… God of War 2 instead?
The best gift is lots of money in a card. You can’t go wrong, and the kid will like the cash.
My father gave Fang the Bible his Grandfather gave to him for his first communion. I dunno if this sort of thing would apply to you, but it’s a gift given by an atheist for first communion.
Would the Narnia series of books be too religious for you? He’s about the right age, and they are great books with or without the religious symbology.
Hmmmmm… that sounds interesting. Of course, the problem is that now he’s likely seen the movie… Drives me nuts when they say, “Oh, I don’t need to read the book. I’ve seen the movie!” I wish Hollywood would stop doing that. It destroys one of the best experiences ever, to read a really really good book.
Treat it as a rite of passage, entering a new stage of life, something that denotes hope and wishes for a great next phase of life.
I come from a large, generally devout Irish Catholic family (almost all of us still go to Mass every Sunday), and made my first communion back in 1969.
VERY few of the gifts I received were particularly religious. I got a lot of cash, a lot of books, a wallet and a transistor radio (it seemed cool at the time). Even your most relligious relatives probably won’t be buying your nephew Rosary beads or crucifixes.
It strikes me that a Barnes & Noble gift card, or a message-free book that your nephew would enjoy (resist the urge to make it Philip Pullman) would be perfect.
This is what I was thinking. Maybe get the kid a football or if you want something more somber, I think EinsteinsHund’s idea of a watch is a great one. You could always have something etched on the back, too, to commemorate the event.
I don’t understand either of these communion threads. When I did my first communion, I got an Italian Horn on a chain from my grandparents and a bunch of savings bonds from everybody else.
I didn’t think you could get real presents for a communion!
Just give the kid money and start realizing that no one gives a shit if you’re an atheist.
I didn’t get anything for my communion, so I don’t think your nephew should get anything either. Misery loves company.
Thanks. That was helpful. Understand, it’s not what manner of shit anyone else gives. It’s trying not to be hypocritical for myself, while still acknowledging that this is an important rite of passage.
Well, then, for once we can all agree with kanicbird.
Agree. I wish he’d given me an idea of what that object might be, though! 
I don’t know the child, nor the parents. Look into what the child is into, activities. One thing that comes to mind is a high quality compass, it’s something he can play around with now, put away and perhaps find it again later and use it for some activities that he may take up, and it sends a message of helping him find direction.
No, no, I wasn’t criticizing you kanicbird. Your post mirrored my thoughts exactly. It was the transmorphing of the concept into an object that was the impetus of my OP.
The compass is a great idea. That’s exactly what I was looking for.
Money is always an acceptable gift.
For his confirmation, go with Phillip Pullman. Subversive.
All I got when I did my Rites of Whatever back in the Day was a rosary and family coming over for dinner. WTH. I want an iTunes card for eating the flesh of Christ.
Although, dollar to donuts, you cannot beat giving chicken pox as a gift.
Nor did I take it as criticism. No worries
I personally prefer a hacking cough for sentimental reasons.
I only wish that this was true. Alas, I get perfect strangers asking me if I am Saved.
I’d probably give some cash. One size fits all, and it’s a very rare kid who DOESN’T like cash. If you can give him something like a bunch of dollar coins in a cloth sack, or a roll of dollar coins, or a stack of bills (singles) that are brand new, then that increases the cool factor. Warn him that the bills WILL stick together.
Or give him a set of Cosmic Wimpout dice. Or a starter D&D set. 
A fruit basket.