Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Hey guys- guess what? Will and I have been asked to be GOD PARENTS!

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Science & Skepticism » Atheists and Agnostics Group Donate to DU
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-04-05 08:23 PM
Original message
Hey guys- guess what? Will and I have been asked to be GOD PARENTS!
I posted this over in the relgion forum, and I may very well post it in the lounge, too. Is this not the craziest thing you've ever heard of? My theist friend says God told him my partner and I, both atheists, would make the best god parents for his child!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x12502
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
onager Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-04-05 11:07 PM
Response to Original message
1. Can you use this quote?
"Always a godfather, never a god." (Gore Vidal)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Az Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-05-05 02:00 AM
Response to Original message
2. We use the term godless parents
My best friend is Catholic and he and his wife asked us to be their childrens godless parents.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
politicat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-09-05 01:14 PM
Response to Reply #2
12. So do we. I'm godless mother to my niece.
Though my sister calls us the goddess parents, since she's pagan.

PCat
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
eek MD Donating Member (249 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-05-05 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
3. I'm my nephew's godfather......
My mom forced me to do it when my sister asked, back when i was in college and was still enough of a sap to let my mother force me to go to church...

I don't have the heart to tell the poor chap (or my parents for that matter) that his godfather doesn't believe in the whole "god" thing...(it's nice living halfway across the country, and being able to just "avoid bringing things up" around your parents)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Synnical Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-05-05 09:35 PM
Response to Original message
4. Not crazy at all
I'm the "god mother" of a friend's child. It only means I made a promise to care for the child if the parents are unable to do so.

Actually, it's a cool statement.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Phentex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-11-05 10:00 AM
Response to Reply #4
14. I was never asked and used to be upset by it....
because I took it to mean the same as you. And now that I am probably in the best position out of all the family members to care for my nieces and nephews, they are stuck with "godparents" who can barely take care of themselves. Karma anyone?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rhiannon12866 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-06-05 05:47 AM
Response to Original message
5. What religion do these parents belong to?
It sounds strange to me, since, obviously, you'll never embrace it, and this is the traditional function of "god parents." But my "god parents" did not share my parents' religion, either. I just think they chose those who they knew who they wanted to have a part in their child's life. It didn't necessarily work out that way, but, from a distance, I can see where they were coming from. As long as you don't have to participate in a religious ceremony that offends you or agree to pass on religious ideals that you can't, I'd be very flattered.:-)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fshrink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-06-05 02:00 PM
Response to Original message
6. They're trying to bring you in.
Typical activist shit. I have a friend who gets very surreptitiously black-mailed to have have her car fixed for free if she sends her grand-daughter to the church twice a week.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Modem Butterfly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-07-05 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. I don't think so
This is a very close friend who, other than his baptism and marriage, has never invited me to church or tried to preach to me in any way. Plus, he's from a pretty mixed religious background himself and is pretty mellow about the whole thing. If anything I worry that this is some sort of passive-aggressive swipe at his wife, who's fairly devout and traditional.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fshrink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-09-05 02:34 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. Ah OK
Then I would say you're right about the swipe. Also an attempt on his part to expose his daughter to something else. What the heck! Go for it! That's an offer you can't refuse...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
zanana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-07-05 11:00 AM
Response to Original message
7. I decline to be a godmother...
Edited on Mon Mar-07-05 11:02 AM by zanana
I have seven nephews and nieces. I was asked to be a godmother for one of them three times. I explained that, as I was not Catholic, I could not promise to bring them up as Catholics if the need arose. Instead, I opted to be an "honorary"godmother. I get to spoil them!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Deep13 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-07-05 01:52 PM
Response to Original message
9. Does that mean you are in charge of their religious education?
That may not go quite the way the parents figure.

"All right, kiddo, today we are going to learn about the opiate of the masses."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Neoma Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-07-05 04:32 PM
Response to Original message
10. Thats freaky....
well good luck, your the parents back-up. :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-07-05 06:51 PM
Response to Original message
11. I say no problem.
Just as religion has co-opted what it can use from secular practice, like charity and kindness, I would think the idea of godparents as those who would "look after" children in the case the parents couldn't, is a good practical idea. But I don't know about the specific Christian practices involved.

--IMM
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Apr 30th 2024, 02:03 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Science & Skepticism » Atheists and Agnostics Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC