Would you get your child baptised?

Krusader

Since it's communion season... would you get your (future) children baptised and go through the childhood catholic rituals with them even if you aren't a practising catholic.

I myself wouldn't like to have my child baptised, I don't personally like the hypocracy of not caring about religion and then putting that on to my child, the only thing is you may need to get them a place into the local school and so on

MIN2511

I would

Wolfe Tone

I would too.

Storminateacup

I will.

Marsden

Its not just about religion, your child will feel left out when its communion time and they dont get to join in.

Biggins

No.
Have four children and none of them have been subjected involuntary to that process.
If they want to when they are old enough to decide as mature teens or adults, so be it.
Until then, who am I to force any one individual religious indoctrination and process upon them.
Presently some attend (and others shortly will) also "Educate Together" schools to in also to aid further freer thinking and openness.

Krusader

poll added

Ickle Magoo

I wasn't baptised - I didn't baptise my kids...I come from a long time of heathens. :cool:

bijapos

No, they can make their own minds up whenever. Along with that I wouldn't be able to afford the almighty piss up that my many relatives would insist on having afterwards.

slavetothegrind

biggins my respect for you has grown immensly.

people just don't see the prejudice that exists against those of no religion in this country.

let them be educated in a non partisan manner and determine their own feelings on the subject over time, morality and religion are seperate, as clearly shown by the catholic church in this country and others.

phasers

Yep, it's easier to get into the good schools around here if you're Catholic. If that changes, then I wouldn't bother.

stimpson

Have a two year old that I hope is the first in a long line of heathens.

If he decides otherwise then I'll respect his decision - as long as it's not just to cash in on the sacraments.

Biggins

phasers wrote: »

Yep, it's easier to get into the good schools around here if you're Catholic. If that changes, then I wouldn't bother.

See if there is one of these schools near you: http://www.educatetogether.ie/
There is more opening soon and they are the fastest growing (and wanted by the public) education system in Ireland presently.

Azureus

No. The whole washing the sins away from an innocent little child in baptism never sat well with me. The only reason my mother baptised me and my brothers was so that we would be a part of things in school like communion and confirmations. 'Everyone else is doing it' mentality. She always regretted that though and has said herself she felt pressured into doing it.
Educate together schools are fantastic, and I would definately encourage my children (if i had any) to learn about religions, but not just Christianity. They can make up their own minds

EverEvolving

Depends, if I thought they would get in to a better school then, yes, I would have them baptised even though I am a non practicing catholic, atheist even.

If there was a non-denominational option that was a good school then I would choose that but if there wasn't then I would lie about my religion for their sake and seek forgiveness!!

I would want whatever is best for the child, religious or not.

El Weirdo

I have done. Doesn't mean anything to me tbh. Did it to keep the parents and in-laws somewhat happy and it was a good excuse for a bit of a do with family and friends, actually.

Unfortunately, we don't have the option of an Educate Together school where I live.

bonerm

Only if I'm allowed to do it in a down by the river style.

Dravokivich

Nope, wouldn't have'em baptised.

Casey_81

Im expecting at the minute, and this topic is a hot debate in our house.. I am a non practicing catholic and dont like the idea of getting the child baptised - but if it was a case of getting him/her into a good school or not then i might have to give in and go with it.

Krusader

El Weirdo wrote: »

I have done. Doesn't mean anything to me tbh. Did it to keep the parents and in-laws somewhat happy and it was a good excuse for a bit of a do with family and friends, actually.

Unfortunately, we don't have the option of an Educate Together school where I live.

this is a big problem for people, schools should be non-religious, you should learn about religions thats about it, if parents want their kids baptised and the likes they should do it on their own time

EverEvolving

Biggins wrote: »

See if there is one of these schools near you: http://www.educatetogether.ie/
There is more opening soon and they are the fastest growing (and wanted by the public) education system in Ireland presently.

Thanks for that Biggins, there is one of those in my area and they look like really good schools, although I would need to do more research into the local one. Right, better get working on the baby then :pac:

Biggins

In some cases there is no clear cut solution to the quandary of "should or shouldn't I?"

What does stick out is the gap between the true fundamental idea/nature of the process itself and those that are going through with it just for advantageous reason beyond religions aspects alone.

