Pick n Mix Religion

Peared

Some friends of mine had their child christened recently. In the run up to the event she had to teach her fella bits and pieces of church etiquette as he had never been to mass although he did make his communion/confirmation.

I would say that its fairly common these days and the majority of people I know could be described as lapsed catholics. Thats if they even thought about it enough to come up with a description. For a lot of people, it simply doesn't enter their thoughts or their lives.

Here's the thing though. Almost all of these people were/will be married in a church, have their kids christened, communioned and confirmed, and will bury their dead with the aid of a priest.

Is it like a club that you never leave and can summon up to do you a favour when you feel like it? Really it's people thinking it's ok to use the church for, lets face it, social occasions even though they don't believe in what they stand for. I wonder do most people here take a similar stance ie not believe but use it for occasions or cos the parents insist.

dr.bollocko

It is an unfortunate reality that with religion pervasive in most state schools, not christening a child despite your own lack of faith would have a detrimental effect on their day to day school life.
It sucks frankly.

indough

i thought that priests were only really supposed to perform these ceremonies for people who they'd known for a while, ie people who go to their church

dr.bollocko

indough wrote: »

i thought that priests were only really supposed to perform these ceremonies for people who they'd known for a while, ie people who go to their church

Depends on how sexy their kids are.

Black Swan

Well, there are all kinds of people that make up our world, and I've found that they tend to vary somewhat against any standard that you may measure them by, be it religious faith (or lack of), philosophy, citizenship, education, occupation, socio-economic status, etc. This variation makes them interesting and unique in many ways. It would seem that our sense of community combines a lot of these things that affect us as we grow up, live, and die. If parents want to feel that sense of community, including some variation of religion (or the lack of), and raise their children accordingly, grand for them. If they, or their children when grown want to "Pick n Mix Religion" what matter?

shenanigans1982

Peared wrote: »

Is it like a club that you never leave and can summon up to do you a favour when you feel like it?

This is religion for the majority of the country, kep it in the back pocket until someone is on their deathbed, rattle off a few prayers and everything will be alright.

indough wrote: »

i thought that priests were only really supposed to perform these ceremonies for people who they'd known for a while, ie people who go to their church

Money will make priests over look this.

MagicMarker

When i die i'm going to be made into a coffee table.

HouseHippo

MagicMarker wrote: »

When i die i'm going to be made into a coffee table.

Why a coffee table??

HouseHippo

dr.bollocko wrote: »

It is an unfortunate reality that with religion pervasive in most state schools, not christening a child despite your own lack of faith would have a detrimental effect on their day to day school life.
It sucks frankly.

Totally agree with this, my friends parents are athiests and they had both their kids christened as they didn't want them to be isolated in school......I think maybe the communion confirmation process should be disengaged from school, now that many catholic schools are embracing children of other religions, I think the catholic school should be made a thing of the past also

dr.bollocko

MagicMarker wrote: »

When i die i'm going to be made into a coffee table.

I'd buy that for a tenner on craigslist.

Peared

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Well, there are all kinds of people that make up our world, and I've found that they tend to vary somewhat against any standard that you may measure them by, be it religious faith (or lack of), philosophy, citizenship, education, occupation, socio-economic status, etc. This variation makes them interesting and unique in many ways. It would seem that our sense of community combines a lot of these things that affect us as we grow up, live, and die. If parents want to feel that sense of community, including some variation of religion (or the lack of), and raise their children accordingly, grand for them. If they, or their children when grown want to "Pick n Mix Religion" what matter?

I'm sorry, what?

Peared

No, as rambling goes it'll do just fine.

Edit Ooh ninja edits, verr good.

Black Swan

Peared wrote: »

I'm sorry, what?

Oops, my bad! Forgot I was on AH! Apologies. Let's see, what would have been a more appropriate response... Atari jaguar, Yor Ma, +1, LOL, or Fail?;)

pookie82

I agree whole heartedly. It's sickening how many people christen their kids who haven't seen the inside of a church since their confirmation. They stand up on the altar and vow before god to raise their child as a good catholic, renounce the devil lah, lah, lah.... yet the child probably won't see the inside of a church until they're making their communion and are brought by their school.

