and uncles of your new found religiosity and then extort money from them.:D

seamus · 05-10-2010 04:09PM

sink wrote: »

It's a little different in the COI. You can't receive communion until you have been confirmed and you must choose to be confirmed of your own free accord. It's seen more as an affirmation of faith and less as a rite of passage as in the Catholic church. Most will choose to have their confirmation at 13-14, but you can also choose to have it at any later age or not at all. I didn't bother with it at first but went through with it later, at the behest of a friend.

Ultimately though you were still only a child. At 15 you lack the comprehensive skills to examine what it is that you are doing are weigh that up against your personal philosophies. As a young teenager you would have seen the reward with little or no possible downsides and you went for it.

You can't be blamed for that. You can blame the COI for allowing children to make contracts that they are incapable of agreeing to you - legally and mentally.

Dougla2 · 05-10-2010 04:12PM

PPFFFt you guys have no willpower I said no to confirmation being promised money etc. at 12 years old because it was dishonest and i stand up for what I (dis) believe in

Improbable · 05-10-2010 05:28PM

I never had to make that choice as I was raised atheist from birth but at a young age, I probably would have done it just for the money.

bnt · 05-10-2010 05:46PM

I was "confirmed" too, at 13, but I was already on the way out; my mother had died a few months earlier, while the confirmation process was already underway. I didn't feel like arguing, and it was what she wanted, but the confirmation was just about the last time I went to church. I don't remember signing a contract, so ... it has as much meaning as I choose to ascribe to it i.e. none.

Goduznt Xzst · 05-10-2010 06:28PM

sink wrote: »

One might say I was disrespectful...
One might say I was hypocritical...
One might say I was dishonest...

One might say you are human... Welcome!

Chances are you are going to be hypocritical, dishonest and disrespectful to someone today. We all will.

Dan133269 · 05-10-2010 08:25PM

sink wrote: »

being entirely honest I also did it for the money.

in terms of a Catholic Confirmation, can you imagine any 12 year old boy or girl who doesn't believe in God, weighing up the principle of not getting confirmed or just going through with it to get over 1,000 euro. Well **** me that's a no brainer

strobe · 05-10-2010 08:34PM

Dan133269 wrote: »

in terms of a Catholic Confirmation, can you imagine any 12 year old boy or girl who doesn't believe in God, weighing up the principle of not getting confirmed or just going through with it to get over 1,000 euro. Well **** me that's a no brainer

:eek: Dan Smurfit is it?

sink · 05-10-2010 08:50PM

Dan133269 wrote: »

in terms of a Catholic Confirmation, can you imagine any 12 year old boy or girl who doesn't believe in God, weighing up the principle of not getting confirmed or just going through with it to get over 1,000 euro. Well **** me that's a no brainer

Eh, in my case it was more like £250. I almost feel cheated, although considering this was pre-celtic tiger madness, £200 was still a lot of dough for a 15 year old. I think I bought a N64 with it, it was new out at the time. Considering how much fun I had with it, it was worth selling out my principles:D.

Goduznt Xzst · 05-10-2010 10:03PM

sink wrote: »

I think I bought a N64 with it, it was new out at the time. Considering how much fun I had with it, it was worth selling out my principles:D.

In fairness, getting a N64 was probably more of a religious experience for a child than any Confirmation...

"OMG! 64!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpJyG7B6tAI

Dougla2 · 05-10-2010 10:05PM

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

In fairness, getting a N64 was probably more of a relgious experience for a child than any Confirmation...

"OMG! 64!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpJyG7B6tAI

I wasn't of this generation but luckily i picked up as limited edition pichachu n64 at a car boot sale

Galvasean · 06-10-2010 12:07AM

sink wrote: »

Eh, in my case it was more like £250. I almost feel cheated, although considering this was pre-celtic tiger madness, £200 was still a lot of dough for a 15 year old. I think I bought a N64 with it, it was new out at the time. Considering how much fun I had with it, it was worth selling out my principles:D.

I did exactlythe smae thing. How else is a 12 year old gonna buy an N64?

Beruthiel · 06-10-2010 07:18AM

Galvasean wrote: »

I did exactlythe smae thing. How else is a 12 year old gonna buy an N64?

The lure of Zelda was just too much.
Very understandable.

Delicate_Dlite · 06-10-2010 07:32AM

aw the lure of money to sell your soul.:D

I was raised catholic, I made my first holy communion and confirmation. I never really latched on to the idea of belief, I do remember, saying "well what if the bible was just like Goosebumps, that got lost and ppl took it as fact".

However my family were fairly strict, I didn't have to believe in it, but until I was an adult, it was their choice not mine. :rolleyes: So I insisted on the most expensive communion dress and acc, it was the only way I could rebel

.

But in fairness I made over 2 grand. :cool:

ColmDawson · 06-10-2010 11:10AM

Delicate_Dlite wrote: »

I do remember saying "well what if the bible was just like Goosebumps, that got lost and ppl took it as fact".

Somewhere in the distance, you hear a cock crowing. It makes you feel sick.
"Uhhhhhhh." A low moan escapes from your dry throat. You feel ashamed for denying Jesus three times. You know Jesus is being brought before Pontius Pilate ... but is it too late to save him?

If you admit to being a friend of Jesus and try to save him, turn to page 346!
If you do nothing and then visit Jesus' tomb in a few days, turn to page 238!

06-10-2010 12:32PM

Dan133269 wrote: »

in terms of a Catholic Confirmation, can you imagine any 12 year old boy or girl who doesn't believe in God, weighing up the principle of not getting confirmed or just going through with it to get over 1,000 euro. Well **** me that's a no brainer

Eh what? I got a pair of rollerblades and that's it

MagicMarker · 06-10-2010 02:10PM

bluewolf wrote: »

Eh what? I got a pair of rollerblades and that's it

Kids these days literally get hundreds!!! Once the confirmation is done it's time to pay a visit to every single living fúckin' relative to collect payment!! :rolleyes:

I remember for my confirmation, I got about 80 sterling and a McDonalds!!

Disrespectful, hypocritical, dishonest?

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