Being a Godparent

[Daysleeper40]

My elder sister & OH have two little people (one boy, one girl) and has asked me to be Godmother to my nephew... which is a huge deal to me and I feel very priviledged. They will be christened in June and I will be there with bells on

It has made me thoughtful though. None of my family are big church-goers and being completely honest, they only reason they go is to get a place at the best school. I know what being a godparent means to me and as my sister and I hold very similar views the whole non-church aspect isn't going to be a problem - but I'd be interested in what other people think.

Are you a godparent? How seriously do you take it? As a parent how did you decide on godparents or did you not pick any? You get the idea... I'm just interested in how other people see it?

 

[towershot]

I know in this day and age it is not taken seriously, but to me I think it would be a very big deal.
Go and have a word with the Vicar of the Church they are going to use and ask Him what it really should entail.
He won't bite (well ours doesn't lol and He's a Canon now)
You don't have to follow His advice, but it would be nice to be a little traditional in my view.

 

[u8myufo]

Whilst I class myself as a Christian I believe you do not have to go to church or pray every week to become one. I also believe a decision like that should be left till such times as the child can make their own mind up.

 

[fletch5]

i have ever been christened, but am a god father!!

to me and the parents it is more about doing than believing in god etc...

 

[Dave Stone]

Is it right to force a religion on a child or as u8myufo says let the child decide when it is old enough to make an informed decision. Unless the participants in a christening are dedicated church goers and believers it means nothing surely. As an Auntie you still have a family and moral responsibility for you nieces/nephews.

 

[Daysleeper40]

I know in this day and age it is not taken seriously, but to me I think it would be a very big deal.
Go and have a word with the Vicar of the Church they are going to use and ask Him what it really should entail.
He won't bite (well ours doesn't lol and He's a Canon now)
You don't have to follow His advice, but it would be nice to be a little traditional in my view.

Thanks for the replies everyone

Towershot - That's what got me thinking - I'm not sure a lot of people take it seriously and if you're not going to then surely you should decline.

Whilst I class myself as a Christian I believe you do not have to go to church or pray every week to become one. I also believe a decision like that should be left till such times as the child can make their own mind up.

As in decide who their godparents will be or whether to go to church or not?

i have ever been christened, but am a god father!!

to me and the parents it is more about doing than believing in god etc...

Thats the way I see it to

Is it right to force a religion on a child or as u8myufo says let the child decide when it is old enough to make an informed decision. Unless the participants in a christening are dedicated church goers and believers it means nothing surely. As an Auntie you still have a family and moral responsibility for you nieces/nephews.

Your first question is a difficult one as if religion is a huge part of your own life you are of course incorporate it into your parenting style / decisions - how could you not? I was sent to a C of E school and don't believe in God at all. I managed to make my own decisions but I suppose not all families are that tolerant of differing views.

I see what you're saying re the aunty thing but not all families are that close - I think having been asked, and having accepted the responsibility does take it one step further.

EDIT - Just read this:

Out of Focus Totally unrelated off topic type stuff, jokes, rants, raves..anything at all thats nothing to do with photography, but please, no politics or religion!

Sorry - this thread wasn't really supposed to be about religion but a mod may want to

 

[Nod]

When my sister and BiL started breeding, they asked my (now) wife and me to be godparents (my sister married my (then) girlfriend's (now wife's) brother). We both declined since (1) we decided many years ago that we didn't want any kids, let alone anyone else's and (2) neither of us is in the least bit religious. They asked again when they produced another noisy sh** machine and got the same answer. Both kids get dragged to church (although that'll stop [according to sister] as soon as child #2 gets his place at the church funded school...) every week and hate it (although both manage to hide it while in sight of the vicar!).

 

[Blue Eagle]

When my sister and BiL started breeding, they asked my (now) wife and me to be godparents (my sister married my (then) girlfriend's (now wife's) brother). We both declined since (1) we decided many years ago that we didn't want any kids, let alone anyone else's and (2) neither of us is in the least bit religious. They asked again when they produced another noisy sh** machine and got the same answer. Both kids get dragged to church (although that'll stop [according to sister] as soon as child #2 gets his place at the church funded school...) every week and hate it (although both manage to hide it while in sight of the vicar!).

- Rofl