We want to hear your opinion: Join the debate below! ? He is fond of family traditions. It’s ho and. In his family, it is tradition not to baptize the children. She has grown up with all children being baptized. So what do they do when they get kids together? Are you for or against baptism? news has spoken to a couple who wish to remain anonymous, because they believe that baptism is a private matter. news knows their identity. When no one wants to break the family custom For ho, baptism is culture and tradition. She has always envisioned it. How nice it would be to baptize your children in the christening dress their grandmother crocheted in the early 80s. 22 names are embroidered into the lining, and she would like the names of her own children to be sewn on in the same way. – But then I fall in love with someone who does not want our children to be baptised, she says, about the man in her life. Still, she had hope. – I thought he would give in when the first child was well out. But he didn’t, she admits. Even if he does not believe, he has no problem with being in a church. But the attitude to baptism is fixed. – My opinion and hers are equally valuable, and I believe that the children should be allowed to choose for themselves, he says. The collar is one of many details. The dress can be decorated with ribbons in different colours. The christening dress has become a family heirloom. First names with associated baptism dates for all the children who have been baptized in the dress are embroidered into the lining. What do you mean? Is it hypocritical to baptize a child if you don’t believe in God? Hi! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you don’t have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Loyal parents Vicar Stein Ellinggard has studied the development of baptism in Norway, and thinks he sees a new trend among parents as well as not to dip. – Parents no longer want to make major decisions for young children, on the religious level, says Ellinggard. When someone disagrees on whether to baptize the child or not, nothing usually comes of it. The authenticity stands strong. What you do must be a sincere choice. – It can be impossible to promise something during the act of baptism, when you don’t believe what is being said, says the vicar. At the same time, the study reveals that parents today are deeply loyal to their children. If the child himself wants to be baptized, when he has grown up, the parents will make arrangements for it. Stein Ellinggard, who is a parish priest in Bakklandet and Lademoen kyrkjelyd in Trondheim, received the Olavs Scholarship in 2021 to study baptism trends in Norway. Photo: news Figures taken from Statistics Norway tell of a sharp decline in the number of baptized people. Accepting disagreement The couple who disagree about baptism face a choice. The woman still wants baptism, but is at the same time concerned with what the man thinks. – I can’t just decide. The children are as much his as mine, she says. Marie Hauge, who is head of education in a church in Trondheim, agrees. She is often asked for advice when the parents do not agree on the baptism issue. – The toddler period is a hectic and vulnerable time, so parents should know that baptism is not something reserved for babies, says Hauge. She believes that it is fine to leave the conversation about baptism aside, and rather take it up again at a later time. – The church is open for baptism whether you are 0 or 100, says Hauge. She herself has good experience of waiting. Only when her children were one and four years old did she and her husband agree to baptise. Marie Hauge talks to many parents who cannot agree on whether their children should be baptized or not. Photo: Anna Edwin Photo: Anna Edwin When nobody cares The woman and the man in this story could not come to an agreement. Their firstborn was not baptized. When number two came into the world, she thought that since he got what he wanted with the first child, it was most fair that she got what she wanted with the second. She has a clear answer to the question of whether it is hypocritical to baptize a child if one does not believe in God. – Yes a little. I cannot stand in front of the priest and say that I am strong in my faith. I have to be open and honest. Then it’s not hypocrisy, she thinks. But what about the day when the children come and ask why one is baptized and the other is not? – It opens up a good learning situation, that it is possible to disagree and still live in a team, she asserts.
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Should one baptize or leave baptizing, when one cannot agree? – news Trøndelag
