It isn’t uncommon for secularists born and raised in the south to have been baptized, either unsolicited in infancy or later in life while still influenced by religious dogma. For many this isn’t too much of a concern, given the fact that baptism is nothing more than getting one’s head wet while listening to rote recitation of uninspired fantasy. But for some it is a thing to be regretted, with many wishing there were some way to redress this symbolic form of subjection.
For those looking for documented separation from their religious past, or for those just looking to have a little fun, the National Secular Society is offering a Certificate of De-baptism. So far the campaign has had considerable success. Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, puts it this way: "The growing amount of interest in the concept of de-baptism indicates that people are not just indifferent to religion – which has been the traditional British approach – but are actually becoming quite hostile to it." The certificate is available for purchase from the National Secular Society’s website.
A cheaper and much easier option for those living outside the UK is visiting Debabtized, a website that offers free certificates for download after filling out your first and last name. They also offer the option of being added to their public list of de-baptized people, which is claimed to be preserved for all posterity.
So if you’ve been regretting that former baptism and wish to undo it, or whether you’re just looking to have a little fun and possibly start a conversation, there are people just as qualified to remove your eternal servitude as there are people to cement it; and you don’t even have to get wet.
Comments
Interesting. I only found out about this recently, but thanks for writing about this topic.
My family was never been a member of a church, so I was never Baptized. I know others who are concerned about their name being on the church's rolls. Some people want to be removed from church rolls because the church may still count them as members for statistical purposes.
I dont understand. If you have no belief then why debaptize?
Too bad I was never baptized... S'pose I'm better off anyway. :)
Janiece,
You hit the nail on the head. It's not about having "no belief"...it's about making a statement in public of one's profession of faith--or lack thereof.
But something tells me a lot of people are doing it just to p*ss off Mom and Dad. ;)
JMS
Charlotte Methodist Examiner
Actually, if you really think about it, there is no such thing as an "atheist". It is an impossibility. But this is a free country. All have the right to um, "believe" what they wish to (no pun intended). I do believe in one God who is Lord of all. Now think about this: if the "atheist" is right and I'm wrong, we have nothing to lose. But, if I'm right in believing in God, that he does exist and the "atheist" is wrong.....
Enough said.
Percy, you should definitely spend you entire life worshiping Thor and Zeus. Every minute of it. If us crazy atheists are right and you are wrong for worshiping the gods, you have lost nothing (except a lot of time and money in your only chance at life). But if Thor and Zeus are real, then.... he, he, he, you get to live with them on Mount Olympus in the afterlife while the atheists go to Hades. Also, make sure to give Thor and Zeus at least 10% of your gross income, for additional insurance.
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