i'm curious to how you guys feel about interfaith relationships? what if your partner had no beliefs or had strong beliefs that you didn't share
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when the child is young, of course they are going to see their parents participating in things that go on within their religion, for example: a magick circle one parent may be having and the child may see the set-up in process. i would explain what it was and what is going to be happening. if they had any further questions, i would answer them. children are naturally curious, i find, and if they ask a question pertaining to my religion, i would answer it, and would expect their other parent to do the same if the child were to witness something religious going on.
it isn't always easy to explain things like religion to children... i don't think they actually become interested in that sort of thing until around the age of maybe 9-10. at least, that's how it was for me. sure, i went to church and attended bible school, but it was more for socializing and i really didn't take much from it (hence, i could honestly not tell you anything but the basics about Christianity, and i was Christian for 18 years of my life). so i guess, when i felt it was time for them to start thinking about their spirituality, i'd encourage them to read and study many different ones.
only a small percentage of the population actually have the mental (and physical) ability to have and support their children. i am not part of that percentage. at all =).
i've do want to have kids in the future, someday not too soon, but whether i have one or more will completely depend on my financial capabilities. too many people without the means have kids they can't support. it's not like we live on farms anymore and you needed to have kids to work the fields, don't have a huge family unless you can support it.
i'm sorry if that sounds insensitive, but i've known too many people who have had kids when not married or in a position to support themselves so obviously had no business bringing another person into their lives.
i guess though i was an odd one about religion as a kid. i was debating the logic of believing that a male god could bring life by himself in second grade. i would assume that most kids have developed to a point where they can understand more abstract concepts and begin to learn about religions then.
what i guess i wonder about is whether not exposing them to the more spiritual aspects will inhibit their ability to understand it when they are older. why would someone who doesn't have a basic belief that there is mystery in the world seek to understand it? if you explain the mechanics but don't try to share the wonder of it, will they still be inspired?
you're absolutely right: too many people have kids and cannot support them. then wonder why it seems like nobody sympathizes with them. 'oh, you're a single parent mother with a shitty babydaddy and you're living on section 8? and you expect me to care? who brought this on you? thought so... moving on!' (lol)
more often than not, children are exposed to religion while growing up with or without their parents help. other children in their classes may bring it up, their teachers may bring it up, in the pledge of allegiance it clearly says "one nation, under GOD, blahzay blah..." so... there's that.
religion is a hard topic to avoid/ignore in many cases, especially now. no doubt, my kids would hear me speak of the existence of something beyond human beings. however, if they didn't ask anything, i wouldn't tell them anything. as i said, the topic of religion is hard to avoid... and at some point in the childs life they WILL hear of it and become curious on their own. they amy be 15 years old before actually being exposed to and interested in it. so be it. i doubt they wouldn't continue to be blessed even without acknowledging something beyond their existence until later in life. it is ultimately up to them to put a face to it, or not.
oh, you had to bring up the pledge of allegiance, didn't you. yeah, around 4th or 5th grade i decided that i didn't apreciate being forced to speak words of loyalty that i didn't feel and refused to participate. i got sent to the principal but apparently they can't make you say it, but they can ask you to stand anyway. i didn't.
it is true that the topic can be a hard thing to avoid, so maybe i'm just being nitpicky in thinking that kids wouldn't have much positive exposure that was initiated by their parents. i certainly don't think that possessing a spirituality is a necessity for living a good life, i just think it has the potential to enrich it.
i really appreciated your points, it made this little discussion extra fun.
of course i did! shit, they ASKED me to stand, but i didn't either. stand for what? ha!
i understand where you're coming from with presenting your kids with an ideal of what's out there - speaking to them about the gods/goddesses you choose to revere and why, your view on how this world operates, etc... i just think it's important not to stress it so much that they feel like they HAVE to hold the same beliefs. i guess, talking to them about other religions while simultaneously speaking of your own and why you chose it (or why it chose you) is important.
