You could always take the ol' pascals wager, better to be safe than sorry. But what she did really didn't harm anyone. As a nonbeliever, I wouldn't be upset at this. The woman was trying to pay her respects to her dead husband, just because you and her don't have the same belief in what happens next doesn't mean you should get angry at her for honor the dead in the way she wants. People have been doing that since the formation of civilization. I'd take it as a sign of respect and gratitude. She was showing how much she loved him and saying her "goodbyes". Not trying to piss off an atheist.

I think because he lacked a sound mind, he wasn't really a part of it, and the only question would be if you think he, in a clear state, would have felt dishonored or humiliated by such a thing. I think out of love for his wife he might have been ok with it to give her some peace. I think we have to try to forgive this sort of thing because her intentions were good, even though religion in general leads to a lot of bad results.

I always think that if there was a god, and I was still a good person-living my life to “do no harm”, then a loving god (isn’t that what is preached) would not exclude me. Or you, your family, your deceased love ones and anyone else. It’s just a bloody ritual. Dipping someone’s head in water or sprinkling it over. I would let it go. I’m sure your dad wouldn’t mind if he loved her.

Their make believe rituals did nothing harmful to your dad. It might have given his wife some peace. Yeah, it was kind of intrusive, but people do stupid stuff when they're afraid or distraught. My advice is to let it go. Forgive her and move on. There is an old saying that not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. So get the poison out of your system. Forgive her and move on.

I think the visceral response would be to be angry. But, fortunately, as an atheist, he just was washed and talked to a minister. No real biggie put in perspective, I think. Personally, if someone was that worried for my 'eternal soul' before I died, I would say sure, let's do it. I am gonna die, they have to live. If I can alleviate the mourning just a little bit by doing their ceremony, that is awesome, because for the most part, you are helpless, or at least probably feel that way, if you are in any condition to feel. Bad memories.

Hell no, you aren't wrong to be upset by what she did. She showed complete disrespect for your father, and his stated beliefs. She basically ignored everything but her own need to perpetuate her delusions. I'd have cut her out of my life, too, and I certainly wouldn't want her anywhere near my children. This kind of bullshit is another reason I have such little patience with religutards.

Let it go apart from her being completely wrong in reality it doesnt matter. Shame she felt she had to betray her husband with her delusions rhough

When I was a bub and my mum was visiting her dad and his 2nd wife she was talking to her and she said "oh by the way your father's baptising your son right now". She wasn't impressed, but in retrospect I don't really care, it's just a meaningless splash of water. I've heard some ministers say that it's meaningless if the person isn't aware of what is going on.

That's messed up. I'd be upset. I don't personally believe in the afterlife but that or not shitty thing to do. I'm pro-consent all the way and whatever beliefs that baptism was a scam and without consent.

I can understand not wanting your son exposed to religious doctrine when he's young I can also agree with it making you upset. I guess it comes down to wether or not you want your mom to be apart of your life in general. If you feel ultimately incompatible with her belief then fair. I can understand why she would do it and since atheism has no concept of blasphemy I couldn't be too angry. I know though that if certain members of my family forced their beliefs on someone I cared about I might be happier severing that relationship rather than continue to make excuses for it.

My father had a similar experience with his older brother who was converted on his death bed. Dad never had much use for religion for most of his life. While this was a despicable thing to do, don't let the hate consume you. Forgive, if it gives you peace, but don't let this woman have an emotional hold on you, even if it's anger.

I don't think this was a matter of how you feel about it. He probably didn't care because it mattered none to him since he didn't believe that it would do anything to him. So if he was still happy to accept her as she believed, it probably didn't hurt anyone. I understand that she couldn't accept and honor his beliefs but maybe he could hers. This is the thing about persons who are religious they often can't respect those who don't believe and those who believe differently.

It's irrelevant to your life and your fathers.it's not like you are part of a religion and she baptised him into another one.it's not worth thinking about as it has no effect on anything.

First of all, Baptist was for her. not him, if it gave her peace, so be it - also if he was not of sound mind the bible would not recognise it as baptism.
She is an idiot and take solace in the fact there is no God, so it meant nothing.

What, are you angry about his baptism to appease a love one? Or that he let it happened?
The question you should ask, are you afraid that she's right, and if so, why? The answer isn't religion, the answer is only for you.

Let it be. Let her believe what she wants. Try to find something you do agree with her, and put emphasis on that. Not permitting your sons to discover who she is, is not a rewarding decision. You can advise your sons not to bring up the subject of religion and ask your mother to avoid the subject. Do not be concerned if she lapses. Your relationship with your sons will be in the minds of your sons and they have to decide for themselves what to believe. If you try to control your mother or your sons, you might encounter resistance. Just let it be and let your mothers ideas be her own and expose your sons and mother to the love they deserve.

One of the purposes of religion is to provide comfort with respect to our own mortality and that of those close to us. The idea that you end this life and go to a better place, and that when your loved ones die, you are reunited with them, takes some of the finality out of death. It might be nonsense, but as a coping mechanism, it has validity.

Yes, it sounds like she did it more for her own sake than for his, and she's violated your and his principles along the way. But equally, it sounds like he might not even have been aware of that, so perhaps there's no harm done to him. If it helps her with her grieving process, then it's served a purpose.

Feelings aren't facts so always remember that feelings aren't wrong of course it anger you. Forget about in case she's right cuz even if there is a God or whatever power it's not like the one in the Bible I call myself an agnostic atheist because I believe in not knowing personally I don't like it when people seem sure there isn't a God or sure there is one it's an unknowable. But just like you want people to let you be you let her be her. By the way I like your profile I'm a contradiction too .

I think your justified in being unhappy about her choice.

It makes no difference to him what she did. It was for her piece of mind so that she could deal with his death better. If nothing else, your father perhaps allowed her to do this, because he knew it would help her. I think it's telling of what kind of man your father was, as a kind, caring, and giving man who loved his wife.

I would have been upset as well. It was selfish of her. I don't believe it was here place to do that. The last part of your question interested me the most. There are hundreds upon hundreds of religions all have their path of belief to the afterlife...which one of the hundreds was she adhering too? Just a thought.

I would be angry too, but ultimately it doesn't affect your father anymore. If it makes her feel better then although it's very selfish, at least some small comfort came from it. As for cutting her out of your life, that's entirely up to you and how you feel about her.

What if she saved his soul for eternity?

I wold also be angry. She went against your father's wishes. Just be glad she is no longer part of your life.

Ugh, it’s nothing to really get upset about. If your dad was an atheist, I’m sure he was aware of the truth. It’s a very well possibility she did what she did so she could have some kind of closer with comfort to think he was right with the Lord and went on to a better place. But I do see why you’d be angered by this. Pushy people piss me off, too. I got nothing by a pushy attitude from my boyfriend’s mom. She’d send me text message late at night, asking,” Have you talked to Jesus today? He love you. I’m just trying to make sure I’m doing our friend’s job.” Then she’d aleays pass out little religious books every time I would go over. It’d either be a religious book or movie. She even had me go to her room to listen to to a fifteen minute video with a man’s voice that was supposed to be portrayed as God, claiming how much he love me. Be okay and just know your dad went knowing the truth, regardless of a little rubbish religion ritual with a dab of water and meaningless words spoken out to a god who isn’t there.