Meghan Markle: Citizenship and Religious Conversion

[Lady Reem]

My parents are Christians and as an adult I consider myself a Christian though not yet baptised nor a regular church goer. Evangelical denomination and by the way I was christened as a baby.

[Moonmaiden23]

If you were christened, then you ARE indeed baptized.

If it was done using the Trinitarian formula as required by Scripture then there is no need to repeat it.

Just make your profession of Faith in your new chosen denomination.

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by Juliette2

I suppose it is not the right word. If someone is agnostic or atheist (I'm not saying Miss Markle is, I'm just making an example), and decides to become a Christian, what word should be used? Maybe "reception" into a Church?

Her parents are of the christian faith which means she was born a christian, so unless she has since converted to a different religion she is still of the christian faith, practicing or non-practising.

Nope there’s a difference between baptism and being christened.

[Moonmaiden23]

I strongly disagree Lady Reem, but we are off topic.

[Lady Reem]

Not an expert on the Anglican or heavy religious stuff so I will leave it there.

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

Her parents are of the christian faith which means she was born a christian, so unless she has since converted to a different religion she is still of the christian faith, practicing or non-practising.

you are not BORN a Christian. you can be brought up in a relgion, and learn about it, but unless you formally join it, or make a profession of it.. then you're not a Christian. I don't get the impression that Megahn was brought up to any steady religious practice or instruction, she may have read up for herself, and learned a bit.. but I am sceptical that if she wasn't brought up in some religious discipline, ie some kind of church going, learning bout it at school or home, that she'd take to "church going" at University.

Originally Posted by Juliette2

I suppose it is not the right word. If someone is agnostic or atheist (I'm not saying Miss Markle is, I'm just making an example), and decides to become a Christian, what word should be used? Maybe "reception" into a Church?

if someone agnoistic or atheist chooses to become a Christian, then I would say Converted from "non relgion" into that particular religion...

[ladongas]

If someone chooses to affiliate with a religion, then I would not impose my opinion on her choice or reasons for making that choice.

I would also assume that the Archbishop of Canterbury, HM, Meghan and the G-d they worship are capable of making correct and legitimate decisions in this matter.

[Lady Reem]

Originally Posted by Denville

you are not BORN a Christian. you can be brought up in a relgion, and learn about it, but unless you formally join it, or make a profession of it.. then you're not a Christian. I don't get the impression that Megahn was brought up to any steady religious practice or instruction, she may have read up for herself, and learned a bit.. but I am sceptical that if she wasn't brought up in some religious discipline, ie some kind of church going, learning bout it at school or home, that she'd take to "church going" at University.

And yet it was reported by a close friend of hers at uni that they both regularly attended church on Sundays. I will search for a link!

[Denville]

well its possible. but Uni is usually a time when young people tend to question or ditch religious belief and observance, if only temporarily....

[Lady Reem]

I’m very uncomfortable with ongoing attempts to cast her as someone who is so different from the norm. Her parents are of christian faith so it stands to reason their child was born a christian and taken to church at some point as a child, perhaps even frequently. In any case none of us here can be 100% sure either way. I wouldn’t cast aspersions about her on that basis.

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

And yet it was reported by a close friend of hers at uni that they both regularly attended church on Sundays. I will search for a link!

I remember reading that as well when relationship news first broke.

And really, is her converting to CoE THAT important to other people or offend them that much? This is between her and God.

[tihkon2]

Really, the last 3 pages of this thread are like a "look how devout I am" contest. Veeerrry cringe inducing.
Since Meghan's parents are both Protestant Christians
I would postulate that she's been raised at the very least with a working knowledge of Christianity. She went to Catholic school and apparently attended some church services during college. Now she's going to be formalizing her entrance into a Christian denomination.

Excellent. Good for her!

Any other response in my own opinion seems to be really unsettling and gross.

