What purpose do Godparents serve?

@SimplyMe (373)
United States
January 23, 2007 12:44pm CST
The topic of godparents came up in my family the other day. My children do not have godparents; it was not a requirement at the time of their baptism. My husband has godparents, but they have not served any purpose. One of my daughter's teachers insisted that she (my daughter) had to have godparents. I thought maybe godparents served as stand-in parents should something happen to the child's real parents and they promise to teach the child about their religion. Is there some other purpose that I am missing?
3 responses
Outsider
@Outsider (42)
• Canada
24 Jan 07
I myself have Godparents... and as I understand it, according to my mother, they are usually either very close friends or relatives; in my case my aunt and uncle; who are approached in advance and agree to take on responsibility for the child should something happen to the parents. This would ultimately include adopting the child and raising him or her as their very own.
yamiboo
@yamiboo (466)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
Ok, based on observation, people get godparents for the sake of receiving special gifts from them for your kids. the real purpose of godparents is for them to help the parents guide their children to be better Christians. Next to that is if anything happens to the parents, they would be there for the kids.
yoleis27
@yoleis27 (557)
• Israel
23 Jan 07
Godparents are 'replacers' for the real parents if something happens to them.. The become the new apotrops of the children. I think that it's goos to have them since you can never really know what will happen.. Thats the main reason I think.. Can;t find any others..