i was just thinking.......when i was 7 i was christened in a church along with my baby cousin. does this mean i'm christian and not pagan? does this mean i wasn't raised atheist like i claim, but actually raised christian?
i was christened out of tradition, not religion. in fact, when my first child was born, my mother wanted me to christen him. i said no and told her religion is a personal choice so i won't choose for him.
so it seems like pascal's wager worked on my mother and her family, but does it count when they don't attend church or don't even believe in god?
so ya, i'm in the middle of an identity crisis. actually, i'm ok, i know i'm pagan, i just think the whole situation is kind of strange. what do you think?
2007-11-02 01:56:41 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
((((keltasia)))) thanks : )
2007-11-02 02:03:11 · update #1
Even if you were like that when you were a baby, that doesn't "save" you.
You're still burning in hell with the rest of us heathens.
2007-11-02 02:01:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
A person's beliefs are demonstrated by the person's actions. Being christened does not make you Christian any more than going swimming makes you a fish, unless of course you are already a fish.
2007-11-02 09:10:58 · answer #2 · answered by TheNewCreationist 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're all right Riegan. Most of us were christened as children but since we weren't given the choice in most cases you're still a good Pagan! (I didn't know anything about other religions even existing at the time I was christened.)
2007-11-02 09:02:13 · answer #3 · answered by Keltasia 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Many parents baptize their children because it was done to them too but without actually exploring the reason why.
Baptism is an outward sign. When Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, He had been in the Wilderness fasting, totally commiting Himself to God for what He was later to do, that is dying for out sins.
Baptism is of no spiritual effect to anyone who has not full comprehended what Christ did for us on the Cross. After accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you then get baptised by immersion in water (not a dab on the forehead) to receive the Holy Spirit. This is the Bible way of baptism.
Dedicating children to the Lord is the best way of commiting the child to God, this was done in the old testament, check out Hannah's story in the book of Samuel.
2007-11-02 09:15:07 · answer #4 · answered by Binahl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you answered your own question. You say you know exactly who you are. I'm a bit confused, though. You were christened at seven. Your parents don't believe in God. So, you were christened by atheist parents? Those are exact opposites. I must have misunderstood your statement.
2007-11-02 09:18:03 · answer #5 · answered by starfishltd 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In my family, a baptism/dedication/whatever was just a means of protection for a child's soul until that child came of age to make his/her own decision about which religion to follow. Personally, I was raised pretty much Christo-Pagan.
2007-11-02 09:44:52 · answer #6 · answered by Blue Oyster Kel 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is kinda funny. England is only about 44% Christian but still more than 80% of children are christened. I read that somewhere about a week ago. It is really odd how people are about traditional things.
2007-11-02 09:04:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
I don't see what is strange. Traditions are part of life, they seemed to be stronger in the past. They were beautiful parts of culture that gave people a sense of belonging to a community. They are no deeper or meaningful than you wish them to be.
2007-11-02 09:01:28 · answer #8 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
no, i never have my children baptized as a baby because they are not old enough to understand what it means. and baptism it not what gets you to heaven, only by asking jesus in your heart and life is what gets you saved. baptism is an outward symbol that we use to show the world that we accept the lord and we want them to know. my 2 oldest children have been baptised because they were ready and they were clear on what it meant. now my youngest is ready as well and i told her in the next month or so we would get it done. but she made that decision herself. i was christened as an infant as well and when i was old enough to actually understand what it meant then i made the decision to get baptised myself. so if you refuse to be christian and refuse to accept jesus as you savior then that is your choice and that little sprinkling of water meant nothing. i pray that you reconsider though, and maybe give it a chance and i pray that you give your children the chance to make that choice as well, and to at least let them get informed on the subject before letting them make any final decisions, your parents care about you and your children and in their hearts and in mine too, they believe that you are making a big mistake and they want to know that your future is guaranteed and you will be spending eternity in heaven instead of the pits of hell. god bless.
2007-11-02 09:11:13 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hmm... Interesting...
I would say that you had a clean head of hair after the baptism, but that would be about all... The baptisms are based upon Faith.. Since neither your family nor you have that "faith," it was just a little wet hair....
Be at peace.
2007-11-02 09:09:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I allegedly was "dedicated to the church" when I was a kid,as opposed to being christened.
Never knew what difference that was supposed to make to me,and if it was,it didn't work as I have grown about as far away from being dedicated to a church without physically taking action against one/them.
2007-11-02 09:06:42 · answer #11 · answered by Cotton Wool Ninja 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