It's got a lot to do with keeping up with the jones' and not upsetting families. If I have a child I almost certainly won't be christening it (I say almost as I'll have to take into account what my OH might think). I think it would be hypocrisy of the highest order. the church have become lazy concerning the attending-mass-beforehand rules because they want to keep up the numbers, and would be turning potential christians away on a mass scale if their parents had to be devout mass attenders before the child could be christened.

It's much more about the occasion of it all and the day out than about the actual meaning of it. I think that honestly, most couples take it for granted and don't even discuss whether or not it should be done - it's just the done thing. Hopefully soon it will die out as people realise that it's hypocrisy on a mass scale and a cruel thing to do to a child who has no say in the matter. Indoctrinating my innocent baby into a church which will condemn them if they turn out to be gay or get a divorce or want to have sex before marriage is not my idea of a celebration of birth.

Peared

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Oops, my bad! Forgot I was on AH! Apologies. Let's see, what would have been a more appropriate response... Atari jaguar, Yor Ma, +1, LOL, or Fail?;)

Ah sorry, I took your reply to be patronizing on first read. On re reading I can see it wasn't.

I aint too proud to apolomogise.

dresden8

It's the granny factor. Your ma would never forgive you if you didn't christen your kids.

This could be the thread where the correct answer actually is

Yore Ma!

pookie82

dresden8 wrote: »

It's the granny factor. Your ma would never forgive you if you didn't christen your kids.

This could be a thread where the correct answer actually is

Yore Ma!

:D:D

At the end of the day we are still culturally catholic.
Less pompous rituals seem lacking somehow.

Personally I don't need any of that....but I won't think less of my friends who buy into.
Because it only holds as much meaning as they are willing to invest in it.

brianthebard

I think if people generally believe in their religion,but find the method of worship unhelpful,why not allow them to participate in marriage,baptism,etc,even if they don't go to mass?Or yore ma,whatever!

Wurly

Mmmm. Pick n mix....

/salivates

GirlInterrupted

Its an exercise in hyprocisy to indoctrinate your children into a belief system you yourself don't espouse for the sake of a party, whether its christening, wedding or funeral.

I also object to being described as having a 'lack of belief'. I don't suffer from a lack, I have a total absence of belief, and I'm utterly delighted by it.

Incidentally I was raised an atheist, and never had more than passing curiosity in it during my school years, and was never once singled out because of it.

So to use fear of ostracisation as an excuse for making a helpless baby a member of a club they may very well want nothing to do with and find difficult to extricate themselves from, is a vacant fear and an invalid choice.

brianthebard

What do you mean by 'don't espouse'?I quantified my statement by saying they probably broadly believe in catholicism,but don't go to mass every week.

GirlInterrupted

brianthebard wrote: »

What do you mean by 'don't espouse'?I quantified my statement by saying they probably broadly believe in catholicism,but don't go to mass every week.

Sorry, I didn't actually mean to quote you and didn't notice i'd pressed the button .

I'm just ranting generally....apologies.

nomorebadtown

pffft, at least two of my mates in school weren't christened etc and they had no problem in school. stop sending your kids to those crappy state/catholic schools you filthy povos.

nomorebadtown

Moonbaby wrote: »

At the end of the day we are still culturally catholic.
Less pompous rituals seem lacking somehow.

Personally I don't need any of that....but I won't think less of my friends who buy into.
Because it only holds as much meaning as they are willing to invest in it.

yes but its self propagating! its prolonging the legitimacy and status of the catholic church in state affairs, when really a lot of people don't believe a word of it and are still indirectly pressured into having these crazy voodoo practices performed on their children.

ejmaztec

Catholic guilt - nothing like it. :eek:

Tha Gopher

pookie82 wrote: »

Indoctrinating my innocent baby into a church which will condemn them if they turn out to be gay or get a divorce or want to have sex before marriage is not my idea of a celebration of birth.

Oh jesus christ.


If the church despised all unmarried couples why do they baptise kids of unmarried parents?

How many gays, divorcees and non virgins do you know who have been personally condemned at their local mass?

Ill have the kids christened because it is tradition as much as anything.

faceman

Christenings seem to be a "keeping up with the jones" event for many couples, an excuse for a piss up.

Technically a Catholic doesnt need to attend Mass each week to be a Catholic. Once a year is the unofficial minimum.

