Comments on: Dunk or No Dunk?

By: Indigo

Indigo — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:02:38 +0000

I can’t speak for other faiths, but my parents’ minister (United Church of Canada) has expressed frustration with parents who come to her wanting their child baptised but unwilling to join the congregation. In the UCC, baptism is seen as a ritual welcoming the child into the spiritual community – a joyous event, but one you’re meant to take seriously and not just go through for the sake of it.

By: belongsomewhere

belongsomewhere — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:29:00 +0000

This is basically what happened to my parents–they didn’t get married in the Church, and so both sides of the family insisted that I be baptized. No harm so far… Next, my grandparents suggested that I be enrolled in CCD classes (my parents thought it may be a good way for me to make friends, as I was painfully shy growing up). Then I had a first Communion and was eventually Confirmed. Neither of my parents is a practicing Catholic, nor did they want me to be, really. I guess everything seemed like a tiny favor, but it really did have an impact on my life (despite the fact that I told my parents I didn’t believe in God at the age of four, long before I entered CCD).

By: J Myers

J Myers — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:10:02 +0000

anyone else care to share your response to this practice?

If South Park was right, I'd say this is a damn good thing. Otherwise, typical religious nonsense; hardly worth our concern.

By: Milena

Milena — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:38:47 +0000

I was baptized in a Christian Orthodox church in secret by my mom and grandmother, because my father, a long-time Communist, wanted to wait until I could choose for myself. Later, going through Catholic school, I got Confirmed without understanding the meaning of the ceremony in the least. Now, I can honestly say I wish I hadn’t gone through either ceremony until I had an actual understanding of it.

I think that letting the grandparents go through with this will only open the door to more religious indoctrination, which will ultimately cause more friction. Better nip this one at the bud.

By: Mouse

Mouse — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:23:50 +0000

My partner was baptized in the Episcopalian Church as a baby. She went through the trouble of Confirmation, although already a heavy doubter, because she felt an obligation, given that certain strong believers in her life had pledged responsibility for her religious education and soul up to that point.

I went to Jewish Sunday School for several years, because I enjoyed learning Hebrew and the stories and songs. I quit at the point my class would have started preparations for bar and bat mitzvahs, because I knew I didn’t believe and didn’t think it was honest to go through with the ceremony.

I’m glad that the bat mitzvah was slated for when I was old enough to have some thoughts about it, unlike baptism for babies. In the long run, I consider it as I do circumcision–it’s always something my kid can do later on if he so chooses.

By: cipher

cipher — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:30:18 +0000

Ridger,

In fact, through the 19th century it was not unheard of for Catholic servants sometimes to baptize Jewish babies, who were then not returned to their families because it would have been wrong to let Jews bring up a Christian.

That, I hadn’t heard.

By: cipher

cipher — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:29:31 +0000

Ray,

If it’s just a matter of tradition, I could see it. Jews have bar/bat-mitzvahs for the same reason.

By: Ray Harrington

Ray Harrington — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:21:40 +0000

Hi everyone, I’m the Ray from the original post. Just to clarify a few things as I see some of the comments following a pattern that isn’t the case in my circumstances.

1. Our parents aren’t at all pushing for a baptism as we aren’t having children yet. We were simply discussing what we would do when the time came. So the slippery slope isn’t an issue as no one is pressing and I feel that our parents are of the “it’s tradition” side of religion and not strict followers.

2. While I will raise my children exactly how we see fit, I also love my mom. SHe didn’t push religion on me at all, but she did have me baptized… it didn’t work!… I want my mom to be able to feel as connected as possible to the lives of our children. If that means a 1 time deal, so be it. If she were controllingly religious or it would lead to more, then I wouldn’t be considering it… and she wouldn’t be my mom.

3. She isn’t catholic. Most Christian religions involve baptism of a kind. Just thought I would mention that as the ceremony wouldn’t be about pledging catholocism. And frankly, whatever the priest or pastor or whatever says is going to go through one ear and out the other with our parents. It’s about the tradition for them.

4. No one is telling me how to raise my child, but I also understand the importance of grandparents in a child’s life. I didn’t have my Dad around, but my grandma and great-grandma were a HUGE part of my growing up.

By: J Myers

J Myers — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:40:54 +0000

Your child, your choice. If the child becomes religious later in life, he can voluntarily participate in any ritual he chooses.

Parents need to learn when to back the hell off sometimes… particularly when they try to use your innate desire for their approval to guilt you into appeasing their irrational desires.

By: The Perky Skeptic

The Perky Skeptic — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:28:04 +0000

Right, Axegrrl– I feel the same way about post-mortem baptism as I do about astrology-based eulogies: they dishonor my entire philosophy of life, and no one who had so much as a gram of respect for me would do it.