question that I posted on LIF

I got a lot of responses. I'm curious what my fellow NWs think...b/c I'm just curious about the issue in general lol

I was reading through some old posts on various places last night (I was drunk and bored lol) and I saw something interesting that popped up quite a few times.

People who said that they are atheist/agnostic but would still baptize their child and raise them Catholic. Like the title says, I'm not trying to be offensive...I just don't understand how that works, and I'm just extremely curious. Any insight?

I think I'm more confused because DH & I were originally going to get married at the reception hall for a number of reasons, but changed our minds and decided that we absolutely had to get married in a Church, not just because we wanted to receive the Sacrament, but also because we know we want to raise our children Catholic and thought that was a good place to start.

I believe in to each his/her own. I am just curious.

Re: question that I posted on LIF

A little background on me before I answer the question: I was raised Christian (my mom is a Born-Again, my dad is an Atheist but his family is Jewish), and DH was raised Jewish. After my parents' divorce when I was 5, my dad has since been married two times--his second wife was Jewish, and his current wife is Muslim. I have been surrounded by so many different religious beliefs since I was a little girl, and very much respect and love learning about different religions.

That being said, DH and I are Agnostic, and we personally don't want to be affiliated with a particular organized religion. This is something that is not going to change when we raise our . We will, however, teach her about all of the different traditions and customs that we've learned throughout our lives. We want her to learn to respect her future friends' religious beliefs. It's hard to say our teachings won't be biased, but we just don't feel right telling a little girl what religion to follow. We just hope that she can make an informed decision when she's older and we will support her when she does.

I think a lot of families start going to religious services when they have children because it's nice to have a foundation and/or a moral basis. We just choose to have that outside of a specific denomination. I know other families have other reasons for going, but that's a common thing that I hear among my friends. I'm not saying what DH and I are doing is 'better' or the 'right way' to raise a child, it's just what we think will work for us .


ETA: FYI, I think this is a great question you posed!

Re: question that I posted on LIF

My parents had all of us baptized in the Catholic church, but that was it. We didn't go on to make our Communion or Confirmation. I think my mom's reasoning was that we were babies and so she wanted to make sure we were 'protected'. My parents didn't go to church and so they felt the rest of our religious education was up to us. If we wanted it we could have it, but it wouldn't be forced upon us. DH and I plan on raising our children the same way, although we probably will not have our children baptized in a Catholic church since we are not members.

Re: question that I posted on LIF

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Posted by miamimerger

That being said, DH and I are Agnostic, and we personally don't want to be affiliated with a particular organized religion. This is something that is not going to change when we raise our . We will, however, teach her about all of the different traditions and customs that we've learned throughout our lives. We want her to learn to respect her future friends' religious beliefs. It's hard to say our teachings won't be biased, but we just don't feel right telling a little girl what religion to follow. We just hope that she can make an informed decision when she's older and we will support her when she does.

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I think that is great!!



DH and I are both Agnostic as well... and IF (and that's a big if) we have children, we will raise them to respect all religions and traditions that this world has to offer.

Re: question that I posted on LIF

DH and I are both Catholic. However he has made all of his sacraments whereas I was never confirmed. Religion classes were the same time as my dance classes and at that age my mom gave me the choice and I choose dance of course lol.

I think a lot of it also has to do with the grandparents in the family and older family members. Although my mom won't care I do know that my grandmother was pressing my mom to baptise me sooner b/c it would make me healther. lol. I am actually the only person in my entire family to not go to Catholic School for some time.

DH and I will raise our children as Catholic, and when they get older they can make their decision as to continue to actively or passively practice. Like someone else said, I think it just gives them more of a basis for moral beliefs. But to each his own.

Re: question that I posted on LIF

I can answer this as a Mom. I was raised Catholic but I did not make my confirmation. We moved back to NY after living in California for 2 years and the church here would not allow the time to count that I was in religion in California so I quit religion. The first time I was married I was married in the catholic church. Just to give you a perspective of how doomed my marriage was the church we got married in burned down the next week and the priest that married us was arrested that year for child molesting!! It did not leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling about the church.

When my son was born I had him baptized just to keep the peace with my Grandmother and my in-laws. It really didn't matter to me at all. My son went to religion classes and made his communion. Two years later he asked if he still had to go...he hated it and they did nothing but watch movies. We never went to church services so I told him he could quit. When my daughter was born I also had her baptized for the same reasons. She never attended religion classes. I was going through my divorce the year she should have started and when I went to register her the following year they gave me nothing but attitude.

If I ever had another child I doubt that I would have them baptized. It does not hold any real meaning to me. I teach my kids about the traditions of the church myself, I teach them right from wrong. I see no need to have the church involved.

JMO

Re: question that I posted on LIF

DH and I were both raised Catholic and both made all of our sacraments. We were also married in a Catholic church. But we don't go to church on a regular basis. We will have our children baptized Catholic and they will also make all their sacraments. They will also be taught to be tolerant and respectful of everyone's beliefs as DH and I were taught.

Re: question that I posted on LIF

DH & I are both Catholic made all of the holy sacrements. Married in Church & will also raise our child in this same manner. We will also make sure our child has an overview of all religions & learn to respect everyones decision in what to believe.

I just have one question. If you are Agnostic or Athiest what do you do for the children during the holiday season??? Do you have a CHRISTmas or Easter (which we all know are Catholic holidays which are actually holy days). Im just wondering. Do you just celebrate Santa & gifts & not the entire holy story behind the actual day?? I know most people get wrapped up in the holiday season & forget what its really about. So what do you do??? And if you are teaching your child about other religions are you telling them the story of these holidays?? Im so curious how it works.
Thanks : )

Re: question that I posted on LIF

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Posted by MoochsWifey

DH and I were both raised Catholic and both made all of our sacraments. We were also married in a Catholic church. But we don't go to church on a regular basis. We will have our children baptized Catholic and they will also make all their sacraments. They will also be taught to be tolerant and respectful of everyone's beliefs as DH and I were taught.

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I could have written this myself...

Re: question that I posted on LIF

I still think a lot of people baptise their children out of fear and/or guilt.

So many people are 'raised' in their religion but dont practice it in their young adult/adult life. Then eventually turn back to it as older people.

But they feel like they should or have to baptise their kids...

It used to be the thinking that children were born with sin -- but now the Catholic church notes that this isn't true.




We are both Catholic. I just made my confirmation this past spring -- but even I don't want to go to church each week. And DH was the one who was soooo insistent that we get married in a church because it was soooo important to him and yet ... if we DO go to church its because I had to drag him there.

I will baptise my kids but stop there.... if they want to pursue religion they will express it to us as they age.

I will happily take them to church when we go and tell them about other religions but they are free to do whatever they want.