I am an aethiast and i don't believe in god. the rest of my family is catholic and my mum keeps telling me i should get christened, but i know that if i get christened i have to believe in god. what should i do?

Choux

Make your mother happy. Her feelings are far more important than making a stand for atheism over this. In her heart she believes that this christening will "save you" from a life after death burning in hell for eternity. Of course, that is nonsense, but she believes it.

margog85

But because she believes it, she will be all the more disappointed if you don't convert once the water and oil hit your head.

If she's hoping for your salvation, she'll think it's in the bag once your baptised- maybe you should try to feel her out first--- if she's doing it to save your soul once your dead, then I guess there's no harm in it. But it's likely she's anticipating changes to occur while your still alive and kicking- and if you don't foresee a conversion in your future after being baptised, I'd advise against it. You'd only be building up her hopes and then letting them get smashed-

Since that probably already happened when you told her you were an atheist and she was expecting you to be christian, why put her through that again? It's like she's asking to be put on a rollercoaster- hope and expect, just to get let down- don't allow her to do that to herself.

It's not just about taking a stand for your beliefs- sometimes we all bend to please those we love, that's life and that's fine- but this will likely cause her more grief than happiness once she sees your still an atheist, even after you've been 'infused with the Holy Spirit' through baptism-

Just be careful- you obviously have her best interest in mind which is awesome. Make sure that what she wants is really what's best though and that it won't make you look like even more of a lost cause in her eyes. Because that will only hurt her more. Sometimes it just takes time for parents to become accustomed to the idea that they're children aren't what they'd always expected- and eventually become okay with that.

TheUnboundOne

Dear Lil101,

Howdy, Lil101!

I think I have a possible answer to your dilemma: Become an Ordained Minister and Christen yourself with the help of the Universal Life Church.

Through the Universal Life Church, anyone, regardless of belief or lack of belief, can become an Ordained Minister for life, free of charge, and receive a downloadable, printable Certificate attesting to their Ministerial status.

Simply go to the Universal Life Church Web Sites (Universal Life Church Monastery - (ULC) or Universal Life Church) and click on the tab offering ordination and follow the instructions from there. After that, you are an Ordained Minister and you can Christen yourself. You could, I suppose, even put the name you desire for your Christening on your Certificate as long as you give your present legal name.

In addition to providing free online ordinations, the Universal Life Church also sells custom religious titles, Ministerial IDs and kits, and honorary Doctorates, all of which could bear your new self-Christened name.

They also sell books and courses on religion, rituals, and tax law for Ministers, which could also be helpful to any work you might choose to do with your Ministry if you choose to have one.

If it's any assurance, you'll be in good company if you become a Universal Life Church Minister. Over 20 million people worldwide have been ordained as Universal Life Church Ministers since 1959. And you'll find it is very friendly to worldly, non-believers too. Not only am I an Atheist Universal Life Church Minister, but Atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair was also ordained as a Universal Life Church Minister as well. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and multi-Billionaire Richard Branson also count themselves among Universal Life Church Ministers, along with many other notables and celebrities, so you'll be a part of a real winner's circle if you choose.

I hope this information is very helpful and can solve your dilemma.