Baptism - Question for y’all

I have an atheist friend who is married to a Christian woman.  They had a child recently, and my friend has agreed to have the child baptized because it is of the utmost importance to his wife and her family (and his own family as well, actually).  I believe they think that if a child isn’t baptized and was to die, it hasn’t been “cleansed of original sin” and therefore wouldn’t be allowed into heaven or some such nonsense.  

This idea, frankly, makes me sick to my stomach.

I have flat out refused to allow my son or daughter to be baptized… a source of contention between me and my parents and my in-laws.  I understand my friend’s choice… he is deciding to keep the peace rather than fight about it, and the entire procedure is, of course, meaningless anyway.  I just know this particular ritual in the church is something I am not comfortable witnessing, and certainly would not be comfortable participating in, regardless of the reason.

So, the question - what would you do?  Would you go along with it to keep the peace?  Fight it?  Something else?  Thoughts?

9 Notes/ Hide

  1. justdia answered: I don’t know. I don’t go to a church that baptizes babies. We have what is called a dedication instead.
  2. xiiswhoxiis answered: I would fight it and compromise that the child may choose once it is old enough and knows what it is getting in to…
  3. thebrazilianatheist answered: I’ll fight it. And I don’t care what my parents or inlaws (catholics) would think. It
  4. gamutman answered: Been there. Refused. Also refused to have my son circumcised despite all the women calling for foreskin sacrifice (including lady OB Gyn)
  5. dead-revolutionaries answered: Fight it or… not commit to such a person at all. It’s too important for me so I talk it through much earlier into the relationship.
  6. monsieurleblanc answered: I think I’d have just avoided this nonsense altogether. I honestly don’t know that I could marry someone with such beliefs. So sue me. =P
  7. matchframe said: Fight it. People like that need to realize they can’t force their religion on others, particularly not on children.
  8. bangaranger answered: If I had children I would be against it. It could lead to one parent trying to force Christianity on the child
  9. ashemountain answered: Is she Catholic? Or is there another sect that does that that I’m unaware of? And I’d baptise them…WITH FIRE! *heavy metal shredding*
  10. teachthemhowtothink posted this