Dilemma about becoming a godparent...

Me and my girlfriend have recently been asked to become godparents to a pair of twins within our family. We are both thrilled to be asked, but I have a slight issue.

We've been wondering whether you have to be christened yourself, to become a godparent. We've checked over the net, and it seems to vary from church to church, so essentially we would have to inquire to whoever is in charge of these sorts of things.

Neither me or my girlfriend are christened, and we both consider ourselves to be non-religious.

My girlfriend would happily be baptized if needed in order to become a godparent, I however, would not.

I feel very strongly about my non-religious views. Imagine a Christian that says they are against homosexuality. They don't hate gay people, they just wouldn't be gay themselves. This is how I see myself with religion. I'm not against religious people, but being religious for me is absolutely against the question, and I would never be baptized.

Of course, this presents a problem for myself... And I'm worried I'll offend my family member by putting my non-religious beliefs before their children, even though I'm honoured to be asked.

If I don't have to be baptized, I'll happily be their godparent.

So... Any ideas/thoughts? :/

Probably depends on the church, although the whole point is that you vow you are going to encourage the child's christian faith, which isn't gonna happen if its something you don't believe in.

I thought it just meant that if the parents pop their clogs you get lumbered with the kid

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

I thought it just meant that if the parents pop their clogs you get lumbered with the kid

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That's what I thought it meant too, but I'm pretty sure that it doesn't mean anything legally (anymore at least) and the parents will go to their next of kin anyway, which isn't us. (Plus, they already have a daughter, and she has different godparents to her twin sisters, and they aren't even a couple - so if their parents did die, that will make things really complicated if it did work like that).

The person who asked me to be a godparent isn't even Christian herself, I'm pretty sure she just uses 'godparent' as more of a title as anything really. She doesn't practice Christianity herself anyway.

Yeah prob just something they want because it sounds cool maybe you could just call yourself GODLESS HEATHEN OVERSEERS instead

I'd just query with the church it's at, I know for a wedding it's the same - if one of you is christened then the other one who isn't can be married in the church, but this again varies from church to church. Also, this might be similar, if only one needs to be christened too as your girlfriend would do it if you get me? Anyhow I would just ask and see!

That's how I see god parenting atm, just a title given to someone who chooses you to be god parents. surely you shouldnt have to be baptized

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Originally Posted by Kardan

That's what I thought it meant too, but I'm pretty sure that it doesn't mean anything legally (anymore at least) and the parents will go to their next of kin anyway, which isn't us. (Plus, they already have a daughter, and she has different godparents to her twin sisters, and they aren't even a couple - so if their parents did die, that will make things really complicated if it did work like that).

The person who asked me to be a godparent isn't even Christian herself, I'm pretty sure she just uses 'godparent' as more of a title as anything really. She doesn't practice Christianity herself anyway.

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I think it depends on the Church cause I have seen my godparents like once in my life lol

I don't see why you'd object but hey thats your stance.

I'm sure if the Church would prefer you be baptized and you said no, they'd bend for it? worth a shot.

It's an interesting topic I guess. My girlfriend isn't religious at all and she claims that she's not going to have godparents for her child. Typically speaking their supposed to be a 'spiritual guide' or whatnot but I don't know of any situation where that has been the case :S

just pour a cup of water on your forehead and you'll be fine :)

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Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

I don't see why you'd object but hey thats your stance.

I'm sure if the Church would prefer you be baptized and you said no, they'd bend for it? worth a shot.

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If I asked you, would you convert to Islam?

Well, that's how I feel about being baptized :P

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Originally Posted by Kardan

If I asked you, would you convert to Islam?

Well, that's how I feel about being baptized :P

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Don't see the difference really considering all of our laws/customs and culture come from Christianity (even the morals atheists hold mainly come from the Bible whether they like to believe it or not) rather than Islamic so it's a non-comparison. But again, entirely your choice. :)

A little off-topic but I'm 100% certain that the basic morals of Islam are the same as those of Christianity since it is literally the same religion with the only difference being that they see Jesus as an extremely powerful prophet rather than the actual son of God

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Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

A little off-topic but I'm 100% certain that the basic morals of Islam are the same as those of Christianity since it is literally the same religion with the only difference being that they see Jesus as an extremely powerful prophet rather than the actual son of God

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Similar in basic teachings being an abrahamic religion but the cultural stuff that follows is entirely different.

Me & my sister were asked to be godparents to my brothers son & I was thinking the same as your Kardan. I don't believe in god & I've never been baptized so when we were asked it was more to make sure if anything happened to my brother and his girlfriend that me and my sister were there to look after my nephew & to raise him up the way he wanted to & to guide him along early life. I think the older days it was more of a thing to be baptized and go to church... now I feel it's more of being a guide/guardian to my nephew and just make sure he stays on the straight and narrow path of life.

My mum is a godparent and as far as I'm aware she hasn't been baptized.

They didn't check any papers or anything anyway, so I doubt they'd know. Just lie your way out of it if they ask ;)

I think the role of a godparent is just to make sure if anything happens to the parents like death etc, then they will be looked after by them but most of the time it's not a big deal.