I want to know your opinions on being a Godmother if you are an atheist.
How can a person who does not believe in God make a promise to God to help raise a child in His teachings? I ask because I went to a christening yesterday and it really irked me that Godmother was standing there in front of the church and all these people proclaiming to God. I felt like she was such a hypocrite. Maybe I am wrong.
Any feelings on this from either side?
Ronkonkomonga
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's disucss this.
if it was Roman Catholic - didn't they ask the Godparents to re affirm what they believed?
I seem to remember that I had to do that to be a sponsor for my brothers confirmation
CubanBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's disucss this.
Posted by Ronkonkomonga
if it was Roman Catholic - didn't they ask the Godparents to re affirm what they believed?
I seem to remember that I had to do that to be a sponsor for my brothers confirmation
Yes, it was Roman Catholic, yes they were asked, and yes, they lied.
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's disucss this.
well, i am agnostic and i am the Godmother to my lil brother & FH is also agnostic and Godmother to two of our nieces. It kind of depends on the parents of the child and how they feel about it. For example, we (fh & i) arent Godparents to teach the child about god or anything (obviously, since we dont necassarily think there is one) .... It means that you are a very important person in this childs life and will act almost like a secondary parent. Thats how it is for us. i cant really fully express my feelings by typing, i can not find the words for it, but i may add later
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by CubanBride
Posted by Ronkonkomonga
if it was Roman Catholic - didn't they ask the Godparents to re affirm what they believed?
I seem to remember that I had to do that to be a sponsor for my brothers confirmation
Yes, it was Roman Catholic, yes they were asked, and yes, they lied.
i hope you dont actually belive someone would all of a sudden believe in god b/c they become a godparent. thats what you HAVE to say!
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
my point, i guess, is that it all depends on the family.......... obviously they had their reasons for choosing this person
CubanBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by lolita4life
well, i am agnostic and i am the Godmother to my lil brother & FH is also agnostic and Godmother to two of our nieces. It kind of depends on the parents of the child and how they feel about it. For example, we (fh & i) arent Godparents to teach the child about god or anything (obviously, since we dont necassarily think there is one) .... It means that you are a very important person in this childs life and will act almost like a secondary parent. Thats how it is for us. i cant really fully express my feelings by typing, i can not find the words for it, but i may add later
Lolita, this I understand, But being agnostic and being atheist, are two different things. Agnostics at least believe that there is a God, but they just don't practice a specific religion.
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
not all agnostics believe in god. i like to think there is, but youre right, i do not practice religion.... FH on the other hand doesnt belive in god.... but would if he had some kind of proof .... and he has TWO goddaughters...
but perhaps you see my point
(he sees them more often, does special things with them, is generally closer to them..... but he doesnt teach them about god or religion, even though he IS the godparent)
CubanBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by lolita4life
not all agnostics believe in god. i like to think there is, but youre right, i do not practice religion.... FH on the other hand doesnt belive in god.... but would if he had some kind of proof .... and he has TWO goddaughters...
but perhaps you see my point
(he sees them more often, does special things with them, is generally closer to them..... but he doesnt teach them about god or religion, even though he IS the godparent)
Ok, then how was he able to make a promise in a church to God if he doesn't believe in God? I mean, did he discuss it with you. Did he debate with himself or something? Or did he just dismiss it? I guess I am trying to understand the mindset of a person who makes that decision.
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
because to us AND the babys parents, it wasnt about god... it was already a known factor that he wont be taking her to religion classes or anything like that. baptising is just somethign you have to do, and they chose him to be the special person in her life
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by CubanBride
Posted by lolita4life
Ok, then how was he able to make a promise in a church to God if he doesn't believe in God?
what is the promise we godparents are making to god?
Ronkonkomonga
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by CubanBride
Posted by Ronkonkomonga
Yes, it was Roman Catholic, yes they were asked, and yes, they lied.
they lied to God???? Sounds like a job for Mel Gibson!!!
Katherine121
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by lolita4life
baptising is just somethign you have to do, and they chose him to be the special person in her life
Why is baptizing something you 'have to do?'
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
you just have to... thats why alot of ppl do.. they feel they just need to... just something you gotta do...
my children will not be baptized. they can grow up and make their own decisions which religion they want to be part of.... if tehy want to.
CubanBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by lolita4life
because to us AND the babys parents, it wasnt about god... it was already a known factor that he wont be taking her to religion classes or anything like that. baptising is just somethign you have to do, and they chose him to be the special person in her life
Well I understand the situation. And I am not responding as an attack on your or your FH. I am just trying to understand.
I will not vouch for others because I am sure they will have strong feelings, either way, on this subject. LOL!
I am one of those people who do not believe in baptising a child until they can comprehend what they are doing. I don't agree with the baptizing of babies. But I understand why it is done.
CubanBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by Ronkonkomonga
Posted by CubanBride
Posted by Ronkonkomonga
Yes, it was Roman Catholic, yes they were asked, and yes, they lied.
they lied to God???? Sounds like a job for Mel Gibson!!!
CubanBride
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
Posted by lolita4life
Posted by CubanBride
Posted by lolita4life
Ok, then how was he able to make a promise in a church to God if he doesn't believe in God?
what is the promise we godparents are making to god?
Well in most Christian religions, the Godparents are promising to help raise the child in the Christian tradition. If you listen to the pastor (btw-i don't know if it's like this in all churches, but I have heard its pretty much the same in all christian denominations) he asks 'do you promise to bring up the child in Christs eyes?' or something to that effect. Basically, you have to reaffirm what you believe.
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
gotcha that sounds right about christs eyes. no harm done... im not saying its like this with everyone..... just us...... i know youre not attacking me and i hope you dont think i am to you.
lolita4life
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
i guess its just not serious to some people, but they do it out of tradition
Bunnymonkey
Posted:
Member since
Re: NWR- Let's discuss this.
She may be a hypocrite in your eyes, but she may see the church as a hypocrisy, and her 'lie' to her, was not a lie.
Does that make sense?
If she does not believe in God or the church, her 'promise' to the church and to God mean nothing.
As long as the parents are aware that her role as a Godmother is not about religion, then I do not see any harm done.
The people in Catholic churches who go to Pre Cana - I have heard girls on here say they lied to the priest about living with their FH. And they are PART of the church!!! To me, that is worse.