i just still have scars from feeling trapped =\ so i sympathize.
i get the trapped thing, it wasn't precisely what i went through but i've experienced it in other ways. i was a little too vocal about my opinions, i was the kid that the nun gave the "why be catholic book" to, she also called my parents and recommended that i not be confirmed. other kids of course called me a satanist and my parents tried to force me to go through with confirmation up until i made it very clear i did not want to do this by having a screaming argument in the church basement just before the cermony.
i suppose that i assume my kids will be opinionated and my job will simply be to support them and not stand in their way. my ideal version of the conversation is me explaining why i a wiccan and saying something like you are welcome to participate and perhaps one day you will decide to be wiccan too. then we talk about other religions and what's great about them. i think it's important to stress that this is their choice and it's not one they have to make soon, but i don't think that will stop me from sharing what i believe.
it isn't always easy to explain things like religion to children... i don't think they actually become interested in that sort of thing until around the age of maybe 9-10. at least, that's how it was for me. sure, i went to church and attended bible school, but it was more for socializing and i really didn't take much from it (hence, i could honestly not tell you anything but the basics about Christianity, and i was Christian for 18 years of my life). so i guess, when i felt it was time for them to start thinking about their spirituality, i'd encourage them to read and study many different ones.
only a small percentage of the population actually have the mental (and physical) ability to have and support their children. i am not part of that percentage. at all =).
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i'm sorry if that sounds insensitive, but i've known too many people who have had kids when not married or in a position to support themselves so obviously had no business bringing another person into their lives.
i guess though i was an odd one about religion as a kid. i was debating the logic of believing that a male god could bring life by himself in second grade. i would assume that most kids have developed to a point where they can understand more abstract concepts and begin to learn about religions then.
what i guess i wonder about is whether not exposing them to the more spiritual aspects will inhibit their ability to understand it when they are older. why would someone who doesn't have a basic belief that there is mystery in the world seek to understand it? if you explain the mechanics but don't try to share the wonder of it, will they still be inspired?
Reply
more often than not, children are exposed to religion while growing up with or without their parents help. other children in their classes may bring it up, their teachers may bring it up, in the pledge of allegiance it clearly says "one nation, under GOD, blahzay blah..." so... there's that.
religion is a hard topic to avoid/ignore in many cases, especially now. no doubt, my kids would hear me speak of the existence of something beyond human beings. however, if they didn't ask anything, i wouldn't tell them anything. as i said, the topic of religion is hard to avoid... and at some point in the childs life they WILL hear of it and become curious on their own. they amy be 15 years old before actually being exposed to and interested in it. so be it. i doubt they wouldn't continue to be blessed even without acknowledging something beyond their existence until later in life. it is ultimately up to them to put a face to it, or not.
Reply
it is true that the topic can be a hard thing to avoid, so maybe i'm just being nitpicky in thinking that kids wouldn't have much positive exposure that was initiated by their parents. i certainly don't think that possessing a spirituality is a necessity for living a good life, i just think it has the potential to enrich it.
i really appreciated your points, it made this little discussion extra fun.
Reply
i understand where you're coming from with presenting your kids with an ideal of what's out there - speaking to them about the gods/goddesses you choose to revere and why, your view on how this world operates, etc... i just think it's important not to stress it so much that they feel like they HAVE to hold the same beliefs. i guess, talking to them about other religions while simultaneously speaking of your own and why you chose it (or why it chose you) is important.
i just still have scars from feeling trapped =\ so i sympathize.
Reply
i suppose that i assume my kids will be opinionated and my job will simply be to support them and not stand in their way. my ideal version of the conversation is me explaining why i a wiccan and saying something like you are welcome to participate and perhaps one day you will decide to be wiccan too. then we talk about other religions and what's great about them. i think it's important to stress that this is their choice and it's not one they have to make soon, but i don't think that will stop me from sharing what i believe.
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