Religion Spin Off

Do you guys think it is a huge issue to not give your children a religion when they are born and let them find it on their own?? (not have them baptised, christened or whatever)

I don';t think it's a HUGE issue. I do think that for a real adult life you need to sort of find religion on your own, even if it's the religion youwer ebroght up with (it usually is), there's a point where you make a distinction between what you believed b/c you were told and what you believe because it feels right in your heart. Everyone has to follow his/her own path.

but I think on big problem with not raising children in any religion, si that when ids are raised this way, they kind of never do choose a religion. Everyone I know who was raised this way is an atheist. I think if you don't want ot have a child baptised (I don't see the harm in doing it though), but you will still teach him.her about god, religion and spirituality then that's ok, but if they are not taught any religion, i think its unlikely that they'll ever have a religion. I don't pass judgement on atheists at all, but I think it's probably better to have a religious life. I know that's what I would want for my children.

As far as my children are concerned, and I felt this wya befoere I was in an interfaith relationship, I will baptise them, etc, and I will bring them to church and temple, and I will teach them al about religion, but I will teach them about ALL kinds of religions, and show them the parallels between all world religions. I want to teach my children tolerance above all. My children will ahve acces to all kinds of resources. Right now for myself I have catholic bibles a protestant bible, a jewish bible, the book of mormon, books on catholicsim, books on cahitstin spirituality, books on kabbalah, the talmud, books on jewish and catholic life cycles and holidays, books on how to be an active jewish person, the cathechism, books on paganism, wicca and pantheism, etc etc. My children will ahve access to all of that and more. I want to teach them parts of all different religions. I want to give them every opporuity to connect with god And when they're 13 I'll give them the chouce of whether they want to have a confirmation, a bar mitzvah, a wiccan initiation, etc, or nothing at all for then.

I have to say it also depends on the child. Some people just like to be told everything in black and white and ahve no room for grey area, and some people like me, live in the grey area and thrive on the questions. For me I've had such a winding path t god and it's looped over itself and back, and to me it all makes sense..to other people I'm a weirdo or a hyprocrite, or some other people would jjust be confused. I think to each his own, and that's what I want to pass on to my children as well. Every religion has it's joy and glory and also its dark past, mistakes ore negative aspects, but I believe they all lead to the same God. As long as my kids are happy I don't care what religion they choose, but I know that I want tot give them very strong foundation of god and spirituality, teaching them that god created us all, god loves us, god will protect us, teaching them about unconditional love and heaven and teaching them to pray, those are all really important things to me. I also want to teach them very strong morals about how to treat other people and respect themselves. As long as they have a strong foundation form childhood, they will find thieir way to god as adults.

IMO YES it is a big deal...I think it is a comfort, a part of their identity as they are growing up...

AND it really annoys the crap out of me when people do not raise their child a specific religious faith yet have the NERVE to celebrate religious holidays !!!

THIS ANNOYS ME!

I do think that every human being has the right to choose which faith they follow as an adult. But religion is such a huge choice for a child. If, in the simplest of terms you put the major religions in front of a child and explained them, they may pick the one that is more visually appealing and one that may yield the most gifts. I know I always said that if you put Christmas and Chanukah in front of me as a kid I would have picked Christmas and not because it was the birth of Jesus. but because the candy looked good and there were presents and that Santa guy.

I don't think children are developmentally ready to decide 'Well hmmm, well I like what Buddah has to say more than Jesus or Moses or Allah, so Ill be Buddhist'. A family can provide a religious background (or multiple religious backgrounds) and allow the child, once s/he has grown up to choose when they are able to process the serious fundamentals of the faiths.

Nope. This is what DH and I are sort of debating now. We both, although me more than him, are pretty anti-organized religion. Religion is way more exlusive than inclusive, which is completely counter to what they all try to preach. All these man made rules and regulations that they impose on the followers... History makes us realize how corrupt they all have been in the past, I dont' see why people think that's done with now. 100 years from now they'll find out the same things about today.

I could go on but it's probably best if I don't.

Anyway, I think the biggest myth is that you have to be part of a religion to be spiritual. And, that there's only a religious aspect to holidays. If there were no traditional part to it, we wouldn't give presents on Christmas or Chanukah or have egg hunts on Easter... We will celebrate both the Jewish (DH's) and Catholic (mine) traditions regardless of what we decide to do about bringing children up in a particular institution.

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Posted by MrsERod

I think it IS very important for a child to be raised with some type of faith/religion. They must grow up with certain beliefs (whichever religion they may be) that will put them in the right direction, and help them to become good, moral, decent human beings.

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I agree with you on needed certain beliefs to send them in the right direction but I don't understand why people think that this MUST come from religion

It comes from the way you're raised and taught to respect people, period. Maybe for some that's part and parcel of their religion but it is definitely not that way for all.

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Posted by eogara

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Posted by MrsERod

I think it IS very important for a child to be raised with some type of faith/religion. They must grow up with certain beliefs (whichever religion they may be) that will put them in the right direction, and help them to become good, moral, decent human beings.

