R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

An atheist nurse from South London, who was baptised C of E but hasn't belived in God for most of his life, is trying, so far unsuccessfully, to become de-baptised, on the grounds that he was too young to agree to the original ceremony taking place.

I know that today some Christian families favour a birth thanksgiving service over traditional baptism, leaving the child to make an informed choice later in life.

Comments?

Ian.

gfloyd · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

Churches can ex-communicate people can't they?

Why go to all the bother though? Seems like he has little else to worry about TBH.
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

I was confirmed in the Church of England at the age of 14, but by the time I was 15 I had decided that the christianity was a load of bunk and the whole concept of there being a god was but a human fantasy.

I never felt a need to be "de-confirmed" and I don't now. It's all a bit daft, isn't it?

So the woman in question doesn't want to consider herself baptised. So what? It's only a dribble of water for pete's sake! Smile

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

Perhaps they could use a hairdryer to de-baptise her Very Happy

Seriously though, I was Christened as a baby but never have believed in god, it dosen't bother me and I would certainly not go to all the bother of being de-baptised.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

This was debated on the Matthew Bannister show today.

No huge conclusions were drawn but it was a pleasure to be treated to a civilised debate by those on all sides of the question.

Ian.

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

Rachel · Guest

I caught a little of the debate on this today. It seems odd to me that there is a group of people, the British Secular Society, I think it was, who have joined together to share their disbelief in God- presumably they have regular meetings too. Objectively, at first glace one would perhaps call that a protest group.. and that’s ok by me. Surely if one doesn’t believe in God – and again, that is ok with me, it has, arguably anyway, religious connotations to form a group to convey that message to others. It seems many of we humans feel the need to join a group. Why is that?

Looking at it from a sociological angle – most of the values, laws and ways of life throughout the world are flowed-down from one religion or another, or several in many cases. If some atheists can’t cope with having been baptised into a religion they have no belief in – how can they cope in a society whose values, laws and customs are in part (quite a big part) based on that religion?

If God (who doesn’t exist in the atheist world) says, “Thou shall not commit murder” ,on what basis do atheists refrain from strangling people who annoy them at traffic lights? Since the law is, evidently anyway, derived from what God said, why do atheists bother with it? Is it a human thing? No. We’d kill each other for a potato under certain circumstances. Is it a social thing? No because society is based on religion and how we were told to live by God. To me atheists are a good deal like vegetarians- having the luxury of choice, means people will chose.

As for being de-baptised- without time travel – it’s just not possible, regardless of any bit of paper issued by any organisation.

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

I've read, and re-read, your post Rachel and I think I understand the point you're arguing. Having said that, I'm not 100% sure. But hey.

Anyway, as both an atheist and a vegetarian (well, strictly speaking a pescatarian) of 34 years all I have to say on the whole silly matter as discussed on the JV show today is: "Who gives a stuff really?".

Time travel would, indeed, be a distinct advantage in such circumstances but - as we don't have such a luxury - let's just get on with life.

Rachel · Guest

Exactly. It's a personal thing. Blimey if I told people what I really believe-I'd be life's work for some shrink.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

Apparently you just go along to the church and give them a signed document saying you don't want to be baptised anymore (can't remember the exact term the bloke on the TV said last week) and thats it.

Apparently the bloke who has kicked up the fuss about it was offered a chance to just do that, but didn't.

Surely its the parents who decide to baptise their children to bring them up in a christian way, not the kids. Being baptised doesn't commit you to anything does it ?

Rachel · Guest

Getting divorced doesn't mean that you were never married, just that you are no longer married. Tis the same with being de-baptised. You can't change history- no bit of paper can do that. Trust me - I know: there are few people who know that as well as I do.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

Perhaps new born babies should be encouraged to enter into a pre-nuptial agreement with their parents' god before being baptised.