If the child is being christened in a church then a Godparent should believe in what they are promising, so I don't believe this is actually true.I know where you're coming from but you don't really have to believe in it to accept.
I disagree as a Godmother myself. If someone does not believe I don't see why they want to do it.As redbhoy states, I think the old tradition of passing on religious values etc is gone.
Unless you're religious, which I'm not, I think the main duty (and I speak from costly experience) when you're a Godparent is buying bigger than usual Xmas and birthday presents - and that's about it. So I wouldn't worry about it at all.
I think the whole concept of "taking someone's children" if anything happens is crazy
If the Godparent is promising to bring the child up as a practicing Roman Catholic (or whatever) then yes they should believe in what they do. But my point was that if you don't believe, and are just promising to look after the child you don't have to believe in the religious part.If the child is being christened in a church then a Godparent should believe in what they are promising, so I don't believe this is actually true.
Because the child still needs to be looked after, given a roof over their head, whether the Godparent believes in God/Religion or not.I disagree as a Godmother myself. If someone does not believe I don't see why they want to do it.
It's not at all crazy - all parents should ensure that they have documented in their wills who they wish to have guardianship of their child or children in the event of their untimely death.
There are good reasons why many people might refuse. For example my brother asked me to be godfather to his son but I had to refuse because I am an atheist and would not be willing to make the public religious declarations and meet the undertakings required by this Catholic/Christian ceremony/sacrament/ritual and would consider it hypocritical and insulting to actual believers if I just played along for the sake of it.I was always under the impression that being asked to be a godparent is an honour. She is trusting you to be there for her child.
Unless you're unwilling to do that, I can't see any reason why someone would refuse.
I agree. Whatever opinions you may have about the validity of someone’s religious beliefs it is offensive to others and hypocritical to be a Godparent if you don't believe in God (or the God of the religion in question). For the parents to say it’s not really a big deal anymore just shows that they a hypocrites as well.There are good reasons why many people might refuse. For example my brother asked me to be godfather to his son but I had to refuse because I am an atheist and would not be willing to make the public religious declarations and meet the undertakings required by this Catholic/Christian ceremony/sacrament/ritual and would consider it hypocritical and insulting to actual believers if I just played along for the sake of it.
I didn't realise there were religious ceremonies/vows involved. I thought it was merely a case of someone asking you to be a Godparent.There are good reasons why many people might refuse. For example my brother asked me to be godfather to his son but I had to refuse because I am an atheist and would not be willing to make the public religious declarations and meet the undertakings required by this Catholic/Christian ceremony/sacrament/ritual and would consider it hypocritical and insulting to actual believers if I just played along for the sake of it.
Normally being invited to be a godparent involves acting as a witness at the sacrament of baptism. In addition one normally makes some commitment to overseeing the child's Christian spiritual/religious upbringing. That is what I was assuming here.I didn't realise there were religious ceremonies/vows involved. I thought it was merely a case of someone asking you to be a Godparent.
So was I.Normally being invited to be a godparent involves acting as a witness at the sacrament of baptism. In addition one normally makes some commitment to overseeing the child's Christian spiritual/religious upbringing. That is what I was assuming here.
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