[Gaudete]

Originally Posted by Denville

you are not BORN a Christian. you can be brought up in a relgion, and learn about it, but unless you formally join it, or make a profession of it.. then you're not a Christian. I don't get the impression that Megahn was brought up to any steady religious practice or instruction, she may have read up for herself, and learned a bit.. but I am sceptical that if she wasn't brought up in some religious discipline, ie some kind of church going, learning bout it at school or home, that she'd take to "church going" at University.

Whilst you're quite right to say that nobody is born with a particular faith, there are plenty of people who would consider themselves to be Christian and who do not subscribe to a structured formal process of initiation. It's key to remember that not all Christian churches are sacramental churches but one's status as a Christian would be seen within those traditions as perfectly valid.

[jacqui24]

Originally Posted by wyevale

One of the standard citizenship test questions facing Ms Markle asks where the wife of another rather famous royal called Henry had her head chopped off ?

Excellent sense of humour, our civil servants....

I saw that on Tom Wells's twitter yesterday. It was pretty funny. Another question I saw in an article was who is Elizabeth II's husband. I laughed at that too thinking about Meghan having to answer that question.

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Somebody

Yes, but it was most likely known as a good private school where many non-Catholic students attended. So, I am sure she heard many bible stories and most likely went to some services but was never baptized nor confirmed neither in the Catholic church nor in the Episcopal church.

Meghan attended Immaculate Heart High School, which is an elite all girls Catholic High school located right across the road from UCLA. It is predominately Catholic and quite expensive with a first rate curriculum.

But no, you don't have to be Catholic to attend, only able to pay the fees. Kim Kardashian attended.

[Lady Reem]

Unseen photos of Meghan Markle are revealed | Daily Mail Online

“He lived locally with his parents, who were both pastors, and she would have meals with his family at weekends and attend services at their church.
They also enjoyed cooking exotic meals together — Indian dishes were Meghan’s speciality — watching avant-garde theatre shows, and ‘just hanging out’.”

[Denville]

I can't get into that link Sorry, but It sound as if she had a friend or boyfriend who was religious, so it is possible that she wnet to church out of politeness.. At any rate I hope she does get something out of the C of E..

[Gaudete]

Originally Posted by Lady Reem

I’m very uncomfortable with ongoing attempts to cast her as someone who is so different from the norm. Her parents are of christian faith so it stands to reason their child was born a christian and taken to church at some point as a child, perhaps even frequently. In any case none of us here can be 100% sure either way. I wouldn’t cast aspersions about her on that basis.

I agree. It seems very uncharitable to expect her to prove her faith or pass some kind of religious test to see how genuine her intentions are. And not terribly Christian either. I don't remember this sort of commentary when the Duchess of Cambridge was confirmed prior to her marriage.

[Denville]

well I do. there were plenty of people saying that kate had no religious interest and was only getting confirmed to "fit in" with the RF.
I believe that Letizia Ortiz, the queen of Spain alos only got confirmed when she was engaged to Felipe...and I daresay there were comments about that as well

[Gaudete]

Originally Posted by Denville

well I do. there were plenty of people saying that kate had no religious interest and was only getting confirmed to "fit in" with the RF.

I have to say that I have no recollection of that but if they did say that, it was quite a nasty stance to take. The fact that the Duchess was confirmed before her marriage suggests to me that in their role as parish priests, both Dr Rowan Williams and Dr Justin Welby are quite stringent in their requirements as celebrants. Were William and Kate or Harry and Meghan to marry in any small country church as ordinary citizens, they would have no problem in finding a vicar who wouldn't insist on such formalities.

Of course, both the Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan Markle could easily have refused and another celebrant could (and would) have been found who was willing to conduct the marriage. The fact that neither did refuse suggests to me a sign of true commitment not just to their private religious beliefs but to their husbands and future roles.

In the case of Queen Letizia, you're really comparing apples and oranges as the Roman Catholic Church has very different requirements to the Anglican Church when it comes to the sacrament of marriage unless a dispensation can be obtained. But that really isn't relevant to this discussion.