Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

Of course if you are of another faith, that's an automatic no, but for the rest of you guys out there?

My DH is Lutheran and I haven't had any ties to anything since I was about 8. I'm a Sunday School drop-out. Literally.

I never had a communion or confirmation, but I was baptized. Dh wasn't baptized until he was around 28 and in Iraq of all places.

Neither of my boys are baptized and every once in awhile, DH brings it up that he would like it done.

What about you all?

Message edited 8/9/2011 1:13:30 PM.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

Absolutely NOT!

I am 'dedicated' and have been offered to be baptized more times than I can remember. Its kinda crazy actually. I've never been to a church more than a month who hasn't tried to baptize me.

AJ will not be baptized until she chooses to do so. My hubby is (i think) but not 100% positive.

For me, it is unthinkable to dedicate my child's soul to any faith that she has no belief in. However, I also know I'll struggle with her when she's older and peer pressure sets in to just 'do it'.

I consider it a very sacred and solemn ceremony. One I think the participant should be wholly invested in and aware of. For that, I could not, would not do that to my child.

But thats just me and my family. We were actually married by a Lutheran clergyman. Nice guy! haha

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

i don't want to baptize any of our future children but my husband (although not religious) wants to do it and my parents I think would steal the kid and do it if need be.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

I do not plan on baptizing when he arrives next month.

DH and I are not religious. We dont attend church, we dont plan to. I see no reason for it.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

My sister didn't have my niece baptized and she's upset about it because it's her DH who chose that. It's funny because we were brought up Lutheran but then I started going to a Pentecostal church with friends when I was 13 every Sunday. I have strayed a lot from the church, some of their teachings like anti gay stuff really bother me. I love my gay family members and DO NOT believe they are going to hell for being who they are, that's crap but I do have a strong faith still and just call myself Protestant until I find a church that I feel comfy in. Anyway, I believe that you shouldn't get baptized until you are older when YOU can make the choice to follow God. My DH is/was Catholic and he doesn't care about any Catholic customs but it was important to his mom and really I want to introduce DS to both, they are similar and his family is both so I did it more for tradition and then if he chooses rededicate his life to Christ when he is older than I'm okay with that. If not, then I'm okay with that too.

My sister stuck with the Lutheran church although doesn't practice but feels baptism is an important tradition and really wants her DD to have it done but my BIL is a Baptist and also believes in baptism when the person chooses to do so and refuses to let my sister do both. I feel bad for her.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

DS isn't. I was never baptized and DH is catholic. I said I would baptize DS if it was important to him, and if he committed to taking DS to church every week. I did not want to baptize just to baptize--to me, it's a commitment to the faith, and a commitment to going to church weekly. So, DH decided he'd rather watch football, and no baptism.

DH's grandmother has made a few snide comments, and I was told I couldn't be the godmother (I was called 'witness') to my niece (and the pastor gave me a speech about how I'll be turned away from heaven since I won't have a ticket to get in).

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

My son is NOT. We both come from different religions, ,and both our families are VERY religious. We are not. We will let him choose, (if anything) when he is older.

I STILL get random comments from family about NOT doing it.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

My is not baptized and I do not plan on baptizing any future children.

I was baptized in the Catholic Church and also received Communion and Confirmation. My DH was not baptized until he was older and he did it on his own accord, although I do not remember what religious sect he chose.

DH and I are not religious at all and I have my own issues with the Catholic Religion so we both decided that we were not going to baptize our children. We plan to teach them about all religions and let them decide if they want to commit their faith with a specific religion.

I didn't receive any sh$t from any of my family members because they have all accepted the fact that I do things differently and I have never been one to do something because people think I should or it's the "norm" to do it. I'm sure if my grandparents were alive they would have shared their feelings with me but that still would not have changed my mind.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

My daughters are not.

I was baptized, made my communion, and chose not to make my confirmation, and basically left any formal religion. My parents aren't religious, but went through with the basics early on more as a formality because it was the thing to do.

DH has some very religious family members and some not so religious. I know he was once an alter boy... Like me, he is not religious.

We are, I would say, agnostic? We are somewhat spiritual, but no specific ties. He sometimes says he wants to be buddhist. Other times he wants for us to go to a unitarian church just so the kids have a sense of community. I dont really have a desire to do that. To me, my religion/spirituality is personal, and they are other ways to develop a sense of community. I told him if he is serious about it, I would accompany him, but he has to do all the planning and getting ready, etc.

When our first was born, we talked about having a blessing, but definitely not a baptism. We would have done the blessing, but life was hectic and I got pregnant again very quickly and we just never planned it and lost the desire to do one in time.

I plan on being honest with my kids about my beliefs, teaching them about different faiths, and letting them determine for themselves what they believe as they get older.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

My boys aren't. I struggle with it sometimes. DH is catholic and I am jewish. He was baptized and confirmed, and I had a bat mitzvah, but neither of us has practiced since then. We're basically agnostic at this point but will expose our kids fully to both cultures/religions. Maybe they'll decide one day for themselves. Sometimes I worry about not providing them with one religious foundation, but we wouldn't be able to choose which one anyway, so we're just choosing not to at all, for now anyway.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

none of my children are/will be.

Not one person has said anything about it to us.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

Dd isn't baptized because dh isn't r very religious and was never raised in a church. Dh wants dd to get baptized when she can understand what it means. We have talked about having her dedicated which is what is what my parents did with my brother and I.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

DS only will be because it is very important to DH. I would rather wait and have DS decide - in my religion you do it when you are ready and willing to devote yourself to God.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

DD is not. we wanted to send her to a catholic school (would have had to be baptised in a catholic church, but we did not attend any churches), which is was DH was bapitsed as.

but since his death and him not being her gaurdian anymore she isnt allowed to attend the school unless i can get his paperwork and then they may allow her in (which i cannot get unless i start calling around begging churches)

i wanted her baptised but we wanted to keep options open for school, now hes gone and i have only one option anyway....its a very hurtful spot in my heart.

Re: Anyone's child(ren) NOT baptized?

We're basically atheists so no our kids are not baptized. We were both raised in church though. DH with all the Catholic formalities and I was dedicated and raised Methodist but refused to ever be baptized or confirmed.