MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
16 February 2006
That felt weird.→[More:]
During a massive getting-things-organized, I discovered a folder with memorabilia from my childhood. Including my baptism and confirmation certificates.
My mother suspects that I was secretly baptized by my devoutly RC grandfather. I, in turn, suspect that my daughter may have been secretly baptized by my born again inlaws. Tradition!
Fish is thoroughly, absolutely atheist. Only crazy people believe in a "higher power."
And why assume RC? I'm pretty sure the Baptists are all about baptism, I know the Prots do baps and cons, and I am certain a lotta the splintery evangel groups do the same.
I was not christened; my parents waited until I was a teenager to get baptized as an adult in our Congregational church. Then, years later, I joined a Baptist church (American Baptist! the liberal ones!) and with friends and family present was baptized by full immersion. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
jon, you're on comedy crack today. And realize that I hate "on crack" jokes when I say that; but you are in all threads at all times, leaving a quip-a-minute.
It's quite amusing, buddy. Maybe you could post more burlesque girls, though? I love me some natural women who aren't afraid to be sexy!
"My sole point is that it seems very weird to have had religious things done to me when I'm not at all religious."
I thought sole was a salt water fish? Or did you mean "soul point?"
Anyway - yeah. I was raised in a religious household, so I'm occasionally taken aback by the memorabilia of a pre-hellbound It's Raining Florence Henderson.
One of the weirdest/coolest things I ever found amongst my paperwork is this, which was awarded to me when I crossed the Equator sailing from Australia to England as a child.
There was a ceremony where a crew member dressed as Neptune dunked me in the pool and then my face was painted with ice cream, using a big wallpaper-paste brush and a bucket of melted ice cream.
I think I'll get this framed, it's kind of neat and I don't know anyone else who has one.
Aw, that's cool, jan! The US Navy still does some sort of goofy ceremony for people crossing the Equator for the first time (at least the did when my brother was in the Navy in the 1980s/1990s).
As for christening and baptism - you don't have much choice as a child or baby when your parents decide to do something like that. Me and my sibs (four brothers) were christened as babies and the three older boys were confirmed into the Episcopal church. Confirmation is done with a child's cooperation after religious schooling. Although I'm not an atheist, I agree with FFF. Such things should not be done without consent.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
photo by ethylene
