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Post by nevyn on May 24, 2006 17:46:01 GMT -5
Partly to keep my (very catholic and very dissappointed) mother happy and partly because I want to give my children the opportunity to choose their own paths and the education to back it up, I have been bringing my kids to church (catholic) on the High Holidays. I have been receiving flack from my "Pagan" friends. I am not asking for validation, but as parents and pagans and pagan children, do YOU have an opinion on this? I really have run out of arguments to support our decision.
Thank you in advance for your replies. I value all your opinions!
Jen
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Post by Senbecc on May 24, 2006 17:49:51 GMT -5
Partly to keep my (very catholic and very dissappointed) mother happy and partly because I want to give my children the opportunity to choose their own paths and the education to back it up, I have been bringing my kids to church (catholic) on the High Holidays. I have been receiving flack from my "Pagan" friends. I am not asking for validation, but as parents and pagans and pagan children, do YOU have an opinion on this? I really have run out of arguments to support our decision. Thank you in advance for your replies. I value all your opinions! Jen I think what your doing is very smart and very well advised actually. This way when the time comes they will be able to make informed decisions. What is the opposition's argument?
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Post by nevyn on May 25, 2006 6:30:12 GMT -5
.....that I'm perpetuating witch hunters, that christianity is the evil that should be avoided, that I am not being supportive (not sure if that's the right word, but not enough coffee yet!) of the Wiccan way....that they will be brainwashed...stupid stuff sometimes, but heart felt from others. It's not like I'm going to stop at Christianity. When I meet some people of other religions I will expose them to those as well...
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Post by colofthedead on May 25, 2006 8:47:45 GMT -5
Well, I'm not a pagan ... or a parent, but I can understand some of their objections, in that exposing the kids to christianity in times of celebration, seeing friends and family practicing, might influence their decisions down the road. But, as you are also exposing (that might not be the right word) to other religions too, I'd say you're probably doing the right thing.
One thing I have found though, is (and this analogy has gotten me in trouble with some pagans before) that some people, who were raised christian, but now follow a new religion, are a bit like smokers, who have stopped smoking, and now are the most anti smoking people around ... if any of that makes sense.
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Post by Senbecc on May 26, 2006 9:01:54 GMT -5
.....that I'm perpetuating witch hunters, that christianity is the evil that should be avoided, that I am not being supportive (not sure if that's the right word, but not enough coffee yet!) of the Wiccan way....that they will be brainwashed...stupid stuff sometimes, but heart felt from others. It's not like I'm going to stop at Christianity. When I meet some people of other religions I will expose them to those as well... Well it sounds to me like you've got a few people you don't want to be taking allot of advice from. How does it help us to help the fundies (and I sometimes think that word can apply as much to Pagans as Christians) perpetuate a cycle of hate. Firstly (IMO), you should let these people know who's kids these are! Secondly, how is educating your children going against "the Wiccan way"? I thought that was the point of any of these paths; to further knowledge. Have you asked them if the study the Kaballa as Wiccans? That's getting pretty darn close to Christianity, just two books away actually, not to mention some of the Christianity that Gardner used to water it down with back in the 50's. People are just way to quick to judge these days.
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Post by Senbecc on May 26, 2006 9:06:01 GMT -5
Well, I'm not a pagan ... or a parent, but I can understand some of their objections, in that exposing the kids to christianity in times of celebration, seeing friends and family practicing, might influence their decisions down the road. But, as you are also exposing (that might not be the right word) to other religions too, I'd say you're probably doing the right thing. One thing I have found though, is (and this analogy has gotten me in trouble with some pagans before) that some people, who were raised christian, but now follow a new religion, are a bit like smokers, who have stopped smoking, and now are the most anti smoking people around ... if any of that makes sense. I actually think you may be on to something with that last bit...Maybe it's just a seperation issue?
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Post by Silver on Jun 22, 2006 17:00:29 GMT -5
I think you doing the right thing, I am one of those parents who has pretty much been brutally honest with my children from a young age. No matter what questions they ask , I give them the truth as I see it and I also give them the information on how the majority sees it. Before I began my search of a different path in my life, there wasnt any real religious teaching in my house hold, except for that which holds true for most religions.
Do the right thing Treat others as you want to be treated Fairness Truth JUstice Honor Integrity to have a conscious The difference between right and wrong, and not as any religion sees it.
Children dont come with an instruction guide and you have to do what you think is right When they are grown as most of mine are now They will have their own Ideas and Ideals and the truth is that of those Ideas and Ideals, only about 1/2 will they get from you. Exposing you kids to all things and teaching them that there are more ways then one, then allowing them to become their own indiviual is a good thing
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Post by nevyn on Jun 23, 2006 16:10:39 GMT -5
thank you. we are trying to be good parents!
