Quote:
Originally Posted by spindles
In the true sense of the ceremony, god parents ARE important - they are pledging to help raise the child as a Christian. I can't do that - I'm pretty upfront about my non-belief, so there is little chance I'll be asked, though my wife is god-mother for a couple of different children.
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See that's where I start to think that either I'm taking crazy pills or that everyone else is and that I've just somehow kicked the habit. "In the true sense", sure. I get it. But in reality, what you're doing is acknowledging a relationship. That's why I got married in a church and kept my mouth shut about certain things - my wife wanted it and what I believed or didn't believe really took the back seat (in a VERY long bus) to making her happy.
At least in my crazy/noncrazy world, being a godparent has no real life religious implications beyond my hour or so in a church. I can suck that up to make my friends happy and to realize the honor they've bestowed on me. It's a kid that I now consider family and that I go out of my way to interact with where I might not have otherwise.
Centuries ago being a godparent meant instructing the kid in the teaching of Christianity. That's so 13th Century, though, so I don't personally have a problem participating in an old ritual that ceases to have any real implications in my life once it's over (beyond me making a point to know and have fun with the kid, that is).