Advice needed -- religious gift for first communionette?

robindch

Very kindly, a non-religious friend of mine has invited me to the first communion afters for his daughter. His wife is hardline catholic and seems to dictates the religious weather in the household.

But I'm stuck for what to give as a suitable gift. A fistful of fivers would be "giving in to materialism" and there's not enough time to get one of these things:

http://ship.saintsimeon.co.uk/Gadgets/Autos/108.html

I have six hours and am in central Dublin.

Any ideas?

ChocolateSauce

Book tokens?

Edit: I'll keep thinking, but I must warn you I am an uninspiring gift-giver.....

Gregor Samsa

robindch wrote: »

Any ideas?

The obvious one is a copy of TGD. Pity there isn't an illustrated children's edition of it the way there is with bible stories.

Failing that, a book voucher is a good idea.

Dades

I've a terrible habit of giving people Bonsai trees because I love 'em.
Might get away with one as a symbol of growth and responsibility!

That and they look like really small trees!

Failing that - a pony. :pac:

iUseVi

Dades wrote: »

I've a terrible habit of giving people Bonsai trees because I love 'em.
Might get away with one as a symbol of growth and responsibility!

That and they look like really small trees!

Failing that - a pony. :pac:

Bonsai trees are awesome! +1 vote

robindch

Bonsai trees -- great idea, but hard to convey an irreligious subtext

What about a bonsai tree with a doll nailed to it? Hmm, I may not be invited back.

Sixteen volumes of learned commentaries on the works of Aquinas?

Dades

How about a chocolate teapot?

The kid will love it, and you can feel you've made a little point!

Not sure where you'll pick one up in Dublin though - you'll have to make one.

robindch

Dades wrote: »

How about a chocolate teapot?

Not a bad idea.

Or a pressie of a fish without a bike?

mardybumbum

Theres a christian bookshop on Abbey St. I think.

kiffer

... Even fish like a ride ever now and then ...

Give her a set of prayer beads... Not rosery beads.
Buddhist, Hindu or Shinto ones...
Then feign ignorance.
beads are beads...

ColmDawson

kiffer wrote: »

... Even fish like a ride ever now and then ...

Give her a set of prayer beads... Not rosery beads.
Buddhist, Hindu or Shinto ones...
Then feign ignorance.
beads are beads...

Feignal beads?

5uspect

His Dark Materials and/or The Golden Compass on DVD perhaps.

kiffer

ColmDawson wrote: »

Feignal beads?

That took me a while to get... :-D That's more of a confirmation gift... you know what I mean? When they're adults in the eyes of the church...


and now... Ecce Homo in a feignal oval...

hiorta

mardybumbum wrote: »

Theres a christian bookshop on Abbey St. I think.

Something by Hans Christian Andersen?

robindch

In the end, this:

http://www.amazon.com/Really-Big-Questions-Stephen-Law/dp/0753463091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274008523&sr=8-1

...by Stephen Law, who also wrote this excellent book:

http://www.amazon.com/War-Childrens-Minds-Stephen-Law/dp/0415427681/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_8

Dr. Loon

Myself and my wife gave my niece a little angel, with 50 quid stashed under it. I like to think the 50 quid was my only contribution, while my religious wife gave the angel. In any event, my niece seemed to like the 50 quid far more than the angel. Which pleased me.

Tim Robbins

robindch wrote: »

In the end, this:

http://www.amazon.com/Really-Big-Questions-Stephen-Law/dp/0753463091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274008523&sr=8-1

...by Stephen Law, who also wrote this excellent book:

http://www.amazon.com/War-Childrens-Minds-Stephen-Law/dp/0415427681/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_8

You should have got one of those Leinster "In Bod we trust" t shirts and told the Mother it was misprint.

Coriolanus

robindch wrote: »

In the end, this:

http://www.amazon.com/Really-Big-Questions-Stephen-Law/dp/0753463091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274008523&sr=8-1

...by Stephen Law, who also wrote this excellent book:

http://www.amazon.com/War-Childrens-Minds-Stephen-Law/dp/0415427681/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_8

From one of the reviews...

If you are looking for a catechism to indoctrinate your children in secular humanism, this book is definitely it.

Good choice.

Benny Lava

I'd recommend "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins as a communion gift.

Set them straight when they're young.

mehfesto

What about a nice book on Marxism?
Given that she's into large, deatiled theories at such a young age.

But in all seriousness, Id go with something like a HMV card. I wouldn't trust myself to be up with who's cool in the music world for 10 year old girls anymore so it'd be safe enough - and who doesn't want a vouher for a music shop?

cypharius

A bible perhaps? Chances are she(Nor her parents) never read the bible. And you can slip a tenner into the part of deuteronomy that deals with greed :]

Coriolanus

cypharius wrote: »

A bible perhaps? Chances are she(Nor her parents) never read the bible. And you can slip a tenner into the part of deuteronomy that deals with greed :]

That's not a bad idea, though, I'd be fierce tempted to go through it and highlight some of my "favorite" passages.

PeterIanStaker

A nice poster for her room perhaps?

stevejazzx

I suppose a new mummy is off the agenda; do the social services do vouchers?:)

Alternatively documentary footage of cult suicide might suit or as a last resort pictures of her father in compromising situations....

possibly went too far there.

MackDeToaster

Robert Crumbs 'The Book of Genesis Illustrated', although it may be a bit adult.

mardybumbum

robindch wrote: »

In the end, this:

http://www.amazon.com/Really-Big-Questions-Stephen-Law/dp/0753463091/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274008523&sr=8-1

Excellent gift.