Atheists
I haven't seen this story referenced anywhere yet. An interesting argument. I think it should be allowed, after all birth certificates can be altered and they are much more important legal documents.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 26 Mar 2009, 9:50, 6 replies)

I heard this one, and it surprised me.
Obviously, if you are baptised, then the denomination that did the baptising will take that very seriously.

However, if you're a true atheist, then the splashing of some water onto your head shouldn't mean jack to you.

So whilst, in my case, the Church of England moistened my forehead when I was too young to object, which, in their eyes, made me "one of them," to me it was no more than a farcical semi-aquatic ceremony.

And so the idea of insisting on a 'debaptism,' to me, suggests that this supposed atheist is actually placing some significance in the ceremony. Admittedly it would mean something to your church, but if you're really an atheist, why should you believe that it makes any difference to your life? (Apart from, perhaps, a wasted morning of your life when you could have been more happily glued to your mother's nipple...)
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 10:04, closed)

I agree
I was christened, so that's a matter of historical fact, and I even went as far as getting confirmed when I was 13 and too young to know any better, but as far as I'm aware the C of E doesn't have any kind of membership list, so I'm not particularly bothered about publicly declaring my apostasy.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 11:59, closed)

Woah, jet back there sonny...
It's not just the athiest who gets to take notice of these things. It's everyone of a religious slant who has dealings with them.
My mother, in a moment of weakness, gin fueled madness or whatever it might have been allowed my christening to take place in our local church.
This led pretty directly to my attendance at the close by religious school as there was no "reason" for me to attend the purely secular school 2 miles further away.
Since the board of education appeared to be a tad blind when it came to minor religious differences I spent 6 years being educated in a catholic school as a bewlidered atheist with C. of E. papers. Educated by the teachers, despised, reviled, and on one occasion harshly beaten by the nuns.
All because of someone elses decision about what my religion should be written down as.

These days my passport says "Orthodox Discordian" but my school records stills bears that damming four letter mark.
( DukeEuphoria Comes highly reccomended, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 13:27, closed)

It's important to some
because it's making a point to the church. Personally I've never been baptised/christened/anything, so can't feel as deeply as those who want a debaptism, but I understand their point.
They're standing up to the church, which is a good thing, and telling them they have no power.
And I'm very bad at making my point.
(tweebianmonkey Should be known as Widget, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 14:25, closed)

Whatever your thoughts on this matter
Thanks for supplying the info, becuase I've never seen it before!
(Jugular, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 13:23, closed)

Agreed
I'd never seen this before but it makes for an interesting read. I know a few people who would probably like to reverse their baptism if they knew they could.
( faultykyle, Thu 26 Mar 2009, 15:17, closed)