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I agree with you on needed certain beliefs to send them in the right direction but I don't understand why people think that this MUST come from religion

It comes from the way you're raised and taught to respect people, period. Maybe for some that's part and parcel of their religion but it is definitely not that way for all.

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I do agree with your point that religion isnt always necessary to steer kids in the right direction (this can be done by teaching your kids to be a good person in general).

However I don't agree that religion is way more exclusive than inclusive. But this is up to the individual and what they've experienced. My mother tells me that without her catholic faith, she wouldn't have gotten through the toughest times of her life. Her religion gave her hope and something to believe in when things were very dark.

I'm also uncomfortbale wiht organized religon

I just want to add to what i said earlier that i think everything has to be age approprite. i thin that it's important to teach children things and be unequivocal about them. I'm not going to try to make my 5 year old able to compare and contrast buddhism and christianity, but I might teach him a few catholic prayers,a few jewish prayers and other prayers. It's all the same god. As they get older, then they'll have more complex things to think about. It won't become a choice until; they're older. I'm not going to let a 9 year old decide to be catholic because of the easter bunny and santa or whatever. I don't even think at 13 a person has lioved long enough and experienced enough to make that choice.

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Posted by eogara

Nope. This is what DH and I are sort of debating now. We both, although me more than him, are pretty anti-organized religion. Religion is way more exlusive than inclusive, which is completely counter to what they all try to preach. All these man made rules and regulations that they impose on the followers... History makes us realize how corrupt they all have been in the past, I dont' see why people think that's done with now. 100 years from now they'll find out the same things about today.

I could go on but it's probably best if I don't.

Anyway, I think the biggest myth is that you have to be part of a religion to be spiritual. And, that there's only a religious aspect to holidays. If there were no traditional part to it, we wouldn't give presents on Christmas or Chanukah or have egg hunts on Easter... We will celebrate both the Jewish (DH's) and Catholic (mine) traditions regardless of what we decide to do about bringing children up in a particular institution.

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Thank you !!! I was not raised in any religion. I was however raised to be a spritual and moral person. I understand that religion is a great sorce for moral teachings, but you can still be a good person and not be a follower of any particular religion.

I would also like to add that my December 25th was originally the holiday for the winter soltice and was not originally a Christian holiday. My chlid will celebrate Christmas because I do not view it to be a solely Christian holiday. My child will also celebrate Chanukah because my DH is Jewish and it is a celebration of that heritage.

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Posted by Johnny&Maur
I do agree with your point that religion isnt always necessary to steer kids in the right direction (this can be done by teaching your kids to be a good person in general).

However I don't agree that religion is way more exclusive than inclusive. But this is up to the individual and what they've experienced. My mother tells me that without her catholic faith, she wouldn't have gotten through the toughest times of her life. Her religion gave her hope and something to believe in when things were very dark.

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I should say that I went to a Catholic college so I have absolutely seen the good points of what belonging to a religion can do for some people. But I have also seen the other side of it and as I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs, I expect not to be ridiculed for mine. (Totally not saying you did, just saying in general ; this is part of my belief system on institutional religion in general.)

I could honestly write a thesis just on my beliefs on this so it's difficult to portray in a few posts my true feelings on the subject. But please do not take it that I am challenging anyone else's right to belong to a religion, I'm just expecting not to be challenged for my right not to, is all.

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Posted by heidla

Thank you !!! I was not raised in any religion. I was however raised to be a spritual and moral person. I understand that religion is a great sorce for moral teachings, but you can still be a good person and not be a follower of any particular religion.

I would also like to add that my December 25th was originally the holiday for the winter soltice and was not originally a Christian holiday. My chlid will celebrate Christmas because I do not view it to be a solely Christian holiday. My child will also celebrate Chanukah because my DH is Jewish and it is a celebration of that heritage.

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honestly i think that is silly. Winter soltice...COME ON...it is the birth of Christ plain and simple...And to say anything else that is 'celebrated on that day is just plain silly!

I mean if you want to inform your child about both religions and raise them as such...so be it but to say anything about a winter soltice...what the heck is that anyway?

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Posted by eogara

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Posted by MrsERod

I think it IS very important for a child to be raised with some type of faith/religion. They must grow up with certain beliefs (whichever religion they may be) that will put them in the right direction, and help them to become good, moral, decent human beings.

---

I agree with you on needed certain beliefs to send them in the right direction but I don't understand why people think that this MUST come from religion

It comes from the way you're raised and taught to respect people, period. Maybe for some that's part and parcel of their religion but it is definitely not that way for all.

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imo raising a child to be respectful is completely different...IMO religion IS a BIG part of a childs identity when growing up.

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Posted by RedHead

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Posted by heidla

Thank you !!! I was not raised in any religion. I was however raised to be a spritual and moral person. I understand that religion is a great sorce for moral teachings, but you can still be a good person and not be a follower of any particular religion.

I would also like to add that my December 25th was originally the holiday for the winter soltice and was not originally a Christian holiday. My chlid will celebrate Christmas because I do not view it to be a solely Christian holiday. My child will also celebrate Chanukah because my DH is Jewish and it is a celebration of that heritage.

