Why say you're religious when you're not?

[hotpink]

It really bugs me when people say that they're religious, when they're not. Like when people get married in church and attend meetings months in advance, purely so that they CAN get married in a church. If your not religious, why would you need your marriage to be blessed by God? I understand to a lot of people it's just 'tradition', but I'm not religious therefore I had a civil ceremony. And... having children baptised, and having 'godparents', WHY?! If anything was to happen to the parents, would the 'godparents' bring up the child with religion? And it annoys me when people say 'oh I don't do that, I'm catholic' etc etc. (I just wanted a little rant...)

[luna-tic]

Hello hotpink. I think the right way is not the religious way unless that is what you personally believe.

[naomi24]

Hi hotpink, it depends on your definition of 'religious'. I think a lot of people just like tradtion, but many, even though they aren't church-goers, do have a vague belief in god, so apart from a church wedding being far grander than a civil ceremony, I suppose they feel that a church is the right place for them to marry. The same applies to having their children baptised. The parents often have a fuzzy belief in god and want to do the 'right thing' by their child, although in my experience godparents are generally chosen for their relationship to the parents, rather than their ability to oversee the child's religious education.

[carrust]

When i got married to my ex some years ago, we came under intense pressure to get married in church. The mother in law was secretary to the PCC,& was a practicing Christian. My ex & I, wouldn't go through with it, as we would be total hypocrites. We came under the same pressure when she wanted our children to be christened..we said no!
The same hypocrisy is now happening in 'faith based schools'. Where the parents will go to church,so as they can get their children into a decent school. (Rant over)

[saxy_jag]

I was married in church, as my husband was brought up in the URC/Congregationalist faith and looking back, I think we were somewhat pressured into it by his mother - as we were when we had the eldest baptised. By the time we had the youngest we had begun to see the light and had ceased going to church, so when mum-in-law asked the minister if he'd baptise the child, he said no. I wasn't exactly complaining, as you can imagine.

I know if I had the choices to make again, knowing what I know now, church weddings and baptisms would be out of the question.

I think the thing with churches and all that foof-fah is that it all looks so nice in wedding photos. Thing is, these days there are lots of nice venues with wedding licences, so that's not really an excuse. But churches are cheap by comparison, and although I have little time for christians, I think it's a bit rich using their places just because they look right.