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I am an atheist, meaning I do not believe in God nor Satan. My Mother, Grandparents, And Friends Know This About Me. But, Yet, My Mother Is Still Trying To Make Me Get Baptized. She tells me things like, " You Are Getting Baptized Even If I Have To Drag You In There " . I find this very cruel and unfair. You are not aloud to force religion on people, correct? And she should respect my beliefs. Why is she doing this, and how can I make her see my point of view?
Baptizing is an outward sign that your parents will bring you up in the knowledge of grace when you are an infant.
Being older and getting baptized is an outward sign of what has happened in your heart. A heart that is open and whole and moldable and teachable and by letting the Holy Spirit have His way in you.
From your profile: ""I always end up learning the truth the hard way, and I learned that no one is coming to save me. No one is going to change things, and that no matter what anybody says, there is no such thing as love.""
Your parents were in love enough to bring you into this world, emoxcore2, and even if they didn't know where it came from, still, they loved you enough to bring you up to this day. Did you ever get your father's blessing? Even a grandfather can give it.
They start out with...your real name...I look at you and see how fast you are growing up and have such a great vocabulary and that you have generosity in you that is so wanting to burst into every situation that you encounter. That even though on the outside you put on a tough girl look, deep down inside you have a great big huge loving heart that attracts people to you. Look how your friends look up to you for some of your advice and I know that there is so much left for you to give of yourself as each day goes by. ...Your name...I am so proud of you and I love you so very much. That is love. And if a father doesn't give The Blessing (even once, but many times growing up is great) that is how there are so many young men in institutions and prison because they have been looking for love, reaching out, crying out in different ways to be accepted in the wrong places.
If a young lady doesn't hear the same from her dad, then they go looking and longing for acceptance from other sources that share non-existent true love that is also in the wrong places.
If you aren't full of love, then by all means talk to someone about your shredded shards in place of your whole, complete, pumping life blood through your entire self's heart before even thinking of being baptized.
What your mother is doing is unfair and wrong! She shouldn't force her beliefs down your throat. I wouldn't go through with the baptism if you're going to be Atheist. What's the point if you're not going to make a covenant with Our Lord and savior? Your mother isn't respecting you or your beliefs. You do have the freedom to choose your way of believing. Explain to your mother your reasoning on why you shouldn't be baptized and see if she'll take you seriously. The Pastor/Preacher or preast is going to ask you questions when it comes to making covenants with Jesus and if you are clear from sins. If you tell the Pastor, Preacher, or preast that you don't believe in God, then he won't baptize you. I know your mother isn't happy that your Atheist but, she's going to have to learn to respect you. Its senseless, and pointless to get baptized. I wouldn't go through with it but again, its your decision. If your mother doesn't want to respect you, well she's not going to understand you or want you to respect her back if she's forcing her religion on you. I just find this whole baptism wrong on your mother's part. I know if that were my mother, I'd turn her down. I myself am a believer in our Lord and savior and was baptized but, that's by choice. I don't force my religious beliefs down anybodie's throats. We all have our own beliefs. I know a few people that are Atheist and I believe that people that are Atheist are really nice and they love serving others. If you treat them with respect, you'll get treated with the same. I don't find anything wrong with people who are Atheist as long as they have a kind heart and show respect. Good luck and I hope you choose what's the best decision for you not what your mother wants.
Did you know that there are plenty of Christians/Catholics out there who now consider themselves Atheist? Most of them have gone through baptism and all that as babies/children/youths, but have declared themselves atheists later on in life.
Perhaps you should also try to see your mother's point of view. Baptism saves your soul from going to limbo when you die. That's how a lot of Christian mothers see it, and so they baptize their children at the very least. You can accept this baptism, and tell her that you're doing it for her, but she has to allow you to choose your own path of belief (or lack thereof) after it is done. Fair trade.
My point is that you can go through Baptism and still declare yourself an atheist later if you want to. I know this may disappoint Christians or some may say that having the Baptism is useless anyway if you just want to be an atheist, but this is not about organized religion. This is about family and respect. Just because someone is an atheist, doesn't mean that they are bad people. They love, respect, and cherish like any other. So make your mother happy by being mature and doing this for her, in turn you gain her respect and her blessing to choose your path in life.
It is unfair, and quite frankly she should respect your decision. However, coming from a family who still thinks I will eventually "grow up" and join the fold again (it's been 10 years), I know that parents can be irrationally persistent... I'd look at it this way, if you dont believe, all you're doing is getting wet... It can seem hypocritical (which is why I refused to take any part in my parents religion when I was younger), but as I got older I realized there are more important things in life. Like respect and being there for your family. So what if they dont respect your decision or agree with you. They're older, set in their ways, and unlikely to change now. To argue with it will just cause a whole lot of misery. Be the mature one here, explain that it means nothing to you, but go for her sake... it will make her feel better...
she doesnt respect what you beleive in she probably thinks irts a 'faze" that will pass either way, what shes doing is wrong how can she expect you to respect what she beleives in if she doesnt respecty your beleifs? religiouse people are the main people who show no respect to other religions yet want everyoen to respect there answer? without respect they will get none in returne tell your mother this that she doesnt respect tyour beleifs so you shouldnt have to respect hers what your doing isnt wrong and baptism has nothing to dowith what you beleive in tell your mother shes being selfish and that she needs to start respectinbg in what you beleive in if she wants the same respect from you
getting baptized doesnt DO anything...its just something that you do out of respect for God, and if you havnt accepted the Lord into your heart as your savior then it doesnt mean anything and I think you should tell your mom that but just so you know its not going to help anything if you have an attitude when you tell her so tell her calmly so that she will take you seriously
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Well, it's unfortunate your mother is forcing you to do this. One approach would be to agree to go through with it, but be totally honest about your beliefs with the priest/minister. If they know you don't believe and are just going through the motions, they won't baptize you.
How can your mother hold you responsible for failing to lie to a minister?
Very well put by mysterywolf. If you're an atheist, baptism is nothing but a meaningless ceremony and a bit of water. It's up to you which you value more: Family harmony, or making a principled stand as an atheist against superstition and coercion. Either is a reasonable position to take, and which you choose is entirely up to you.
I wouldn't just go get baptized because it will make my mom happy... I understand wh your mom wants this...but when you get baptized the preacher asks you if you have given your heart to jesus and renounced your sins...( or other variations of that) it doesn't make sense to pledge an oath and lie to make your mom happy.
Wow sorry your mother is being so unreasonable. Doesn't she realize that if you get baptized without "finding Jesus" than according to Christianity it does no good.
Maybe try to explain it to her. You have the right to believe or not believe whatever you want.
I agree with yumi and just tell her to be baptized you have to show your love for god if you dont believe in him then it wouldnt help you to get into heaven
(not saying your going to hell just saying it as your mom would see it)
You can tell her that it is not suppose to be forced on you, the lord has given you free will, if he doesn't force you to believe in him that why should she? If she is truly a believer then she would know she shouldn't force that on you.
Agree with ty and mysterwolf.
By the way, I got baptised when I was, like, 10. But later on I still became atheist.
Just out of curosity if you dont believe in it then whats the harm?
Show her this question :)
