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How do I raise my son with a healthy view of God.
- Thread starter Sand Dancer
- Start date
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
Oh, thank you so much!!!
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
He's ten.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
Pegg
Jehovah our God is One
learning about Jesus is a good way to come to know God and understand him. Jesus left us a 'living' model to know what God expects of us and how we can be close to him as individuals.
I would recommend letting your son learn about jesus life and teachings. I wouldnt be concerned with dogma and doctrine at this age....just look at the good things Jesus did with his life and uphold him as a model to follow.
Tiberius
Well-Known Member
Leave him come to his own viewpoints. I don't know how old he is, but if he's younger than ten, then he is likely to unquestioningly accept whatever you tell him as truth. I think it's far better to give him as little as possible and then let him come to religion later, when he's older and can make his own informed decision about it.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
He is ten. We go to church and he goes to a Christian school, so he gets it all the time. I just don't want him to think that the only alternative if he doesn't believe is atheism. I want him to be able to consider other viable alternatives.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
I just got it from the library yesterday, so I am excited to read it.
Well I'm not a theist so it's not really something I'd personally endorse, but relative to your stated goal, I figured I'd second the other member's opinion that the book is, essentially, about just that.
That's generally the way I view it. Being part of a community participating towards a common good, and teaching and demonstrating love is probably the main set of things I'd want to teach a kid as a foundation for a healthy view of things.
sharukkhan
Member
It is difficult
If you did read whole bible you will know why
There are many stories mentioned in bible under 18 must take ID card
To read it
Forexample, what Lut did with his daughter
.
Genesis 19:30 to 19:38
30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us childrenas is the custom all over the earth. 32 Lets get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.
33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
While Lut was mentioned in quran as good example
He came to tell people stop doing sin
Lut*
(the Prophet Lot, peace be upon him):
7:80-84
"And (remember) Lut, when he said to his people; "Do you commit the worst sin such as none has preceding you has committed in the 'Alamin (among the mankind and the jinn)?"
81. "Verily, you practice your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by such sins)."
82"And the answer of his people was only that they said: 'Drive them out of your town, these are indeed men who want to be pure (from sins)!"
83. "Then (Allah) saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind (in the torment)."
84. "And (Allah) rained down on them a rain (of stones). Then see what was the end of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.)"
If you did read whole bible you will know why
There are many stories mentioned in bible under 18 must take ID card
To read it
Forexample, what Lut did with his daughter
.
Genesis 19:30 to 19:38
30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us childrenas is the custom all over the earth. 32 Lets get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.
33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
While Lut was mentioned in quran as good example
He came to tell people stop doing sin
Lut*
(the Prophet Lot, peace be upon him):
7:80-84
"And (remember) Lut, when he said to his people; "Do you commit the worst sin such as none has preceding you has committed in the 'Alamin (among the mankind and the jinn)?"
81. "Verily, you practice your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by such sins)."
82"And the answer of his people was only that they said: 'Drive them out of your town, these are indeed men who want to be pure (from sins)!"
83. "Then (Allah) saved him and his family, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind (in the torment)."
84. "And (Allah) rained down on them a rain (of stones). Then see what was the end of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.)"
After carefully reflecting on this thread I came to the following conclusions;
What you and your husband have in common;
-Belief in a merciful God
-The desire to raise your child with virtues, kindness, patience, caring etc.
You could easily agree to raise your child on the common points.
What you disagree on;
You believe in a Zoroastrian God concept, your husband believes in a trinitarian God concept.
You could tell your son that you have the Zoroastrian understanding of God and his Father has the Christian concept.
This way he will already understand that there is more than one way to think about God. He will almost inevitably seek to understand the two when he is ready, but on the other hand if he never feels ready then I guess that would be his choice.
In this way I think your difficulties will be solved, because you have enough in common to raise him on, and as far as the differences go the ball will be in your son's court.
If your son asks you to explain the Zoroastrian concept (he almost certainly would ask either you or someone else at some stage), then you could explain it to him since it would be his choice to raise the question.
Alternatively if you work up the courage to discuss it, your husband might pleasantly surprise you by agreeing that he learn both concepts right from the start, I guess if you don't ask you can't win
What you and your husband have in common;
-Belief in a merciful God
-The desire to raise your child with virtues, kindness, patience, caring etc.
You could easily agree to raise your child on the common points.
What you disagree on;
You believe in a Zoroastrian God concept, your husband believes in a trinitarian God concept.
You could tell your son that you have the Zoroastrian understanding of God and his Father has the Christian concept.
This way he will already understand that there is more than one way to think about God. He will almost inevitably seek to understand the two when he is ready, but on the other hand if he never feels ready then I guess that would be his choice.
In this way I think your difficulties will be solved, because you have enough in common to raise him on, and as far as the differences go the ball will be in your son's court.
If your son asks you to explain the Zoroastrian concept (he almost certainly would ask either you or someone else at some stage), then you could explain it to him since it would be his choice to raise the question.
Alternatively if you work up the courage to discuss it, your husband might pleasantly surprise you by agreeing that he learn both concepts right from the start, I guess if you don't ask you can't win
Do you folks truly think it is necessary for a child to believe in God?
The more I think about it, the more I feel disgusted about such a belief. Children should be taught not to be prejudiced, and to value virtue, not belief in morally neutral concepts such as god.
The more I think about it, the more I feel disgusted about such a belief. Children should be taught not to be prejudiced, and to value virtue, not belief in morally neutral concepts such as god.
InformedIgnorance
Do you 'know' or believe?
I believe that a child should know OF gods (and other theological concepts) including ones I am ambivalent about or abhor and that such information given to them should be as impartial as I can arrange. Ensuring that they have access to accurate and objective data as well as the various intellectual tools that might assist them is the most I could consider to be a reasonable role for me to play.
I believe there is a God, and thus teaching my child this is just as natural as teaching them anything else about reality I believe to be factual.
You might be surprised to know that I actually don't care in the slightest if it disgusts you, although I confess to feeling surprised since the Bhudda claimed to have debated one of the Hindu Gods if I remember correctly.
It is all in the emphasis. You will of course teach your son that you believe in God. No reason whatsoever to even attempt to hide that from him.
But what about whether he should believe himself, and what, if anything, he should learn or think of Atheism?
Why would I ever be disgusted by the existence of people who believe in God?
It is what they believe or teach about how necessary or virtuous belief and disbelief are that I find significant and, yes, potentially disgusting or worse.
Edited to add: wait... are you saying that you would expect me to attempt to be a Theist just because I happen to be a Buddhist and it might turn out that maybe the Buddha was a Theist himself?
Why would I ever feel the need to emulate the Buddha's supposed beliefs about God? I might as well attempt to emulate his hairstyle for all the importance it has.
I don't at all object to belief in God. It is a very personal thing and some people seem to have a strong and healthy affinity to it. It is not my business to interfere with that.
When people expect others to make a point of seeking that belief, though, I just can't in good faith approve of it. It is invasive, disrespectful and destructive to demand Theism from whomever - and frankly, it is not a sign of responsible parenting either.
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I would teach this hypothetical son of mine that he should accept reality, and that I believe God is part of that reality. What he believes about Atheism will be up to himself, however I don't believe that Atheism necessitates immorality if that is your concern.
I did not say you are disgusted by the people, rather you said you are disgusted "about such a belief", and I was thinking your disgust at such a belief should extend to Buddha's belief, not just ours, but then again perhaps it does?Why would I ever be disgusted by the existence of people who believe in God?
As explained above, no.