Moral dilemma?

Question

A close friend had a baby and I attended the christening because she wanted me there. She is now having another child. As an atheist I find the idea of christening a child into a faith it doesn't understand abhorrent. Do I attend the next christening, or do I upset her by staying away this time?

Answer 1

try stop stuffing your beliefs down peoples throats
no one would be upset if you stayed away with your attitude

Answer 2

If you consider the Christening to be a bad thing, then you most certainly should not attend. If you are invited, tell your friend that you are unable to make it this time but you wish her and the family all the best. Hopefully, she'll let it go at that.

If she presses you as to why you can't come, be gently honest and say that after attending the last Christening, you have realized that you think it's not a good thing to do, and you just can't bring yourself to be a party to it. You may upset her, of course, but if you can't be honest with a close friend, who can you be honest with?

However, if you are truly an atheist, then you would find a Christening to be meaningless. Meaningless things are never abhorrent. They have no meaning, good or bad.

I think you might want to consider why you recoil so much from something that has no meaning. Seems to me that you must ascribe SOME meaning to it or you wouldn't have such hard feelings about it.

There's a difference between saying there is no God and any ritual involving God is meaningless and saying that ritual is wrong because it involves God. The first one is truly atheistic in nature. The second acknowledges that God is real...you just don't want any part of God.

Answer 3

Whether you like it or not, that child is going to be brought up a Christian until it's old enough to think for itself. So whether or not it's being christened is really not relevant. There are a lot worse things that can happen to the child.

I'm an atheist too, but I was christened when I was a baby. Having a child christened is an expression by the parents that they hope their child will grow up a christian. But that doesn't mean the child has to stay a christian.

Answer 4

I agree that it is kind of ridiculous to christen a baby who is many years from understanding the true meaning of the religion. But I also think, this is your friend. You're entitled to your beliefs but i'm sure it would make her happy if you were there. Also, as silly an idea as christening seems to be, it is not harming anyone. You gotta pick your battles. I think you should just go and show support for your friend. You don't have to agree with her beliefs or her choice in this matter but I think friendship is more important.

Answer 5

If you don't believe in God, I don't understand how you think christening will harm a little baby. She is too young to be controlled, influenced or brainwashed yet. I am an Agnostic, though I do believe in God. It's my own personal business and if I am invited into a church I don't have a problem with it. I also don't feel I must attend.
I would say that your choice is totally up to you, but if you decide to go, then I am sure you will be respectful, even if you do not agree with the idea.

Answer 6

Is that a moral dilemma or a judgement.
Many people have been baptised or christened as a normal part of childhood, and have gone on to question, what religion am I. When being told they are christened in such a such religion, that child will or could look in to it for there self.

Me, I would go, I love being in church, and it is a lovely idea to "give" the children the "option" for themselves later on.

Answer 7

I think many times in our life, we do things we don't agree with in order to show respect for someone we care for.

There is nothing wrong with you attending, at the request of your friend - when she obviously would like you to be there on an occasion that has some significance to her.

Just because you go doesn't mean you have to make a big deal out of it.

It is her baby, she makes the decision for the child until the child is old enough to make it's own decisions.

Of course, you have a choice. What is more important to you; the friendship - or making a point.

Answer 8

Everyone thinks they are doing the right thing by christening their child into their faith. The children will learn the parents faith anyway because that is what they will be taught. I would still go for moral support unless you think that the faith she is christening the child into is false.

Answer 9

I too am an atheist, but this no reason to disrespect someones faith. You should not hesitate to attend the christening , as a believer your friend is doing her duty, and if she knows you are an atheist and still counts you as a friend, it proves that she is not a zealot, consider yourself lucky to have such a friend.

Answer 10

You go. Your beliefs should not make you protest the way that someone wants to raise their family. It is not your business. As an atheist, you know that it's just some dumb old tribal ritual and has no actual meaning. Therefore, it should not bother you. However, it probably does have tremendous meaning to your friend. If you are a close and good friend, you should give your full support. I believe you are thinking selfishly and being very small minded. Some might say, closed minded.

Answer 11

It's OK to go to the religious celebrations of people of other faiths. Simply be quiet and respect their beliefs, even if they are at odds with your own.

And if you had a child of your own, wouldn't you raise him/her as an atheist? Of course, everyone will bring a child up to have the same beliefs that they have. Why is that abhorrent?