religion and kids

[Riverwolf]

encouraging them in any way to follow your chosen faith - taking them to church, encouraging prayer, reading of the bible to them, stories of jesus. That kind of thing

Or *insert elements of other religions here*.

Only if they want to, and express interest FIRST.

For example, I'm going to continue my religious practices while I have kids, but I'm not going to encourage them to join me. If they ask "what are you doing?" I'll explain what I'm doing. If they ask "can I join you?" I'll say, "if you wish." From that point on, I'll tell them what I believe and why, but I'll also stress to them that not everyone believes it, and that, ultimately, we don't know for sure. If at any time my child wants to stop the practices, that would be perfectly okay.

But if my child wants to actually become a part of my religion, I would take on the role of educating him or her in that religion. But ONLY IF he or she wants it and expressed that desire beforehand.

 

[Gaura Priya]

please forgive my ignorance...What is Unitarian Universalism?

According to the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism):

Unitarian Universalism is a religious community characterized by support for a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning".[1] Unitarian Universalists do not share a creed; rather, they are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth and by the understanding that an individual's theology is a result of that search and not obedience to an authoritarian requirement. Unitarian Universalists draw on many different theological sources and have a wide range of beliefs and practices.

Ten minute propaganda video:

[youtube]wezp1W2HKlU[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wezp1W2HKlU

In any case, I could not find any other religious community where I would feel comfortable teaching my future children in, except in the UU religion, because it helps foster a critical mind, as well as spiritual growth, not necessarily in belief or creed, but in values that we share as humans.

Of course, I will share some of my own Baha'i beliefs with my children; however, I want to encourage them to think for themselves and help build Beloved Community with others.

Here are the Principles and Sources of Unitarian Universalism from the Canadian Unitarian Council. They are also the values that I would love to teach my children.

 

[RitalinO.D.]

Or *insert elements of other religions here*.

Only if they want to, and express interest FIRST.

For example, I'm going to continue my religious practices while I have kids, but I'm not going to encourage them to join me. If they ask "what are you doing?" I'll explain what I'm doing. If they ask "can I join you?" I'll say, "if you wish." From that point on, I'll tell them what I believe and why, but I'll also stress to them that not everyone believes it, and that, ultimately, we don't know for sure. If at any time my child wants to stop the practices, that would be perfectly okay.

But if my child wants to actually become a part of my religion, I would take on the role of educating him or her in that religion. But ONLY IF he or she wants it and expressed that desire beforehand.

IMO this is the way it should be done. It encourages critical thinking and personal decision making.

 

[Riverwolf]

IMO this is the way it should be done. It encourages critical thinking and personal decision making.

Oh, I'd make sure they'd know how to think. ^_^

 

[No Good Boyo]

They are just as important as finding one's place in the world.
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The term "finding ones place" suggest to me that out future is predetermined. I personally believe that each individual should makes one place in the world, not find it. If I had followed my “destiny” I would likely have a similar life to the peers I grew up with (lower working class). But I chose a different path for myself. The idea of "knowing ones place" seems counterproductive to me.

 

[RitalinO.D.]

Oh, I'd make sure they'd know how to think. ^_^

Well I would hope so

 

[Jacksnyte]

Or *insert elements of other religions here*.

Only if they want to, and express interest FIRST.

For example, I'm going to continue my religious practices while I have kids, but I'm not going to encourage them to join me. If they ask "what are you doing?" I'll explain what I'm doing. If they ask "can I join you?" I'll say, "if you wish." From that point on, I'll tell them what I believe and why, but I'll also stress to them that not everyone believes it, and that, ultimately, we don't know for sure. If at any time my child wants to stop the practices, that would be perfectly okay.

But if my child wants to actually become a part of my religion, I would take on the role of educating him or her in that religion. But ONLY IF he or she wants it and expressed that desire beforehand.

I think this is a very admirable way to approach it!

 

[Jacksnyte]

The term "finding ones place" suggest to me that out future is predetermined. I personally believe that each individual should makes one place in the world, not find it. If I had followed my “destiny” I would likely have a similar life to the peers I grew up with (lower working class). But I chose a different path for myself. The idea of "knowing ones place" seems counterproductive to me.

Yes! I would likely have been a Southern Baptist Preacher or Youth Minister by now! :cover:

 

[Bismillah]

I don't think it's appropriate to force kids to go to church, Sunday school, bible studies, etc. Allowing them to decide when they are old enough to understand it and realize the options seems a more fair alternative.

To encourage both a deep understanding of one's roots and a critical eye to both criticize, on the inside, and outlandish claims, from the outside, is necessary to both ensuring the survival of various cultures as well as pruning and maintaining the best ideals of that heritage to be proud representatives of who we are and where we come from.

