Godparents

[MBowden]

We are not religious in any way and wondered if having godparents is necessary of compulsory?

[alijangra]

I certainly dont have any, and Im from a very religious (mainly protestant) part of Scotland so I dont think its a religious thing. Certainly not with the Free Church or Church of Scotland anyway! Im assuming Church of England would be along the same lines.

[MBowden]

Good question!! Can anyone answer that?

[acorn]

I agree with in a pickle. I would assume it only means something if you are religious. There are presumably relatives who would care for a childs well being should anything terrible happen to you and your partner. Godparents take on the spiritual wellbeing alongside the care of a child. But if you are not religious this wouldnt have much meaning to you.

[sweetchuck]

Im not a religious person and neither is my partner. Our first child has got godparents because we feel that theres nothing wrong with having more people (other than family) looking out for his well being.

[Elfin]

I thought you only got godparents as a result of a christening ceremony. If you are not religious, you don't get your children christened, therefore no godparents required.

If you have been christened as a child but are not religious in adulthood, your godparents are redundant I guess (not that there's anything official about being a godparent - I'm not even sure it's recorded anywhere).

But then I'm a heathen and don't know much about churchy stuff...

[helsbels666]

Actually i think you may find that godparents are not actually (as is commonly percieved) designated to look after the child should the parents die. In the catholic faith at least they are simply a spiritual guidance to help the child live in the faith. Since you are not religious as many have said, this is redundant!

[noxlumos]

Godparents are certainly not compulsary, we have none for our children. I'm Catholic and my wife is Jewish and we are bringing up our children "aware of, but not actively participating in, each religion", that is until my mother took them all to Mass, having totally missed that point.

[alijangra]

My parents are Christians and I was Christened as a baby. I do not have godparents.