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Christening to go to a better school?
in Baby
removed wouldnt want you all to jump on the band wagon of a good debate
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Plus, assuming by 'better' you mean 'your local CofE school' and assuming you are not a household of believers and are simply pretending to be Christian to get in, you are asking your child to lie, daily, for the whole time the child is at that school. I find that heinous, if I'm honest. I suppose people who do this find some way to live with themselves, but I think it stinks.
xxxxx
I was Christened and went to a Christian school, however, I am now completely anti-religious.
Also, my MIL has a 3 year old, and I believe she's getting him Christened so that he can go to a better school.
I think if you think that's what's best, then go for it! It's your child after all!
xxx
This is a major issue of mine. My aim is to bring my baby up to be honest with a moral backbone and I intend to lead by example.
Personally I think teaching a child to lie to get what they want in life is worse than having a "better" education. I honestly don't know how I could explain to my child why they were christened without feeling a bit ashamed.
Just my personal view x
we go and you see parents come with a new baby for a few weeks and then they disappear when they realise my priest won't do a quick fix to get them in to school. and then every jan/feb as admission dates approach we have 2 or 3 sets of parents with 3 /4 year olds do the same thing... its not as simple as a ceremony and a guarenteed school place
go to the church i was baptised in and mum goes too, we were married there and my girly will be baptised there, but it is 20 miles away from us
Because of how the system works, with it being voluntary aided, etc we have to specify our reasons for sending our children to the school, but they will always prioritise for children within the catchment area first, and then whether the child has any siblings already in the school, whether there are any social reasons for attending the school, etc - so if your school is similar, you could have your child christened and still miss out on a place, we have to also provide information on the application form as to whether we attend church regularly and if so they also ask for the vicars name and the name of the church so they can check this out, so it may possibly mean having to carry on attending church after the christeneing of the child, having him or her christened may not be enough. As I said neither of mine have been christened but our schools are struggling to survive as numbers are so low, I think this next year the intake is just 8 children, however they are allowed 20! I had never thought of having my children christened, as I wasn't really into it, however, since my Nan died I am thinking of it more and more, not that it would really be relevant for us anymore as we have now moved into the catchment area which guarantees my children a place, more over church attendance.
i was christend as my great grandmother would not have me in the house until i was, i dont belive for one second i was brought up to lie, so i dont know where anyone gets the making your child lie nonsense, i acctually think no child should be brought up in any faith as that is taking the choice out of thier hands, but thats just me, i wish i had been given the option to choose but that was taken away from me,
its worth looking into the entrance criteria before going through that palava of a chritening when it may not make a difference, if its your local school i dont think you need to be x
I'm an atheist, and DD can make up her own mind when she's older.
Check the school u were thinkin of's entrance criteria.
Most religious schools what ever the faith will have a % of children that they have to accept of non-faith If they live in the catchment area.
Our local catholic school has a 4% criteria.
We will actually be applying for our eldest when we get to secondary age as its our closest and has the best ofstead reports in the area, but are not catholic.
i honestly don't think wanting the best for your child is the worst thing in the world :roll: but maybe my morale scale is lower than others!
Can I just say nobody has said they will be asking their child to lie! Your child would not need to lie! I teach at a CofE school and we don't ask those children who do not attend church each week to 'pretend' that they do. All children are treated equally, with no fibs from the children or parents.
A christening is a wonderful celebration of your child - go for it!
xxxx
However, a Baptism is a dedication that my child will be a follower of Jesus Christ. I am making that declaration, not my child, it is my wish for her NOT something that will be forced on her.
The idea that children who are baptised and then go to a faith school are being made to lie is ridiculous, no child is following a religion until they have made the choice for themselves, that is very obviously the Church standing on the matter as far as I am aware.
People should really investigate what baptism ACTUALLY is before they start getting on their high horse.
As regards the op I think that it is well worth you considering the meaning behind Baptism before you baptise your child, your Vicar WILL ask you why you want to do it and you will need to consider things like Godparents (who also need to have been baptised), there's a lot more to it then a ceremony and a party afterwards
As is people having their baby christened out of tradition, to wear a pretty christening gown and an excuse for a bit of a party. It disgusts me.
You wouldn't have a bar mitzvah for your child if you weren't of Jewish faith, so why anybody would have a religious ceremony for their child if they don't even believe in the Christian god, or worship him, and have no intention of bringing up the child as a christian compeltely boggles me.
I find it somewhat disrespectful to the christian faith.
You wouldn't have a bar mitzvah for your child if you weren't of Jewish faith, so why anybody would have a religious ceremony for their child if they don't even believe in the Christian god, or worship him, and have no intention of bringing up the child as a christian compeltely boggles me.
I find it somewhat disrespectful to the christian faith.
LIKE!