"It's not a principle if it doesn't cost you anything"

Also just curious about your deeply held principles in general.

No political grandstanding please.

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[–] 63 points 10 months ago* (10 children)

Ruined my relationship with my sister and was never part of my nephews lives because I declined to be their godfather because I'm an atheist. One of the aspects of being a godfather is promising to raise the children in their parents religion if their parents should pass. I told her, unequivocally, I cannot and will not make a promise I know I can't keep, and that's a promise that I could not possibly keep as it goes against my personal views and values. I will not raise your children to be Christian in your absence, and thus I cannot in good faith be their godfather. I thought I was being respectful of her belief by not lying and saying I would do such a thing. My nephews are adults now and I've seen them maybe three times in their lives. Oh well. I don't have any good familial relationships so I guess it doesn't matter. Fucked up families is as fucked up families does. I've always been treated like my life is less valuable by my family since I didn't have children anyway, so fuck it I guess.

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  • [+] -78 points 10 months ago (9 children)

    You’re just a dick. I’ve never seen a godfather/mother actually do anything beyond confirm they have a good relationship with the parent. Lmao. You saved them by showing who you are, a “reddit atheist.”

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  • [–] 31 points 10 months ago

    Dude, the church my family followed was similar. I was asked to sign a document pledging I would do all sorts of things, like raise the kid in the religion if their parents died, also to live a "moral sex life" and resist the evils of gay culture and drugs. I didn't sign and saw it as an act of honesty and respect to explain I couldn't fulfill their request.

    If you think so little of other people's religious beliefs that you would lie to become a godparent, you do you.

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  • [+] 50 points 10 months ago (2 children)
  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    I think that too. You don't have to believe just respect and say words out of love. My goddoughter is an atheist now because of talking to me. Because I had the necessary relationship to tell her what I believe

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