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honestly i think that is silly. Winter soltice...COME ON...it is the birth of Christ plain and simple...And to say anything else that is 'celebrated on that day is just plain silly!

I mean if you want to inform your child about both religions and raise them as such...so be it but to say anything about a winter soltice...what the heck is that anyway?

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I don't think its fair to say only one holiday can be celebrated per day. I think the winter solstice is celebrated by Wiccans. Just because you don't celebrate or recognize the holiday- that doesn't make it silly.

I thought the winter solstice was the 21st or 22nd of December, though? Winter Solstice

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Posted by eogara

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Posted by Johnny&Maur
I do agree with your point that religion isnt always necessary to steer kids in the right direction (this can be done by teaching your kids to be a good person in general).

However I don't agree that religion is way more exclusive than inclusive. But this is up to the individual and what they've experienced. My mother tells me that without her catholic faith, she wouldn't have gotten through the toughest times of her life. Her religion gave her hope and something to believe in when things were very dark.

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I should say that I went to a Catholic college so I have absolutely seen the good points of what belonging to a religion can do for some people. But I have also seen the other side of it and as I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs, I expect not to be ridiculed for mine. (Totally not saying you did, just saying in general ; this is part of my belief system on institutional religion in general.)

I could honestly write a thesis just on my beliefs on this so it's difficult to portray in a few posts my true feelings on the subject. But please do not take it that I am challenging anyone else's right to belong to a religion, I'm just expecting not to be challenged for my right not to, is all.

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I didn't take it that way at all, no worries! I was just pointing out that for many people religion is inclusive and a place to belong to that welcomes them...but certainly not everybody! Perfect example...a catholic person who is gay. How welcome must they feel? Probably not very much unfortunately :( Which is a BIG problem of the church...

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Posted by brooklynbridezilla

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Posted by RedHead

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Posted by heidla

Thank you !!! I was not raised in any religion. I was however raised to be a spritual and moral person. I understand that religion is a great sorce for moral teachings, but you can still be a good person and not be a follower of any particular religion.

I would also like to add that my December 25th was originally the holiday for the winter soltice and was not originally a Christian holiday. My chlid will celebrate Christmas because I do not view it to be a solely Christian holiday. My child will also celebrate Chanukah because my DH is Jewish and it is a celebration of that heritage.

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honestly i think that is silly. Winter soltice...COME ON...it is the birth of Christ plain and simple...And to say anything else that is 'celebrated on that day is just plain silly!

I mean if you want to inform your child about both religions and raise them as such...so be it but to say anything about a winter soltice...what the heck is that anyway?

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I don't think its fair to say only one holiday can be celebrated per day. I think the winter solstice is celebrated by Wiccans. Just because you don't celebrate or recognize the holiday- that doesn't make it silly.

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BUT COME ON...let's get real here....

THey are celebrating CHRISTMAS PLAIN AND SIMPLE....
IF another holiday like Passover falls on the same day THAT is different...

BUT to get a tree, give presents to celebrate winter soltice....COME ON NOW!

I apologize for the silly adjective...but lets get real here...

A LOT of people go around saying that they do not believe in a religion and yet celebrate its holidays and i find that to be EXTREMELY HYPOCRITICAL and DISRESPECTFUL!

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Posted by RedHead

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Posted by brooklynbridezilla

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Posted by RedHead

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Posted by heidla

Thank you !!! I was not raised in any religion. I was however raised to be a spritual and moral person. I understand that religion is a great sorce for moral teachings, but you can still be a good person and not be a follower of any particular religion.

I would also like to add that my December 25th was originally the holiday for the winter soltice and was not originally a Christian holiday. My chlid will celebrate Christmas because I do not view it to be a solely Christian holiday. My child will also celebrate Chanukah because my DH is Jewish and it is a celebration of that heritage.

---

honestly i think that is silly. Winter soltice...COME ON...it is the birth of Christ plain and simple...And to say anything else that is 'celebrated on that day is just plain silly!

I mean if you want to inform your child about both religions and raise them as such...so be it but to say anything about a winter soltice...what the heck is that anyway?

---

I don't think its fair to say only one holiday can be celebrated per day. I think the winter solstice is celebrated by Wiccans. Just because you don't celebrate or recognize the holiday- that doesn't make it silly.

---

BUT COME ON...let's get real here....

THey are celebrating CHRISTMAS PLAIN AND SIMPLE....
IF another holiday like Passover falls on the same day THAT is different...

BUT to get a tree, give presents to celebrate winter soltice....COME ON NOW!

I apologize for the silly adjective...but lets get real here...

A LOT of people go around saying that they do not believe in a religion and yet celebrate its holidays and i find that to be EXTREMELY HYPOCRITICAL and DISRESPECTFUL!

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The Winter Solstice is not the celebration of the birth of Christ, and those who celebrate it don't do the whole tree and gift thing. They aren't trying to imitate Christmas by celebrating the way Christians do- was that what you thought? Solstice Celebrations

'I would also like to add that my December 25th was originally the holiday for the winter soltice and was not originally a Christian holiday. My chlid will celebrate Christmas because I do not view it to be a solely Christian holiday.'

Christmas IS a CHRISTIAN and its denominations holiday!!!