Were you/is anyone able to successfully renounce their confirmation, and what are the possible consequences of such an act? Ive seen many people who have renounced their baptism since it was an oath made before they could even speak, but since confirmation is generally done by an older person (I was 12), would breaking that oath every more difficult and pose more problems after the fact, or would it be relatively similar to renouncing a baptism? Thank you!
It’s interesting that I was sent this, since it was something I was mulling over earlier this morning. I am also someone who had to go through confirmation (and at an age a little older than you, if memory serves) because my parents insisted and I wasn’t in a place where I could refuse, despite me knowing even then that I had no strong interest or feeling towards my church.
While I would argue the act of breaking the oath itself won’t be particularly difficult (as I find in life it’s far easier to break promises than to keep them) I truly cannot speak to your consequences. If you’re interested in renouncing a baptism and confirmation rather than simply converting to a new religion I imagine you’re interested in pursuing a relationship with some version of the Devil or similar entity, and those are notoriously personal and complex. Even if I had gone through it successfully at this point (which I’ve not yet done, as I’d like to get my hands on my baptism and confirmation candles for part of the ritual I have planned) what works for me might not work for you. However, confirmation has existed in the church since at least the middle ages, so I think that it’s safe to assume that any of the folkloric or historical witches we draw inspiration from when performing acts of renunciation and apostasy for the sake of a new relationship with the Devil or a similar figure did both.
I would caution you to be ready for some kind of fall out or consequences. You will be, essentially, picking a side. It’s something I was overly cautious about for a long time as I considered what I’d be willing to give up. Some people are shunned completely by saints and angels, some are not. Some people find themselves unable to use Solomonic pentacles and psalms in their magic, some do not. I believe in being braced for some level of sacrifice if you’re someone who tried to play the field magically speaking, as I did and still do to a degree. New doors will open, but other doors will likely close as you purposefully cut yourself off from God.
I will say that if you’re thinking long and hard about oaths and the consequences of breaking them, be mindful about how you choose to perform the renunciation of your baptism and confirmation. The act of simply reversing or renouncing it wipes the slate clean, so to speak, so you can be more open to future pacts and oaths. If you were to employ the historical method of putting a hand on your head, a hand beneath your feet, and swearing all between them to the Devil... that right there is a new oath, and one that will almost certainly hold consequences if you break it. While most stories I’ve had shared with me about a rejection of Christianity involve the loss of certain magic that involves those spirits and traditions, the cost of going back on your word with any figure who would wear the mantle of Devil tend to be a bit more vicious and why the topic of being an Oathbreaker is so in vogue right now. This isn’t to caution you away from it, mind you. It’s a path I look forward to walking. Just be choosy about your methods, and think about what you want to accomplish with them. Know your terms and conditions before you sign any new contracts, so to speak.