Some would (understandably) subject their child to such a religious process in hope of it might gain them a foothold in a nearest or better educational establishment, it might gain them better financially (short or long term) or it might allow their offspring just to be able avoid any stigmatisation in not been baptised and avoid being sidelined.

Those that advocate "your child will feel left out when its communion time and they don't get to join in.. " - well this might be true in some cases but then as its communion (or confirmation) that will be taking place, in order to get to that stage, they already have been baptised anyway!
(You have to be baptised previously, to be allowed further take the later stages)

So some are giving in to subjecting their kids to the process for secondary reasons - not the prime one, the religious aspect of it alone.
If your going to do this, the reason why your doing this or have done this already, should be made clear to the young minds at an appropriate time when you assess that they will understand.
To say nothing, is just to leave them thinking in the realm that Ma/Da did it just for the religious aspect - and that would be hypocritical.
...When in truth, the real reason for a baptism might be far from the religious aspects alone.

Wolfe Tone

Theres gonna be a lot of kids pissed off that they have missed out on communion and confirmation - and the cash that goes with it!

No, of course not

Mint Sauce

More than likely. I'm none practising my self, but if am ever lucky enough to meet someone and have a kid with them, it would be something that would be discussed.

Krusader

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Theres gonna be a lot of kids pissed off that they have missed out on communion and confirmation - and the cash that goes with it!

Not if you raise them right

Chris P. Bacon

Yes,i have and i will be again.

OutlawPete

Might as well have a Poll asking people if they are practicing paedophiles, might even be less stigma attached to it.

Biggins

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

There's gonna be a lot of kids pissed off that they have missed out on communion and confirmation - and the cash that goes with it!

You have a point - however if your lucky enough to get a place in a school that is based on a true multi-denominational system, that problem does not arise.
As these types of schools are growing, thankfully those that might be subjected previously to such bullying/stigmatisation/pressure, are dying out - maybe not fast enough, but are indeed dying out.

A lot more people is willing to stand up to this religious pressure coming from others.
In the case of my relatives, we (the wife and I) got similar pressures from family.
Well we were of our own minds as what way to go and added to that then was the thought "who the fcuk do they think they are to try and bully us and our kids into joining their religious order!".
We made it immediately clear to them that they could piss right off!
The more some tried to bully us - the more we said "fcuk you! - we have the balls to not to give into out of date, antiquated mode of thinking, bullying and pressure".

One should not give into bullying/pressure in ALL its forms.
To condemn others for doing such bullying/pressure applied actions (by any method) elsewhere but giving in yourself in some cases is just plain hypocritical.

Baptising children into a cult you don't believe in just for the money is absolutely ridiculous, I cannot believe anyone would even mention it

mariaf24

Yes, I christened my daughter and will christen my new baby too, even though i am a non practising catholic (I do believe in God (or something) though).
I suppose i christen them to make their choice for them to be a catholic and whether they wish to practice or not when they get older is their choice.

No, never.

mariaf24

mariaf24 wrote: »

Yes, I christened my daughter and will christen my new baby too, even though i am a non practising catholic (I do believe in God (or something) though).
I suppose i christen them to make their choice for them to be a catholic and whether they wish to practice or not when they get older is their choice.

Once you are in the catholic church you cannot officially defect, so you are making that life long choice for them

lastlaugh

I have done and probably will do again.

Although I do see the hypocrisy of this as both my partner and I are non-practicing catholics.

It even feels a bit weird talking to them about Jesus & God and the whole Catholic dogma.

Wolfe Tone

I was baptized and confirmed, did me no harm.

lastlaugh

bluewolf wrote: »

Once you are in the catholic church you cannot officially defect, so you are making that life long choice for them

You can removed from the Catholic Church if you wish...

Biggins

bluewolf wrote: »

Once you are in the catholic church you cannot officially defect, so you are making that life long choice for them

Correct. The heads of Rome have decided to make it extremely harder - near impossible, to leave their order.
See: http://www.countmeout.ie/suspension/

...the Church in Ireland released the following statement to RTE News:

The Holy See confirmed at the end of August that it was introducing changes to Canon Law and as a result it will no longer be possible to formally defect from the Catholic Church. This will not alter the fact that many people can defect from the Church, and continue to do so, albeit not through a formal process.

lastlaugh

lastlaugh wrote: »

You can removed from the Catholic Church if you wish...

not anymore

lastlaugh

bluewolf wrote: »

not anymore

Didn't know that, that's bit sneaky.

hondasam

I was baptised and my kids are. If you are not baptised you cannot marry in a catholic church I think. It all gets a bit complicated later when you have to be baptised, confirmed etc to marry.