Nevyn

dresden8 wrote: »

It's the granny factor. Your ma would never forgive you if you didn't christen your kids.

This could be the thread where the correct answer actually is

Yore Ma!

That would not be very Christian of her, mind did eventually.

Dave!

I think it's a mixture of:

a. Keeping with the Jones'
b. Not wanting to upset family
c. Ritual / tradition
d. Culture
e. Education (want to make sure they get into a school)

Agent Smith

i often think the baptists have it right. wait till the person is of sound age and mind, and allow them to decide themselves.

I am a roman catholic, and was baptised when i was nearly 2 ( i was very sick as a child) and apparently the local priest out in neilstown nearly had a fit that i hadnt been baptised until then.

Captain Ginger

Agent Smith wrote: »

i often think the baptists have it right. wait till the person is of sound age and mind, and allow them to decide themselves.

I am a roman catholic, and was baptised when i was nearly 2 ( i was very sick as a child) and apparently the local priest out in neilstown nearly had a fit that i hadnt been baptised until then.

I agree, as a Catholic myself I really wish I had been educated at an older age and allowed choose my own religion for myself.

Not saying there is anything wrong with being a Catholic, but I'd be telling bull if I said I believed in it all or agreed with all the policies. I just don't change because to be honest it's a convenience to just stay like this.

tolosenc

I was raised an Anglican. Went to Service every Sunday. Got picked on by the Catholic kids for being a misbeliever/heathen and was told I was going to hell(a bit difficult to take at age 8), but truth be told, none of them were actually catholic, merely catholic by association. Of all the kids in my primary school, there were only a couple of us who had actually been to church.

As a result, it's my opinion that those who do not attend "Mass" as often as possible (not being arsed coz you went 3 weeks ago doesn't count as a valid reason for not going) are not Catholics, or even Christians. Just because you had some religious ceremony when you were twelve, doesn't mean that you are still Catholic at age 50 having not been in a church since.

Agent Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kJHQpvgB8

how on earth has this not being posted yet?

Call Me Jimmy

Ever so slightly off-topic but are priests allowed ****? If not, I call bullsh!t on all them cunts. Imagine strongly believing that god is watching you and still cracking one off, sick ****s.

Agent Smith

Considering Mastrabation is Frowned upon in the catholic church, i'd strongly doubt that they are allowed

EamonnKeane

Christianity itself is pic n mix, a blend of Jewish, Buddhist, Mithraic and Greek ideas with pagan traditions tacked on.

Dinter

If parents want to have their children christened why not? I can't see the harm in that. Also even though a child is christened it doesn't really take effect until the child confirms it at their "confirmation". Or it's something like that, I can't really remember and can't say I really care.

I think it's funny that people who are raised athiest etc think they're qualified to make a judgement on allowing parents to baptise their own children. Any of us that were baptised can tell you it's not the same as being circumcised or anything like that. We're all of us free to lapse in later life and noone need ever know that someone once splashed a bit of water on us.

Also for all the atheists and agnostics out there you should really know that the Mormons are gonna ninja baptise you when you're dead. You should really join them now when you get to commit polygamy instead of when you're mouldering in the grave doing nothing.

Dinter

obl wrote: »

As a result, it's my opinion that those who do not attend "Mass" as often as possible (not being arsed coz you went 3 weeks ago doesn't count as a valid reason for not going) are not Catholics, or even Christians.

Actually afair the minimum a Catholic has to do is their Easter dues to be allowed tick the Catholic box on census day or Armaggedon.

Whichever comes first!

Sonderval

Christianity itself is pic n mix, a blend of Jewish, Buddhist, Mithraic and Greek ideas with pagan traditions tacked on.

Indeed, the degree of secretism in most religions is pretty amazing. That people testify to having 'teh real truth' about what their founder intended is pretty laughable in the face of the evidence of tacked on ideas.

Also for all the atheists and agnostics out there you should really know that the Mormons are gonna ninja baptise you when you're dead. You should really join them now when you get to commit polygamy instead of when you're mouldering in the grave doing nothing.

lol - awesome. Thats why I'm forgoing being buried anywhere. Cremation sounds like the solution to this particular problem They can't ninja baptize me if I'm scattered everywhere!

