Re: unschooling as sin another perspective
Krisula Moyer
Wow.
I just read the are we having fun now article and I am stunned.
Previously I have kept my opinions to myself in this thread b/c I tend to
get my feelings hurt and b/c there doesn't seem to be any point in entering
a discussion (not here- but the broader discussion, nationally) where the
speakers have already made up their minds.
Seems to me, though, that my voice, and those like mine, are the ones
missing from this exchange. So - here goes.
I am a Christian. I fell in love with God as a small child and relied on
Him through a *very* difficult childhood. When I was about 12 I responded to
the teaching of the gospel ( the receive-
Christs-forgivness-of-my-sins-and-commit-to-following-Him variety) at a
local church. In the years that followed I left the religion of my family
(they weren't that religious anyway) and have always attended churches where
I sensed the Holy Spirit, I read the Bible, prayed, and tried to live in a
way that would honor God. My husband and I are very involved in our church
(presently a Friends church) I love Jesus. I feel I owe HIm everything and
I know He loves not only me but every person I run across. This belief
informs almost every aspect of my life. As you might imagine, It is an
intricate and sometimes difficult path. I expect to spend a lifetime
learning how to love others as Christ loves them and in case you smell an
aggrandized complex of some sort - yes I know my attempts are baby steps.
OK now you know more about me than I know about you so here's the punch
line.
I am an unabashed unschooler. No really. I have no conflict about this
because I want my children to discover their own reliance on Jesus for their
lives and not just do as they're told. I believe a faith that is based on
doing what your parents make you do is no faith at all. ( As I write this
their choices are playing Super smash bros. melee on the game cube and
watching episodes of the Simpsons on DVD). But they also often choose to
hear Bible stories, pray, and sing praise songs.
Do I share my beliefs with them? Of course. My dh and I pray with and for
each of them, we teach them the precepts of our beliefs and scriptures that
we feel will help them in their lives. We also make sure they know about
other religions and ideas. They have friends who's families are Catholic
and Protestant, Orthodox, Mormon, Muslim, Ba'hai, Pagan and in the words of
one sweet child we know "all mixed up".
As for the claims in the article, I couldn't disagree more. It smells like
manipulation to me and not like the loving Spirit led instruction I would
expect from my own church.
Normally I would not say so much about my faith in this forum bc I know
that's not what you read this list for. I just wanted you to understand
that unschooling is not unchristian though the lifestyle in a Christian home
is going to look different than that in a muslim, or pagan or whatever. Our
lifestyle may look a bit different from yours but the underlying messages I
find in Holt and with other unschoolers are very much in line with the love
for people, including children, and respect for his creation (including you)
thatI am called to uphold as a follower of Jesus Christ.
I would be happy to entertain comments about unschooling here. If you have
religious questions or comments for me better give them to me off list.
Love and respect,
Krisula
I just read the are we having fun now article and I am stunned.
Previously I have kept my opinions to myself in this thread b/c I tend to
get my feelings hurt and b/c there doesn't seem to be any point in entering
a discussion (not here- but the broader discussion, nationally) where the
speakers have already made up their minds.
Seems to me, though, that my voice, and those like mine, are the ones
missing from this exchange. So - here goes.
I am a Christian. I fell in love with God as a small child and relied on
Him through a *very* difficult childhood. When I was about 12 I responded to
the teaching of the gospel ( the receive-
Christs-forgivness-of-my-sins-and-commit-to-following-Him variety) at a
local church. In the years that followed I left the religion of my family
(they weren't that religious anyway) and have always attended churches where
I sensed the Holy Spirit, I read the Bible, prayed, and tried to live in a
way that would honor God. My husband and I are very involved in our church
(presently a Friends church) I love Jesus. I feel I owe HIm everything and
I know He loves not only me but every person I run across. This belief
informs almost every aspect of my life. As you might imagine, It is an
intricate and sometimes difficult path. I expect to spend a lifetime
learning how to love others as Christ loves them and in case you smell an
aggrandized complex of some sort - yes I know my attempts are baby steps.
OK now you know more about me than I know about you so here's the punch
line.
I am an unabashed unschooler. No really. I have no conflict about this
because I want my children to discover their own reliance on Jesus for their
lives and not just do as they're told. I believe a faith that is based on
doing what your parents make you do is no faith at all. ( As I write this
their choices are playing Super smash bros. melee on the game cube and
watching episodes of the Simpsons on DVD). But they also often choose to
hear Bible stories, pray, and sing praise songs.
