Shia LaBeouf

[Ginger]

Jan 19, 2024 18:11:37 GMT -4 mojogirl said:

that before he will confirm anyone he asks them individually if they want to be confirmed, and if they say "no" he won't do it - doesn't matter what the parents say.

My parents seemed surprised when I told them in adulthood that I felt I had no choice about my confirmation.

I spent at least two years of Catholic school being threatened constantly that if I stepped out of line in one way or another that "I might not get confirmed". I was made to believe that not passing my confirmation tests, or winding up being the one kid in the class not to get confirmed for whatever reason would be the biggest tragedy of my young life.

I think my priest also had the policy of asking you individually whether you wanted to be confirmed, but it was unthinkable to say no.

I expressed my lack of enthusiasm for confirmation by spending all of 3 seconds coming up with my confirmation name, Elizabeth. Which was my sister's middle name. When I was asked why, I just said I liked the name. Even though I don't, actually.

[prisma]

Just to round out the conversation: I grew up Southern Baptists and there are no Saints names to choose in that process. It's completely up to you when you join the church (a.k.a. accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior). Among my peer group, it was 7 to 11 years old mostly. And there were some genuinely sincere kids but a lot of it had to do with getting to get baptized (glass-front mini-swimming pool--cool beans!) in front of the congregation. I did it because my friends were doing it and I didn't want to be left out. But if that wasn't enough, if you ever went to one of the church-sponsored camps or retreats, that always put the pressure on everybody and it really took a lot more guts to resist going up than just to go up and accept Jesus or rededicate your life to Jesus if you'd already done it.

When my oldest niece joined the church at around 10, they were going to a mega church with a huge budget and every kid that joined the church has a seriously professional looking video interview shown on one of the mega screens right before they were baptized. I was kind of blown away. But if that would have been an option when that age, you better believe I would want to get my chance on the big screen ASAP.

[lizziebeth730]

I expressed my lack of enthusiasm for confirmation by spending all of 3 seconds coming up with my confirmation name, Elizabeth. Which was my sister's middle name. When I was asked why, I just said I liked the name. Even though I don't, actually.

Ummm excuse me but its a solid and classic name

[pamster]

I think I was 10 when I decided organized religion was not for me, because what the adults were saying they believed just seemed unbelievable to me. I went through Methodist confirmation classes in 7th & 8th grade with zero enthusiasm, and my mother was SO irritated with me when I wouldn’t sign the paper dedicating my life to god or whatever it was after the ceremony. That paper and a pen sat on the dining room table for a long, long time. I wasn’t going to sign anything I didn’t believe. I only went to church anyway when the choir I was in was singing and I was only in the choir because I liked to sing. Confirmation class was after choir practice on Saturdays and it was part of a “doing errands on Saturday downtown” ritual with my dad.

[ahah]

My confirmation experience was similar to yours mojogirl. I was confirmed in the Methodist church, and my confirmation teacher started the year by saying we were going to learn about a number of different religions so we could all decide if we wanted to be confirmed Methodist. She drove us all around town taking us to every place we suggested - various Christian denominations, various temples, etc. When we weren't visiting, she was teaching us about all of them. I've never forgotten how much she emphasized to all of us that it was our choice.
But to get back on topic - David Mamet had a lot of good things to say about Shia and thinks he's misunderstood.

[chiqui]

My saint name was Yolanda. No idea who she was but it sounded cool. My mom was pissed because the confirmation dress I chose, that we went shopping especially for, was black. Not something Goth. but a plain black corduroy jumper with a white blouse worn underneath. The white blouse had cool abstract shapes on it of gray and black. I guess you could call that an act of rebellion? I went along with everything as I was taught to, life was a stage and it was my role to play. I don't beat much ill will towards Catholicism for that reason.

ETA: Back to Shia, he reminds me of a slightly younger, just as troubled in the assh*oley department, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, except worse looking.

[lizziebeth730]

Jan 22, 2024 15:07:06 GMT -4 chiqui said:

My saint name was Yolanda.

Not a saint (yet) but on her way as she is "blessed" she is from Poland;..
"During the time of her marriage, she was noted for her great services to the poor and needy of the country, as well as being a major benefactor of the monasteries, friaries and hospitals connected to them. Her husband gave her so much support in her charities that he earned the nickname "the Pious". She was widowed in 1279"

[chiqui]

That's cool! But I wondered how my pick was approved if she was just a wannabe saint and not an official saint?