Conar

GirlInterrupted wrote: »

Incidentally I was raised an atheist, and never had more than passing curiosity in it during my school years, and was never once singled out because of it.

Same here.
People actually used to often think I was protestant as they didn't understand that it was even possible to be an atheist.
My parents raising me as a vegetarian created more of a stir than my atheism.

My kids are now in school as atheists too and that is no problem even though its a Gaelscoil where they say prayers in the yard before going to class.

I wish people would just stand up to their family and cut loose.
It would mean that the Catholic Church would have to stop claiming to represent 90+% of the population.

faceman

Agent Smith wrote: »

i often think the baptists have it right. wait till the person is of sound age and mind, and allow them to decide themselves.

I am a roman catholic, and was baptised when i was nearly 2 ( i was very sick as a child) and apparently the local priest out in neilstown nearly had a fit that i hadnt been baptised until then.

Personally i think that people turn away from Catholicism in Ireland because of the way its taught in school and not because of the religious beliefs (for the most part) itself.

Regarding your first comment, i agree that its important for people to chose for themselves when they are fit enought to do it. However there are inadequate mechanisms in place in Ireland for individuals to do this. i.e. lack of information unless the individual investigates for themselves.

Although religion is a personal thing at the end of the day, in many ways its the people who make up the believers that determine its worth.

tallaght01

When a priest is crackin one off, who do you reckon they think about??

Like would it be a normal bird? Or housekeepers? Or nuns?

Would the ladies here be proud or horrified if they were the subject of such a holy ****?

Mackman

Im an athiest, and i have no interest in getting married in a church,id do it in my back garden if its possible, but the thing is, if i was to marry someone who was religious, i would gladly do the church thing for her. I definatly dont want a church funeral, no f'n way!
There are people who do the church thing even though they're not religious, but i think its because they think there isnt an alternative. That its the done thing and people would judge them if they did differently. Also, there might be pressure from family to do it etc.

Call Me Jimmy

tallaght01 wrote: »

When a priest is crackin one off, who do you reckon they think about??

Like would it be a normal bird? Or housekeepers? Or nuns?

Would the ladies here be proud or horrified if they were the subject of such a holy ****?

I think the only way they could justify it to themselves is to crack one off to a good sermon in their head.

So where we say:
aww yea... Jessica Alba... mmm... bent over... aww yea! (splooge)

they say:
awww yeah... Archbishop Diarmuid of Dublin... fuck yea... St.Pat's Cathedral... IN LATIN awwwawawww!! (splooge)

faceman

tallaght01 wrote: »

When a priest is crackin one off, who do you reckon they think about??

Like would it be a normal bird? Or housekeepers? Or nuns?

Would the ladies here be proud or horrified if they were the subject of such a holy ****?

NSFW (ish)
http://campblood.org/Features/hell05priest.jpg

HouseHippo

dresden8 wrote: »

It's the granny factor. Your ma would never forgive you if you didn't christen your kids.

This could be the thread where the correct answer actually is

Yore Ma!

Finally, Life here on boards is complete. the holy grail of thread my friends

rainbow kirby

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

they say:
awww yeah... Archbishop Diarmuid of Dublin... fuck yea... St.Pat's Cathedral... IN LATIN awwwawawww!! (splooge)

LOL, but that's a really disturbing mental image!

HouseHippo

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

I think the only way they could justify it to themselves is to crack one off to a good sermon in their head.

So where we say:
aww yea... Jessica Alba... mmm... bent over... aww yea! (splooge)

they say:
awww yeah... Archbishop Diarmuid of Dublin... fuck yea... St.Pat's Cathedral... IN LATIN awwwawawww!! (splooge)

Ah Jaysus I hope they don't hand me the communion bread with that spoogey hand...

Phototoxin

I think priests should have more balls. I'd respect the institution of the church more if they did.

'Sorry ms poppins I haven't seen you at mass for 6 years. So no I dont belive you will raise this child as a catholic. NEXT!'

Additionally I think a lot of people go out of habit, guilt or some sort of 'it makes us not a protestant' if we say we're cat-licks

it wreaks my spleen.

also its clear that a lot of catholcs dont belivce in transubstantiaon seing how the euchrist is abused as it is.

This cop out nature is why I dont practise 'for the sake of it. Why delude oneself?