Not appropriate. My brother and I promised we would raise each others kids if anything happened. Religion was nothign to do with it, all 5 of the kids, his and mine are atheists.

You should tell your children your beliefs and why and let them choose.

I'd say if someone is close enough to ask you to be a godparent, then they're close enough to discuss their specific motivations for asking. For some, it's going to be the full religious implication, in which case they may not want someone who's nonreligous in that role (and someone nonreligous probably wouldn't want that role). But for others, I think it's a symbolic gesture to indicate you'll be part of the child's life and/or are willing to assume care of the child in the event of an emergency, etc.

I’ve never had one, neither did my son. I don’t even know what they are (reading below, I guess they’re meant to indoctrinate). Sounds like a load of crap ?

I'm with AgnosticLJ. When I was a lot younger I was a practicing (sort of) Catholic living in Germany. Some neighbor/friends who were Syrian/Turkish (Christian) asked me to be the god parent of their oldest daughter's first son and I agreed. I did nothing (except buy them cigarettes at the military commisary). To me it was just a title of honor with no real obligations.

Years later, I returned to Germany on vacation and visited them. I asked how was Benjamin doing and was told he was no good? The poor guy was born in Germany from 1st generation Turkish parents and living at home with the extended family. All his friends were German and that was his culture. However, his family wanted him to stay at home and help his real family with their restaurant business. Because he wanted to be independant and be with his friends he was branded no good by his own family. I mention this because this is another common problem with 'diversity' that some try to ignore.

I'm a so called God parent to two of my neices. Just one of those things my sister thought was the right thing, back in the day. It doesn't matter if you "believe" or not it's about being there if they need you.

I believe an atheist asked to be a godparent should be totally honest with the child's parents and make sure they know the spiritual views of the atheist. Many times the core values are the same as the parents, it's just that the parent tends to frame those values with the bible, and the atheist may have several other literary sources and life experiences to share to back up the values. The parents may or may not care - they likely chose the atheist because of their good values. (An atheist often knows more about the bible than believers anyway, haha!)

If the atheist can stomach going into the church and participating in a symbolic ritual that s/he doesn't believe in, to appease the parents, and the parents are fine with the atheist's spiritual values, I think that's fine.

You wouldn't find me participating in a washing away of a newborn babies sins, since I believe babies are all born innocent (and atheist) and I wouldn't want to support indoctrinating the sweet little thing into a religion I don't support.

Nowadays, there are many parents who go through the ritual of baptising their child in the church simply because it's a custom. They don't always fully believe in the church teachings, but it's an expected family tradition, etc.

That was the case when my brother and I were named as godparents to our first niece, about 40 years ago. We complied with the request, because it was expected. My brother and I are now both atheists, and interestingly this oldest niece grew up to be atheist too. We really had nothing to do with her spiritual upbringing. It was just a formality.

There is a growing trend to skip the religious baptism in favor of secular baby celebrations. Here in Hawaii it's popular to have "Baby's First Birthday" celebrations. It's not a religious thing.

As a secular celebrant in Seattle and Hawaii, I've conducted a few baby blessings, which can be totally secular. It's a wonderful way to introduce the baby to friends and family and put some thought toward the moral ethics and values the parents hope to instill in the children. Family and friends can give cards and letters as keepsakes for the child, with inspirational advice, words of wisdom, hopes and dreams for their success, etc., aka "blessings" to use a carryover term from the religious to agnostic.

In modern days, rather than appointing just 2 people as godparents (aka guideparents) there becomes a natural support network developed organically over time determined by the degree of closeness created by friends/family.

Legally, parents usually decide on a person or couple to name as their child's guardian in a will, and that decision can be legally changed over the years.

Personally, I see the religous godparent as a thing of the past. I wouldn't participate. However I'd be happy to provide inspiriational and emotional support to any child who asks for it or needs it, regardless whether I was specifically named or not.

I wouldnt

I think it kinda depends, originally godparents where supposed 2 take care of the child if both parents die, as well as being responsible 4 teaching the child about god. Many people nowadays that I have met, don't even know about the teaching about god part, they just look at it as who will b responsible 4 the child after the parents death, and in some cases its not even that, its just something they use as a term 4 an aunty or uncle who may not actually b related. I have no problem with the idea of someone being there 4 my kids if I die, but not so much the god part. I'm ok with my kids learning about all religions, and they decide 4 themselves what they believe. But I'm not ok with someone telling them this is what u have 2 believe. I kinda think maybe it would help 2 have a new name 4 this modern version of godparents tho

I wouldn't do it if someone asked. So far, that hasn't happened, so this is a hypothetical for me.

I think the definition of a Godparent is for them to be responsible for the child’s faith in God in the event that something happens to the natural parents, such as death. No, an atheist should not be a Godparent. It would by hypocrisy.

I've done it, three times. The parents all knew that I'm an atheist.
Didn't do the religious ceremonies, but I've always been there for each of them.
As far as religious instruction went, I answered their questions about religion honestly. I backed
up what I said with facts. I encouraged them to actually read the bible and ask questions when they had them. I also played with them, went on camping trips (ugh), swam with them, helped with homework, and got on them when they were being little assholes.
They had other family members who took them to church as children, and proselytized.
They're all grown now. One is an atheist, one is an agnostic, one is a believer.
They all made their own decisions about what they believe.
It's not "wrong" to agree to be a 'godparent'. Actually, I think it's a wonderful opportunity
to encourage rational thought.

I am nto th familiar wiht the concept of "god parent", but mympression was that if anythign happened tothe actual prents then the god pare4nts woudl become responsible for raisign the child.

As an atheist, if someoen approached me to be a "god parent" I'd explain tht I do nto believe as they do and if I were to take on the reponsibility of raisign their child, choudl anything ever happen to themn, that I would give the child the choice to continue their religious beliefs, but woudl not encourage or insists on it, because I do nto see religion as a po9sitve influence.

Why not? It's just a way of saying I will watch your child as my own.
The hocus-pocus is irrelevant.
Just because we don't believe in something doesn't mean it will melt us if we utter certain words.
In my view, that's as bad as those who believe in the words. It's like you're afraid of something you already know doesn't exist but has consequence anyway.

My GF named herself my daughters' godmother. She and I were raised Jewish. Don't know if Jews believe in godparents? She likes shopping for them when they were young. What is a godparent supposed to do? Someone educate me please.

Why do we have god parents
Who started this trend of god parents
In the ice age the god parent use to fall to the family whose father or mothers were killed by trex to bring up the young ones

I am not sure I understand your definition of Godparent. For me it is someone who takes responsibility for a child's upbringing in the events the parents die. That is an honor. It means the parents trust you to do the right thing for their children.