Parents Influence

[Snoopy]

Impqueen you'll be burning the tea!

[wil]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

See, I find that so alien.... A parent taking an interest or even caring about religion of their kids.. lol

You know I think most 'religious' parents care much about what their kids think of religion...but most often it would revolve around insuring their child believes exactly as they do.

Oops...I guess I do to, I want my children to be open minded and nonprejudicial in all ways.

Originally Posted by Impqueen

It's cool you expose your kids to Interfaith Wil, I wish I'd known more about others beliefs as I was growing up.

In Sunday school once we were told of all those 'cults' out there...and told how they coerce and control their 'victims' and a sure sign was a group that wouldn't allow their members to read or explore other thought. I asked if we could get a book on their beliefs and was told no.

I then asked if that made us a cult. Boy that got a conversation with my mother and the preacher...

And a kudos from my Dad...and that started a life of smartass commentary from second grade on!

[Julia59]

I also grew up in a faithless house. My mother had been raised as a Catholic and went to a convent school. She hated and despised the Church for the fear that it instilled in her and lapsed as soon as she was an adult. She subsequently became very anti-religious and remains so. My father was raised with no faith and has never felt the need to pursue religion in any shape or form. He's never understood my quest for a spiritual path that fitted me

I tried Christianity a couple of times, once as a child and again in my twenties but it just didn't sit right with me. I tried Spiritualism which was better but still not right. Then, about seven years ago my youngest daughter bought some books on a little thing called Wicca. Being a responsible parent I thought I'd better have a read and see what she was getting herself into and have been hooked ever since. Wicca itself didn't hold my interest for very long but Paganism in all its diverse forms is fascinating and I'm as smitten now as I was when I picked up that first book. Interestingly, at about the same time my sister became a Christian so we both found a path that was right for us at the same time

Julia

[dauer]

Wil,

You know I think most 'religious' parents care much about what their kids think of religion...but most often it would revolve around insuring their child believes exactly as they do.

I don't think it's just religious people. Atheists too.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by wil

Now on the flip side my kids have been raised in Unity as questioning, probing Christians. But they've been exposed to a ton of interfaith. It will be absolutely interesting to me to see what they grow into in faith and I so look forward to exploring with them in upcoming decades as they have with me in the last.

Salaam Wil

I so admire your open attitude, I love that children are free to soak up diverse information (religious and cultural).

May I ask, if one of your children came home one day and said "I want to be a Muslim/Pagan/athiest or whatever", how would that sit with your Christian beliefs? Would you worry for their soul in the after life?

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Impqueen

17th - I meant are you a member of an established religion? If so, which one?

No I don't need to be. My religion is my life... I live it best I can, suiting and fitting my eyes... No others.

[wil]

Originally Posted by dauer

I don't think it's just religious people. Atheists too.

Oh yes you are exactly right! I sort of picture Atheism as a religion...I was comparing to non-religious people, folks who are more apathetic about the whole issue....die hard Atheists are anything but apathetic in their beliefs.

Originally Posted by Muslimwoman

Salaam Wil

I so admire your open attitude, I love that children are free to soak up diverse information (religious and cultural).

May I ask, if one of your children came home one day and said "I want to be a Muslim/Pagan/athiest or whatever", how would that sit with your Christian beliefs? Would you worry for their soul in the after life?

I appreciate your comments however I don't feel any need to be admired. I've just found that by being ignorant of other traditions makes one exceedingly two dimensional...the world is not black and white...nor is it shades of gray...it is extremely colorful and every time I am opened to more information my admiration and acceptance of other cultures increases. Without a little patience and interest I tend to be pretty dogmatic...believing what I know to be true based on my current experiences....when I add to these experiences I find out how little I know and how wrong I am.

My Christan beliefs are such that I am a follower of Jesus, my elder brother and wayshower...seeing his walk and listening to his talk opens me to a peace and love and acceptance that transcends dogmatic literal interpretations. Striving to connect with the Christ/G!d within I do not believe is cornered by the Christian. Folks with more faith than I may be able to do so without a mentor, be able to look within and know their connectedness the creator hence everyone and everything. If they decided to follow Mohamed (pbuh) or Krishna or Lao Tzu or nature. We'd have some wonderful discussions and no, I would not worry about their soul. If they became Atheist again we'd have some wonderful discussions. In writing this response, I would have issues if they became hateful, prejudice, joined the KKK or Al Queda...something like that would send me into meditation to wonder if this is the lesson one receives in order to grok unconditional love....

[17th Angel]

Wil, bit off topic.... You won't type god.. But you are thinking the word when you censor it... Anyway question... When you verbally want to say god what do you say?

[Muslimwoman]

Hi Wil

Thank you for your reply, it was as I perhaps expected but nice to hear it in your own words. It does frustrate me that so many people believe ther is only one true path to G-d for everyone. G-d made us diverse by nature and imo will accept our diversities.

I agree with you, about joining extreme groups and holding hatred in our hearts, that would trouble me about any young person. It is strange though how it is possible to grow in a household with one view and yet grow into your own, opposing view. I grew up in quite a racist house (not abusive toward other races, just openly speaking against them in our home). Yet my first boyfriend was Jewish and I am now married to an Arab. So parents teachings do not always rub off, if they go against the heart.

[wil]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

Wil, bit off topic.... You won't type god.. But you are thinking the word when you censor it... Anyway question... When you verbally want to say god what do you say?

I say G!d...

As a kid G!d was this super big guy in the sky, a santy clause character keeping track of who was naughty and nice and rewarding presents..heaven or coal, hell. He, Him, The Almighty..smiting and vengence, plagues and pestilence...G!d did it, they deserved it, G!d's will.

When I came to my own beliefs it was without this entity that needed to be worshiped and praised....sheesh creator of the universe all powerful, all knowing, yet jealous and oh so needy...sure didn't resonate. When I found others who think like me...I had thought I was alone....low and behold they were Christian (picture me making the cross with my fingers like warding away vampires) they read bibles and believed in Jesus...but it wasn't that old time religion. But the G-word still got me, still conjured up that old thought from my sunday school upbringing....so I wrote G-d and thought the Creator, the One or Universal Consciousness...something I could wrap my head around. I developed a quasi Jewish thought...that naming limited...as Creators just Create, the One what and that saying writing G-d was limiting.... I've been working on teaching my little finger to go grab a ! instead of a - There is something about the explanation point I like...a little more supreme than a simple dash...

But now after 10 years...I can say G!d without conjuring up the elementary thought...and G!d means a heck of a lot more...and if I gave spirit being (I do say spirit a heck of a lot more than G!d)...that being would be more of a feeling...like the hug of a friend...or resting in the bosum of grandma or mom as a child...warmth, protection and comfort...no fear of plagues or reprisal...always unconditional love and acceptance...

Seems not so off topic...I think this relationship with G!d is my ultimate Parental Influence....

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by wil

I developed a quasi Jewish thought...that naming limited....

Can go with you on that one Wil. When I first heard that in Islam G-d has 99 names I couldn't imagine why you would need 99 names for G-d. Then I learnt them and they too become limiting. I don't think we humans have enough words to describe the undescribable.

[Serenity]

my familys religons were very mixed my gran is catholic my mum was brough up as a catholic as well yet she belives in gypsy magik my step dad has no reglion at all

i was brough up mostly catholic but istart to look in to witch craft and gypsy magic
i have other beliefs as well i am ver open minded when it comes to what i believe in