Do I share my beliefs with them? Of course. My dh and I pray with and for
each of them, we teach them the precepts of our beliefs and scriptures that
we feel will help them in their lives. We also make sure they know about
other religions and ideas. They have friends who's families are Catholic
and Protestant, Orthodox, Mormon, Muslim, Ba'hai, Pagan and in the words of
one sweet child we know "all mixed up".
As for the claims in the article, I couldn't disagree more. It smells like
manipulation to me and not like the loving Spirit led instruction I would
expect from my own church.
Normally I would not say so much about my faith in this forum bc I know
that's not what you read this list for. I just wanted you to understand
that unschooling is not unchristian though the lifestyle in a Christian home
is going to look different than that in a muslim, or pagan or whatever. Our
lifestyle may look a bit different from yours but the underlying messages I
find in Holt and with other unschoolers are very much in line with the love
for people, including children, and respect for his creation (including you)
thatI am called to uphold as a follower of Jesus Christ.
I would be happy to entertain comments about unschooling here. If you have
religious questions or comments for me better give them to me off list.
Love and respect,
Krisula
Kris
Same here, Krisula. Unschooling resonates in complete harmony with my
faith. I am also well acquainted with the way many "conservative,
fundamentalist" Christians think. I have known quite a few who thought I
was leading my kids down the path to damnation. It seems common to those
who's Christianity is based on politics more than on heart.
My main motivation to home school was to protect my children's ability to
think for themselves, unschooling seemed to be the perfection of that goal.
I want their faith to be based on attraction, liking what they see in my
life and my relationship with God. If that isn't enough I certainly don't
want them buying in because they are afraid.
I have a lot of Christians ask me how I can be the authority without rules,
this opens a chance for me to illustrate how Jesus calls us friends and how
that relationship is based on respect, care and seeking happiness and peace
for those you love. It all fits perfectly but it's hard for those living in
the circles they do to let go and change their views.
Kris
faith. I am also well acquainted with the way many "conservative,
fundamentalist" Christians think. I have known quite a few who thought I
was leading my kids down the path to damnation. It seems common to those
who's Christianity is based on politics more than on heart.
My main motivation to home school was to protect my children's ability to
think for themselves, unschooling seemed to be the perfection of that goal.
I want their faith to be based on attraction, liking what they see in my
life and my relationship with God. If that isn't enough I certainly don't
want them buying in because they are afraid.
I have a lot of Christians ask me how I can be the authority without rules,
this opens a chance for me to illustrate how Jesus calls us friends and how
that relationship is based on respect, care and seeking happiness and peace
for those you love. It all fits perfectly but it's hard for those living in
the circles they do to let go and change their views.
Kris
Tia Leschke
> Normally I would not say so much about my faith in this forum bc I knowhome
> that's not what you read this list for. I just wanted you to understand
> that unschooling is not unchristian though the lifestyle in a Christian
> is going to look different than that in a muslim, or pagan or whatever.Our
> lifestyle may look a bit different from yours but the underlying messagesI
> find in Holt and with other unschoolers are very much in line with thelove
> for people, including children, and respect for his creation (includingyou)
> thatI am called to uphold as a follower of Jesus Christ.I think we here do understand that unschooling is not unchristian. And it
sounds like you aren't a part of the Christian group being discussed here
who believe that it *is* unchristian. I always enjoy hearing from the kind
of Christians who are living it in their own lives but accepting and
open-minded about the faiths of others.
Tia
leschke@...
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where
there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Vicki A. Dennis
Krisula,
Thank you for an absolutely marvelous post. I have been just randomly picking maybe 1 in 30 of what comes through lest I spend 12 hours a day glued to the monitor.
I am sooooooo glad I landed on yours.
Your love for Jesus shines through as well as love for the diversity of all creation. In my opinion you are providing a very healthy and loving religious environment for your children.
vicki
Thank you for an absolutely marvelous post. I have been just randomly picking maybe 1 in 30 of what comes through lest I spend 12 hours a day glued to the monitor.
I am sooooooo glad I landed on yours.
Your love for Jesus shines through as well as love for the diversity of all creation. In my opinion you are providing a very healthy and loving religious environment for your children.
vicki
----- Original Message -----
From: Krisula Moyer
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 2:38 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Re: unschooling as sin another perspective
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]