Hi everyone,
My question is this.
Do you think it matters to christen your baby in a different religion to yourself and your husband?
What are your thoughts?
I am Greek orthodox (non practising, non believer) & husband is Roman Catholic (very minimal practising/believer).
We are thinking of christening baby in the Anglican Church.
=)
The whole thing about a christening is the child becoming part of the church community. IMO if you christen a child in any religion then you are also making a commitment to follow/practice that religion. How else will a child learn about God and the church's teachings if you don't take them to church?
What is it about the Anglican Church that appeals to you? I am Anglican and was christened and confirmed in the church. My parents left it up to me to decide if we wanted to become involved in the church and when we did we got christened (was 10 years old). Not practising now mind you.
On a purely practical level if you christen your child as a catholic they will have a better chance of getting into a catholic school when they grow up - if a private education is important to you. The Anglican schools are usually way more expensive LOL.
ETA - just saw your post in the other thread and understand better your reasons. I also went to an Anglican school and feel that got a good balanced view of religion and a very good education. I have been thinking about schooling for my DS and see on most enrolment forms for church schools about being christened. I guess it all depends on the school and the faith.
Good luck with your decision.
Last edited by Saffi; June 22nd, 2008 at 07:35 PM.
: clarification
Personally we are not religious, however i am adament on a christening, or a "form" of christening. I dont really view a christening as a mandatory life sentence to a certain religion, i simply see it as a ceremony into "goodness".
So i dont think it matters at all. Good luck with your decision.
Good post Saffi I agree, Christening, I think is basically an introduction ceremony into a specific church community... but i can see how it could mean other things to other people.
To be really contradictory LOL I am currently being faced with the prospect of my 4yo not being accepted into a Catholic school because he is not Catholic This is not definite yet, just a possibility. They allow 10% of places to go to non-catholic but we could very well miss out. This is despite the fact that for the past 2 years he has been a regular attendee at church.... at least 2 Sundays out of every 4 Sundays per month. we want him to go to a school that reflects our Christian values.... and the thought of him missing out so that a child, who has been Christened Catholic but who has never been to church and comes from non-practising parents does annoy me I have to admit. Is this unfair of me? My children haven't been Christened yet. I could technically have him Christened a Catholic to ensure him a place... but I feel this is 'cheating'. I guess other parents don't see it this way though maybe...
If you intend bringing your child up in the Anglican Church and you believe in what a christening stands for, then go for it.
If not, I wouldn't bother.
And I certainly wouldn't christen my child in the Catholic Church simply to get into a Catholic school. To me that's just so, so wrong on so many levels.
I tend to agree Fiona. But why do non-practising catholics bother sending their kids to Catholic schools if they aren't going to "back up" what the school teaches at home?
I just read in another thread that if my son attends a catholic school and he isn't a Catholic then he won't be able to take Communion with the other children Now that would devestate him. He loves the Communion ceremony at our church... it's only held once a month but that's the service we try hard not to miss. Maybe i should have second thoughts about the catholic option after all.
ETA: thanks Muppity... I agree! My son would certainly be able to fit right in more-so than children from non-practising families. i have told the registrar at the catholic school that our priest is willing to write a letter of recommendation (he said he would) but she replied that that wouldn't really mean anything it's black or white... you are either christened catholic or not
Last edited by Bathsheba; June 26th, 2008 at 05:33 PM.
Bath - have you explained to the school that you are waiting to give him the choice and that he is clearly a practicing catholic just not an official one? Maybe got a letter from your priest? I would have thought that they would be more keen to have people who actually reflected the views of the institution rather than those who weren't practicing but used it as a convenience.
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Baby Different Religion to Parents
I agree, Christening, I think is basically an introduction ceremony into a specific church community... but i can see how it could mean other things to other people.
This is not definite yet, just a possibility. They allow 10% of places to go to non-catholic but we could very well miss out. This is despite the fact that for the past 2 years he has been a regular attendee at church.... at least 2 Sundays out of every 4 Sundays per month. we want him to go to a school that reflects our Christian values.... and the thought of him missing out so that a child, who has been Christened Catholic but who has never been to church and comes from non-practising parents does annoy me I have to admit. Is this unfair of me? My children haven't been Christened yet. I could technically have him Christened a Catholic to ensure him a place... but I feel this is 'cheating'. I guess other parents don't see it this way though maybe...
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