Godparents still perform an important function
It would seem at first glance that godparents do not perform the same important function in Western society that they once did. Initially a godfather or godmother was intended to oversee the spiritual or religious education of their charge; that is, the child they are responsible for at the request of the parents. For a while in fact, parents themselves were considered as godparents, though this was outlawed by the church over a thousand years ago; around 700 years after infant baptism became considered the norm in Christendom.
With a shift in religious perspective around the Western world; coming from the acceptance of and integration with other faiths such as Islam and Buddhism for example; along with the increasing numbers of non-believers in Europe and the USA who do not necessarily share Christian values or aesthetics; the tradition of godparents has become just that – a tradition. Much in the way that Westerners celebrate Christmas, Easter and the like, regardless of faith however, many people choose to nominate godparents for their children at birth anyway.
Nowadays it is more acceptable for a child to have a single godparent rather than a couple, particularly for younger parents who choose a close friend to perform the role. This is often because young parents have a particular individual in mind for the job, and it is less likely in this day and age that a young person will be married or in a long term relationship, because people are getting married at a much older age than was often the case in the past; it is also true that more and more children are being born to unmarried couples. Though this may seem at odds with a strict Christian tradition like godparentage, it is becoming the norm, and vastly more accepted even amongst Christian communities.
But what role does a godfather or godmother play in the upbringing of a child nowadays? It is certainly true that the position is relatively ceremonial, and only in very rare circumstances does it convey any actual power or say in the raising of the child; more often than not it means an extra present for the child at Christmas and birthday times, as well as the aforementioned baptism, but it can also mean an extra visitor and a willing babysitter; a godfather or godmother still performs many functions to assist the mother and father of a child, as well as helping to provide a better way of life and education for the baby; the position just does not carry the weight that it used to.
Godparents perform many important functions as well as getting their goddaughter or godson presents, so you might want to get gifts for godparents on special occasions to say thank you.
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