Pace2008

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I was baptized and confirmed, did me no harm.

Do you feel you'd done enough wrong by the time of baptism to warrant being purged of your sins?

Krusader

Pace2008 wrote: »

Do you feel you'd done enough wrong by the time of baptism to warrant being purged of your sins?

Probably shat himself a couple of times, if that warrants it

hondasam

hondasam wrote: »

I was baptised and my kids are. If you are not baptised you cannot marry in a catholic church I think. It all gets a bit complicated later when you have to be baptised, confirmed etc to marry.

In fairness if you arent a catholic you shouldnt be marrying in their church anyway, there are plenty of scenic places to go instead

Biggins

lastlaugh wrote: »

Didn't know that, that's bit sneaky.

Its disgustingly underhand (but we are talking about Rome!).
Once they have you, they refuse now to let you go officially.
What will be entered on your birth cert - will stay that way till the day you die - and even then they get to decide and rule over you what you are, where you will be buried to a good extent and what is/is not allowed to be stated on your tombstone.

So... Here you go son. I signed you up to a religious order, if you like it or not - and your stuck with it officially till the day you die and then some!

"Thanks Ma and Da!"

Rabidlamb

I've a 3 year old & a 2 year old, neither baptized, their mother & myself are atheists.
There is a Catholic Primary school across the road from my house.
If they get refused entry based on religious first I'll be bringing this matter to the media.
On another note, well done Ruari Quinn, there should be more like you.

hondasam

bluewolf wrote: »

In fairness if you arent a catholic you shouldnt be marrying in their church anyway, there are plenty of scenic places to go instead

what if you partner is, there has to be compromise. we Don't choose to pick a person by their religion.

hondasam

hondasam wrote: »

what if you partner is, there has to be compromise. we Don't choose to pick a person by their religion.

Yes, but the compromise is not to baptise someone at birth just in case they happen to meet a catholic partner later in life! Same could be true if they're any religion!

hondasam

bluewolf wrote: »

Yes, but the compromise is not to baptise someone at birth just in case they happen to meet a catholic partner later in life! Same could be true if they're any religion!

I know but you see what I mean, once marriage and babies happen we sometimes have to make choices that we Don't necessarily agree with.

Posy

I am a Christian so obviously as such not a Catholic. I find Catholicism a despicable, judgemental religion and therefore I really really really do not want to baptise any children I might have in the future and force them to be catholics forever. :rolleyes:

However, I want to send any children I have to a Gaelscoil so I fear I may be forced into compromising between baptising them into a religion I don't want them to be or sending them to a school I don't really want them to go to.

xsiborg

i hate this "cult" and "oppressed" nonsense when the issue of religion or what it is to be a catholic is raised. it comes across as though you're not "enlightened" because you happen to have a religion. i consider myself to be a perfectly enlightened roman catholic, yes i was lapsed for a few years, i was even opposed to a church wedding, but i did want my son baptised a catholic, and not for finances, or schools, etc, but because i would like him to follow in my faith.

and since i have started taking him to mass i myself have found it good to just go once a week, say a prayer, it also even gives me a chance to spend some time with my son as after mass we head down to the park and talk on the way about what he learned in mass.

there is far more to catholicism than just money for communion or confirmation and my son doesnt seem "oppressed" or "subjected" to any kind of mental torture for having gone to church, said a few prayers, and having faith in something.

im not the most articulate with words, and im sure there are those that could argue this idea a lot better than myself. i know what i WANT to say, but i just cant find the right phrasiology to express it.

Blowfish

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I was baptized and confirmed, did me no harm.

I wasn't baptised and didn't make my communion and confirmation. I went to a catholic primary school and two secondary schools which had orders of nuns associated with them. It did me no harm.

hondasam wrote: »

I was baptised and my kids are. If you are not baptised you cannot marry in a catholic church I think. It all gets a bit complicated later when you have to be baptised, confirmed etc to marry.

No you don't. I have 2 sisters who were married in Ireland and neither they nor their husbands are baptised or confirmed catholics. Aside from that, if you are a non practising catholic, why the hell would you want to get married in a church anyway?