Christenings

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I've just realised that I may be full of sh*t. Actually I have known this for some considerable time. I've just though that if I had a misses and son and she suddenly said I want our child to be Jewish (note - I have nothing against Jews or their religion) and I want him to go through a bar mitzvah, well then I wouldn't be so complacent. Nobody but nobody would be snipping my lads little pecker! I guess that makes me a hypocrite in that I'm perfectly OK to gamble his soul on a Christening but would remain defiant about someone abusing his knob.

[Ed209]

so what's the point of it then?

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Just to be clear - we're not going to split up over this!

[The Nal]

so you root around her cupboards.

[kaosmark2]

indeed... so what's the point? You could have a baby naming ceremony... you could do anything you want in the name of celebrating your child

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Stupid question. Why don't we just extend that to anything which isn't a binding agreement?

Its supposed to be symbolic, a welcoming by the christian church to a new member. Like an innitiation ceromony for a club. A club which anyone can freely leave at anytime. There is nothing stopping them being an agnostic, atheist, Muslim, Hindu, buddhist, satanist etc.. when they start thinking for themselves. Its more a statement of intent by the parents and god parents to raise them christian. Although in many circumstances this duty stops as soon as the adults have their christening photo and leave the church that morning. As its sounds like it will be in this case. At the end of the day it comes down to what the parents do in the subsequent years.

[abdoujaparov]

Surely being religious is following a religion.... I don't "follow" a religion...

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I don't see it that way... but its besides the point...

I believe in god but I don't follow a particular religion... Whatever that is, it is...

I make my own mind up what I believe... I don't just submit totally to the teachings of a single book....

[Ed209]

Before I get angry, do you worship and where do you you worship??

[Ed209]

Please explain to me then why you are not a christian when you've told us before that you believe Jesus is the son of God and our saviour who died on the cross for our sins

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Angry ? Think you should get over yourself a little there...

[feral chile]

Why are people so wanting to pigeon hole everyone ? Specially when it comes to religion ?

Edited April 12, 2012 by feral chile

[feral chile]

I just find it amazing in this day and age the idea that I have only been exposed to Christian teaching amazing. I have seen quite a bit of this world we live in.

...I also went to a school which was something like 60% muslim...

I am not prepared to stand here today and say every other follower of every other religion is wrong... I haven't a clue who is exactly right on what, a lot of the religions have very similar messages, stories and moralities... I have faith there is a god... Outside of that I change my feelings on this stuff all the time and I will always reserve license to do so.

I won't be pigeon holed on it just because it makes it easier for others to dismiss me.

I love science and finding stuff out. Every time science finds something amazing it just makes my interest in the power that made it even more interesting...

[Ed209]

I just find it amazing in this day and age the idea that I have only been exposed to Christian teaching amazing. I have seen quite a bit of this world we live in.

...I also went to a school which was something like 60% muslim...

I am not prepared to stand here today and say every other follower of every other religion is wrong... I haven't a clue who is exactly right on what, a lot of the religions have very similar messages, stories and moralities... I have faith there is a god... Outside of that I change my feelings on this stuff all the time and I will always reserve license to do so.

I won't be pigeon holed on it just because it makes it easier for others to dismiss me.

I love science and finding stuff out. Every time science finds something amazing it just makes my interest in the power that made it even more interesting...

[feral chile]

I think Jesus thought he was the son of god and died for our sins... Fuck knows if he was just some delusional hippy... Either way, i think I like him

Label me what you want guys but I won't be accepting a label...

[Ed209]

Anyone who can turn a small portion into a large portion is good by me too

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Anyone who can rise up from the dead after 3 days has got to be a little special. After all the years of going to church I can't recall where he popped off to after that little stunt! Anyway, nobody mention the Crusades etc and the atrocities that have been committed in the name of Christianity.

[kaosmark2]

surely the essence of religion is belief in some sort of disembodied higher power which created the earth and exercise some sort of omnipresent control...in other words, god, If you believe in god, you are religious.

[abdoujaparov]

I'd say that's faith. Religion is following the traditions, steps, procedures the hierarchy use to seek to control others.

[eFestivals]

its not the mind altering damnation to a life of religion that people here are painting it to be

It might not succeed in being that, but it's very definitely an attempt at being that.

Members join clubs of their own free will. A baby has no choice over its membership of a church if forced to be that member by its parents and a christening.

[Hello... I'm Johnny Cash]

It might not succeed in being that, but it's very definitely an attempt at being that.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Hello... I'm Johnny Cash

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

For 40 days he appeared to his disciples on earth. After 40 days, he ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

[Hello... I'm Johnny Cash]

Well my dad is more sceptical than you... My mother is kind of religious... I wasn't taken church as a child. I have a bachelor of science with honours.

My father in law is a scientist. He is a leading expert on the use of peroxides and does a lot of work for the MOD and major chemical firms. He is a deeply religous man.

My friend is doing a PHD in astrology... She is currently in Chilli on a years placement using their telescope array. She is deeply religious.

I'll let you carry on but some of your stances above seem shaky to me.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I'm not saying that you won't find exceptions & I'm aware that there are scientifically literate people that are religious.

I'm not convinced that many of them were brought up to question it all from day one though.

Either way you can't prove anything with anecdotes.

Imagine if you could raise a child without even introducing the concept of God (either positively or negatively) until it was an adult that was scientifically educated as to the origins of life and the universe.

How do you think that 20 year old would react to the idea of God in that context?

[Hello... I'm Johnny Cash]

The vast majority of 20 year olds raised like that would obviously disbelieve. However seeing as no one knows whether there is a God or not wouldn't that evolution theory education also be a form of indoctrination?