question about being a godfather - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Phoenix · 08-04-2003, 07:02 PM

my sister is going to have a baby soon and she's probably going to ask me to be the godfather (if not now then for sure her next kid). My whole family is really catholic, but I'm not. If she asks me, I'm going to ask her if it matters that I'm not religious and won't participate in any ceremony for the baptism. I even feel a bit wrong about accepting the title even if she doesn't mind. I'm not looking for what I should do, but just what you would do in this situation. Thanks.

cetacean · 08-04-2003, 07:08 PM

I am a godfather for my nephew of two. I also have no religious beliefs, but I thought that I could do it for my brother and nephew. I participated in the cerimony, but that pretty much involves standing next to him when he is baptized. Other than that I haven't had any other responsibilities thus far. My family knows I don't follow catholisism, so I figure if they want me to be my nephew spiritual guidance, I will do it in the ways that I know how, appreciating our planet and our lives and our experiences.

bobw · 08-04-2003, 07:09 PM

I would respectfully decline. In your situation, I would simply state my honest reasons... that the primary responsibility of being a christian god-parent is, in the case of the inability of the true parents to raise the child, to raise the child in the christian belief. And in your situation, you could simply not do that. (actually you could, but it would be very very difficult as children are always full of questions, and sincerity is important in answering important ones). Kind of like... what if she asked you to raise her child as Hindu, or Buddhist, etc.... this is no different !

StormBerlin · 08-04-2003, 07:30 PM

Technically to Catholics (my mothers family), the godfather is the one who baptises the child... or blesses it... one or the other... Make sure that's not what they want you to do of you're not religious.

KeyserSoze · 08-04-2003, 10:26 PM

Your duty as a Godfather is to make sure the child follows it's religious beliefs and guide them till confirmation.

1. Pray for your godchild regularly
2. Set an example of Christian living
3. Help him/her to grow in the faith of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in which he was baptized
4. Give every encouragement to follow Christ and fight against evil
5. Help your godchild to look forward to confirmation

If I was in your shoes I would respectfully decline.

Although this day in age nobody seems to take being a God Parent seriously anyway, to most it's just a title.

World's King · 08-05-2003, 12:00 AM

Make her an offer she can't refuse?

I missed the point.

08-04-2003, 07:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Phoenix Upright Location: Chicage, Illinois	question about being a godfather my sister is going to have a baby soon and she's probably going to ask me to be the godfather (if not now then for sure her next kid). My whole family is really catholic, but I'm not. If she asks me, I'm going to ask her if it matters that I'm not religious and won't participate in any ceremony for the baptism. I even feel a bit wrong about accepting the title even if she doesn't mind. I'm not looking for what I should do, but just what you would do in this situation. Thanks.

08-04-2003, 07:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
StormBerlin Happy as a hippo Location: Southern California	Technically to Catholics (my mothers family), the godfather is the one who baptises the child... or blesses it... one or the other... Make sure that's not what they want you to do of you're not religious. __________________ "if anal sex could get a girl pregnant i'd be tits deep in child support" Arcane

08-04-2003, 10:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Psycho Location: Lost Angeles	Your duty as a Godfather is to make sure the child follows it's religious beliefs and guide them till confirmation. 1. Pray for your godchild regularly 2. Set an example of Christian living 3. Help him/her to grow in the faith of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in which he was baptized 4. Give every encouragement to follow Christ and fight against evil 5. Help your godchild to look forward to confirmation If I was in your shoes I would respectfully decline. Although this day in age nobody seems to take being a God Parent seriously anyway, to most it's just a title. __________________ THERE IS NO KEYSER SOZE!!

08-05-2003, 12:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Make her an offer she can't refuse? I missed the point. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

08-04-2003, 07:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
cetacean Insane Location: New York, NY	I am a godfather for my nephew of two. I also have no religious beliefs, but I thought that I could do it for my brother and nephew. I participated in the cerimony, but that pretty much involves standing next to him when he is baptized. Other than that I haven't had any other responsibilities thus far. My family knows I don't follow catholisism, so I figure if they want me to be my nephew spiritual guidance, I will do it in the ways that I know how, appreciating our planet and our lives and our experiences.

08-04-2003, 07:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
bobw Psycho Location: somewhere....	I would respectfully decline. In your situation, I would simply state my honest reasons... that the primary responsibility of being a christian god-parent is, in the case of the inability of the true parents to raise the child, to raise the child in the christian belief. And in your situation, you could simply not do that. (actually you could, but it would be very very difficult as children are always full of questions, and sincerity is important in answering important ones). Kind of like... what if she asked you to raise her child as Hindu, or Buddhist, etc.... this is no different !