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Post by moonwind333 on Jun 24, 2006 0:15:36 GMT -5
How can your children choose for themselves when they are older if they haven't been exposed to other religions? I think what you are doing is very wise! I went to temple, to the mosq, to "church"; I was exposed to Buddha, Shiva, and Coyote; I read the Bible and the Veda and the Quarran. That is why I KNOW I have found my path! That is how you will know your kids have found theirs!
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Pel
Philosopher
Some are born to move the world
Posts: 216
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Post by Pel on Jun 24, 2006 2:12:10 GMT -5
I'm a Christian myself, but don't look at me as biased yet ... hear me out!! If you're a pagan yourself and expose your children to Christianity, that act in itself teaches them tolerance and acceptance. It shows them that the world isn't just black/white or right/wrong. They'll see many people from many walks of life devout in their many faiths. It seems to me that you're so comfortable and strong in your beliefs that you're leading by example without even knowing it. Kudos!
And remind your "Pagan" friends that the "evil" of Christianity is only the evil in the hearts of men. Christians were once impaled, burned alive, and thrown to lions by Pagans. Religions differ, but a person is still a person. And any person is capable of terrible things.
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Post by raeven on Jun 24, 2006 10:14:48 GMT -5
I totally agree with everyone here. How can we teach tolerance if we do not live tolerance. Just like me, my children deserve a choice in their beliefs and if that means they want to go to church then I will support them.
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Post by flowerfaeryqueen on Jun 25, 2006 7:44:58 GMT -5
.....that I'm perpetuating witch hunters, that christianity is the evil that should be avoided, that I am not being supportive (not sure if that's the right word, but not enough coffee yet!) of the Wiccan way....that they will be brainwashed...stupid stuff sometimes, but heart felt from others. It's not like I'm going to stop at Christianity. When I meet some people of other religions I will expose them to those as well... i dont see christianity as evil ive got loads o f xtian friends, and if u look back @ history, at different times, most religions have a time where they persecute and kill others over beliefs. christianity just does it more often lol for exaple; the crusades, the witch hunts, medieval britain. i would be ashamed 2 say that was wat my religion did. but nowadays christians teach love and tolerance, so i dont have a problem with it.
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Post by flowerfaeryqueen on Jun 25, 2006 7:50:30 GMT -5
I totally agree with everyone here. How can we teach tolerance if we do not live tolerance. Just like me, my children deserve a choice in their beliefs and if that means they want to go to church then I will support them. and yh, children do deserve choice in their beliefs. we had a rs exam, and we had 2 write an essay on baptism. i did lyk a page on how i feel children should not be initiated into a religion untill they make it their own choice. coz kids are initiated @ the ages of ; 6 months, 8 yrs old and 14 yrs old. i really disagree with it. i am gonna refuse wen i am 14. it is meant 2 b the one process where the child actually has a choice. but aparently u get either kicked outta my skl, or automatically fail the test 2 re, if u "choose" not to.
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Post by Senbecc on Jun 25, 2006 8:45:01 GMT -5
.....that I'm perpetuating witch hunters, that christianity is the evil that should be avoided, that I am not being supportive (not sure if that's the right word, but not enough coffee yet!) of the Wiccan way....that they will be brainwashed...stupid stuff sometimes, but heart felt from others. It's not like I'm going to stop at Christianity. When I meet some people of other religions I will expose them to those as well... i dont see christianity as evil ive got loads o f xtian friends, and if u look back @ history, at different times, most religions have a time where they persecute and kill others over beliefs. christianity just does it more often lol for exaple; the crusades, the witch hunts, medieval britain. i would be ashamed 2 say that was wat my religion did. but nowadays christians teach love and tolerance, so i dont have a problem with it. I'm not even sure Christianity actually did it more often, as much as they're simply the more recent. Caesar was pagan, as was Alexander...Though I suppose it might be argued that they weren't killing and making war for beliefs so much as lands, and more men to fight their battles...Or might it have been somewhat motivated by beliefs, I wonder.
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Post by bran_sinnach on Aug 6, 2006 15:03:41 GMT -5
While I myself am not yet a pagan parent (and wont be for several years, either), my wife and I have already talked about how we should handle this issue in the future. She and I both practice Druidism, and as such we will raise our children as pagans as well. However, when they are old enough for us to talk about such things, I am going to begin teaching them about other faiths as well. And I plan to run the gambit too, Ill expose them to everything from Christianity and Islam to Buddhism and Baha'i. After this, whether its just teaching them or actually going to a service held by this faith, my wife and I plan to sit down and talk to the children about what they've seen or heard, and let them tell us what they think about it and allow them to ask any questions they might have. And should, by doing this, they choose a path which is different than the one their mother and I walk? Well then, that is their path and their Truth, and we will do everything in our power to help them along it. Dont hide your children from the world, let them see that other people of other faiths are still just that, people. Its a lack of knowledge and exposure, not a surplus of it, that led to things like the crusades, the burning times, and the Spanish Inquisition. If you cant be tolerant of other faiths, then you give them no reason to be tolerant of you.
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