Momma

I would love some advice this.

What do you do when you and your child have different spiritual beliefs? How
do you handle it when your child asks you to take him to functions that
conflict with your beliefs? When we discuss spirituality or religion I
almost feel like I'm doing something wrong. Like I'm trying to convert him
or something, which I really don't feel the need to do. And I hesitate to
invite him to functions that I would like to go to that are about my beliefs
after the absolutely horrified look I got the first time I asked. When we
talk I always tell him that his beliefs are his own and mine are mine and we
don't have to agree in order to share but I am surprised at how much our
beliefs influence the language we use, the things we watch, the music we
listen to, just our general outlook on life. Is this something I should just
not bring up at all? He is happy in his beliefs and feels comfortable in
them. Once before I have mentioned another point of view in a discussion and
he got very upset and frustrated and started to cry.

We have always shared everything and enjoyed talking about everything in our
hearts and on our minds. Should this be any different? Or should I just
leave it alone and share only when he asks for now?

(He is 9 by the way)

Thanks,

Dawn



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joanne

Here's our we handle it...

My husband & I are born into the Roman Catholic religion BUT my
husband is not fond of organized religion and I've considered myself
agnostic for most of my adult life.

When we adopted our kids, we wanted them to start out the same
religion that we technically were so we had them baptized and they
all just did their first Communion. Now that they're "Catholic",
they're free to continue pursing it or not. We freely discuss the
many world religions and we have several books, on a variety of
religions, available to them to read.

They know my feelings as an agnostic and they know my husbands
feelings as someone uncomfortable with organized religion. They also
know my mothers feelings on being Roman Catholic and why church is
important to her.

My son shows no interest in religion, my oldest daughter believes in
God and my youngest...well, I think she may be my grandmother
reincarnated (LOL)....she prays on her rosary beads every night
(sometimes up to 30 minutes) and attends CCD classes at the local
catholic church.

We treat religion as we do every other topic....we discuss it, we
share our opinion...we respect other opinions (as long as that
opinion doesn't include harming another).

Hope this helps!

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (11) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/





--- In [email protected], "Momma"
<southernbelle@...> wrote:
>
> I would love some advice this.
>
> What do you do when you and your child have different spiritual
beliefs? How
> do you handle it when your child asks you to take him to functions
that
> conflict with your beliefs? When we discuss spirituality or
religion I
> almost feel like I'm doing something wrong. Like I'm trying to
convert him
> or something, which I really don't feel the need to do. And I
hesitate to
> invite him to functions that I would like to go to that are about
my beliefs
> after the absolutely horrified look I got the first time I asked.
When we
> talk I always tell him that his beliefs are his own and mine are
mine and we
> don't have to agree in order to share but I am surprised at how
much our
> beliefs influence the language we use, the things we watch, the
music we
> listen to, just our general outlook on life. Is this something I
should just
> not bring up at all? He is happy in his beliefs and feels
comfortable in
> them. Once before I have mentioned another point of view in a
discussion and
> he got very upset and frustrated and started to cry.
>
> We have always shared everything and enjoyed talking about
everything in our
> hearts and on our minds. Should this be any different? Or should I
just
> leave it alone and share only when he asks for now?
>
> (He is 9 by the way)
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dawn
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Ren Allen

Well, here in the Allen household, we have a liberal Christian (my dh,
not liberal politically, but very much a religious liberal) and then
the rest of us that have no label.

My philisophical leanings are towards Zen Buddhism, but I don't think
I'll ever call myself a Zen Buddhist because that means you actually
practice at it, and Zen for me is a very personal journey that needs
no label.

Anyhoo...my kids ask questions, we explore all religions because it's
interesting! I love learning about all sorts of religions and have
done a ton of research on the origins of Christianity and how the
early church was influenced and politicized. I learned a bunch about
the basics of Islam and Eastern thought, I've delved very shallowly
into Judaism. It's all fascinating to me.

Sierra wanted to attend VBS a couple years in a row, back in
Pensacola. I signed her up and she loved her week there. I cringed
everytime I took her to that Baptist church (almost caught on fire
once I believe) because I just knew someone was going to try and
convert me, but it didn't happen.
With so many children running in every direction, they had no time for
an outside heathen.;)

She asked me about a couple Jesus related things afterwards, but
really wasn't that curious overall. She was there for the crafts, the
singing and the other kids. She doesn't want to go anymore, but I'd
take her again if she did.

I believe spirituality comes from within. I trust my children will
explore the world with that sacred place within them intact, unharmed
by any molding or shaping from outside sources, learning what fits for
them, just like anything else in life.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com