Christening in the UK

I agree with Chary. Maybe that's not what you guys meant, but it certainly comes off that way. I have no intention of indoctrinating any children I might have with any religion, but they'll definitely have morals!

I hope it wasn't taken that I meant this in any way. I know regular churchgoers who need to work on their morals, and people who are not of any belief that have wonderful morals. Morals aren't about your religious beliefs, or choice to not believe. My apologies if I offended anyone.

Ah, but that's very different from being non-religious or being atheist. There are huge numbers of British people who do not go to church regularly yet who consider themselves CofE.

A bit like the majority of Catholics, at least in this area, in the States. I know more Catholics who don't go to church than who do. I am sure it is the same in a lot of types of church.

What I was meaning is the ones who wouldn't go because they don't believe that way. For example, hubby doesn't believe anything, doesn't even claim atheist because he feels in a way it is its own form of religion. He would never go into a church because he doesn't want to be involved in what the building stands for and what is practiced inside. He won't even go into one for weddings, for that reason.

An especially ardent atheist I once knew rejected use of the word 'morals' within the context of atheism. Pedantic perhaps, but his argument being that terms such as 'morals', 'good' and 'evil' are inextricably tied into and derived from religion, that they aren't really appropriate outside the original context & best left to the religious. Ethics - derived from man, yes. 'Morals' derived from 'god', no.

What I was meaning is the ones who wouldn't go because they don't believe that way. For example, hubby doesn't believe anything, doesn't even claim atheist because he feels in a way it is its own form of religion. He would never go into a church because he doesn't want to be involved in what the building stands for and what is practiced inside. He won't even go into one for weddings, for that reason.

I wouldn't go as far as your hubby, as I said, i was brought up CofE, was an altar boy and church sacristan, sort of a family tradition! My parents always said that when we were 16 we could then choose whether to go or not...I continued til I was 18 but that was because of a girl who went!  
Anyway, now I guess I'd consider myself athiest if pressed as I don't believe but probably take your hubby's viewpoint that, that suggests something as well - the best term I ever saw was Apathiest - basically you don't believe but you don't really care either!
I don't go as far as not going though, I'll go to a wedding or funeral because you are doing it for the other person, at my dad's funeral I even took communion, I can't explain why I did it, I just felt at the time it was the right thing to do for my dad. At my father-in-law's funeral I didn't, and nobody commented on it - in fact I think there might have been more comment had I done so as my brother-in-law is a minister and they know I am a non-believer, they were just pleased I'd gone. I asked him and my siste-in-law about certain aspects of the service, and gave them comparisons to ones I'd been to in England.
And I love going in old churches and cathedrals to look around.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2007/11/poetry-sunday-vi/

I think I worded my comments badly!

No worries! I thought that's probably what happened.

If the parents are church-goers, it's kind of a 'welcome to the church' ceremony. 

Sorry, but this kind of rubs me the wrong way. A christening or baptism means more than just a 'welcome to the church'. That's a dedication, frequently seen in religions that don't believe in infant baptism. Baptism for Catholics, CofE, and Lutherans (maybe others, but these are the ones I'm certain of) is a sacrament, where the parents are agreeing to raise their child in the Christian faith.

I guess I was just trying to keep it simple for the OP, who didn't seem to have any background at all in these matters.  No rubbing intended!  :-)

I guess I was just trying to keep it simple for the OP, who didn't seem to have any background at all in these matters.  No rubbing intended!  :-)

I actually do have a background in these matters, as far as christening and baptism go. I was raised Catholic, and was baptized as an infant, went through 12 years of catechism classes, first communion and confirmation. I left the Catholic church as an adult, and was re-baptized as an adult in a non denominational Christian church. I am also Godmother of three, with parents who believe in God.

What I was seeking to understand was two people who don't believe in God asking two people who don't believe in God to be Godparents of their child. The purpose of Godparents was to have someone to raise your children in the church, should something happen to you, as the parents, and you weren't around to do it. I just wasn't understanding the need or point for christening a child if you didn't believe and had no intention of raising your child in the church.

I suppose I should also clarify the reason for the topic title is because I have never known anyone in the US who did this, but have known of quite a few couples asking fellow non believers to be Godparents while I was living in the UK, and also friends who have done so and posted about it on FB, since I have returned to the US.

I actually do have a background in these matters

Urgh... sorry TamaMoo... your original post didn't really reflect this, so as i said before, I was just trying to stick to simple basics to help you.  Which I now see was no help at all.

Not a problem. I realize now I should have explained that part.

To your godparent query, ime, this is not a concept tied to religion. Dh and I are godparents and know others and it has all been in the spirit of " who should look after the kids if you die."

Except legally that isn't true.  You need to write your intentions into a will in those cases. 

Well yes, of course, and we are in the will. I didn't mention it because the thread was questioning godparents not wills.

But when you stand up at the christening they ask if you, the godparent, are going to support the child in their Christian faith. That's what being a godparent is about. The godparent isn't always the person you want to look after your child if you die. Especially since in families with multiple children they often have different godparents for each child. Why would they ask different people to look after their children if they die? Wouldn't they all stay together and go to the same place?