The term "finding ones place" suggest to me that out future is predetermined. I personally believe that each individual should makes one place in the world, not find it. If I had followed my “destiny” I would likely have a similar life to the peers I grew up with (lower working class). But I chose a different path for myself. The idea of "knowing ones place" seems counterproductive to me.

Finding one's place in the world is predetermined from the culture they are raised in. One cannot simply just change that fact. Regardless this understanding of the past does not limit the future, but refines the perception of the present.

 

[RitalinO.D.]

To encourage both a deep understanding of one's roots and a critical eye to both criticize, on the inside, and outlandish claims, from the outside, is necessary to both ensuring the survival of various cultures as well as pruning and maintaining the best ideals of that heritage to be proud representatives of who we are and where we come from.

I don't see how any of that cannot be done without forcing religion upon children.

 

[No Good Boyo]

All these can and are given to a child. however, they can also be given with a proper education of the scriptures at the same lifespan.
No one is forcing you, I hope, in your country. to raise your children under the Christian dogma.
Different cultures, different strokes.

I appreciate that these things can be given to children. What I’m driving at is whether or not religion should be given to children. As a parent I am fully aware that my children will accept what I teach them as truth, and this truth stays with them for a very long time. I completely accept that to each believer of any religion, their faith is their truth. But equally, that believer has to accept that the “truth” is unique to them, and is an untruth to people of other faiths or no faith. So given the margin of doubt that their truth may possibly not be “absolute truth”, is correct to pass this to ones child?
Does that make sense?

 

[RitalinO.D.]

Sorry to break it to you but we inherit cultural legacies from birth and cannot change that. That doesn't limit in anyway what you do, but reflects a greater knowledge of where you come from.
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Can you explain this a bit further? I don't think I am understanding your meaning.

 

[Bismillah]

I don't see how any of that cannot be done without forcing religion upon children.

I do not see how to teach a four year old mathematics without forcing it on her either.

 

[RitalinO.D.]

I do not see how to teach a four year old mathematics without forcing it on her either.

So you are comparing something that is true the world over, with a religious belief? Seems like quite a stretch to me.

 

[Jacksnyte]

I do not see how to teach a four year old mathematics without forcing it on her either.

Great point!!

 

[Bismillah]

So you are comparing something that is true the world over, with a religious belief? Seems like quite a stretch to me.

Dealing in absolutes is fallacy. Religious beliefs with a critical eye is invaluable. Teaching a child important lessons always involve coercion to some degree, that is the way it works.

 

[No Good Boyo]

Or *insert elements of other religions here*.

Only if they want to, and express interest FIRST.

For example, I'm going to continue my religious practices while I have kids, but I'm not going to encourage them to join me. If they ask "what are you doing?" I'll explain what I'm doing. If they ask "can I join you?" I'll say, "if you wish." From that point on, I'll tell them what I believe and why, but I'll also stress to them that not everyone believes it, and that, ultimately, we don't know for sure. If at any time my child wants to stop the practices, that would be perfectly okay.

But if my child wants to actually become a part of my religion, I would take on the role of educating him or her in that religion. But ONLY IF he or she wants it and expressed that desire beforehand.

So your opinion would be to encourage a child to gather information and understanding of your faith, while at the same time maintaining the margin of doubt that some people feel your faith holds? I like that answer.

 

[RitalinO.D.]

Dealing in absolutes is fallacy. Religious beliefs with a critical eye is invaluable. Teaching a child important lessons always involve coercion to some degree, that is the way it works.

Thats the problem tho. Mathematics is absolute. Religion is not.

 

[Riverwolf]

So your opinion would be to encourage a child to gather information and understanding of your faith, while at the same time maintaining the margin of doubt that some people feel your faith holds? I like that answer.

Oh, certainly. I still have doubt. It's part of having "faith." Faith cannot exist without doubt. If doubt were to disappear, it would stop being "faith."

 

[England my lionheart]

Or *insert elements of other religions here*.

Only if they want to, and express interest FIRST.

For example, I'm going to continue my religious practices while I have kids, but I'm not going to encourage them to join me. If they ask "what are you doing?" I'll explain what I'm doing. If they ask "can I join you?" I'll say, "if you wish." From that point on, I'll tell them what I believe and why, but I'll also stress to them that not everyone believes it, and that, ultimately, we don't know for sure. If at any time my child wants to stop the practices, that would be perfectly okay.

But if my child wants to actually become a part of my religion, I would take on the role of educating him or her in that religion. But ONLY IF he or she wants it and expressed that desire beforehand.

I had a simmilar upbringing to this,my parents were both Christian but it was never forced on me apart from being Baptised,i was encouraged to ask questions and make my own mind up as to the worth of the answers.

I think two quotes made my mind up as a Child "all that glitters isn't neccassarily Gold" and "just because its written doesn't make it true"