Debate - Raising your kids with religion

[LimeSlice]

ooh another ripper topic! lol

Essentially I think it is important that whatever path you choose, and whatever religion you choose to be 'the one true religion' that you preach tolerance to others and their choices...
Meaning it is all fine to educate your children that Islam is the one true faith, but you must also teach that others have different beliefs and are entitled to them. I think this is really vital to ensuring that religion doesn't become a devisive issue in your child's mind, environment and social interactions.

I was raised a Christian, a Catholic, went to an Anglican school, but we were NEVER taught that anyone following another religion was 'evil' or 'unworthy of our friendship and respect' or 'our enemy' iykwim.
I went to this Anglican school with so many different religious groups being represented. We were taught in RE about other religions, and went into a great deal of detail. We werent taught to compare the truth of each of them, but rather to understand the differences in them and how and where these differences affect culture, society, politics...

I have a JW Kingdom Hall around the corner from my house at the moment, and every few weeks I have this one particular man who comes to my house and talks to me, brings me their little magazine newsletter thing. We have some excellent conversations, and went into a lot of detail last week abut how I as a 'pagan' am viewed by JWs, how they are taught to 'deal' with us. I was amazed at his understanding, I must confess, I had expected much less.
But it was plainly obvious that he was taught that although he knew what was written in the Bible about my beliefs (he showed me lol) he was quite happy to talk with me. He understood I had no desire to be converted and couldn't be, but wanted to explore other faiths, and he agreed that this was a major step on the path to respecting humans for themselves, no matter which faith they follow.
I know that he believes I am going against the 'only true Word' - but he gave me his respect, asked questions and tried to gain a better understanding of what it is that I as a Druid believe and what that means for my world. He actually invited me to their service a few months ago, knowing full well I wasn't going to convert or be changed, just that I wanted to understand.


I think with blinkered religious education there can be a tendency to unwittingly blind kids to other thoughts and in doing so you actually stunt their understanding of the world.
So many things in the world are affected by religion and culture - politics, economics, legislation, media, diplomacy... By only offering one school of thought I think ultimately you end up with children who don;t learn any other ways of thinking, approaching problems, dealing with moral dilemas both in their own lives, those of friends, and those in any other place in the world they choose to visit. So whilst they may always follow that religion they have been raised with, it is likely that they will not have any understanding of how other people function in their lives.

In terms of basic developmental aspects, learning to appreciate and evaluate other peoples motivations can seriously affect kids' problem solving skills, their communication skills, their reasoning and ethical comprehension. If you are always blinded to those around you then you will never learn to understand them. This can only ever be to the detriment of the child I think.

So whilst they may always believe they are on the 'one true path' understanding and being taught that others believe their path is the 'one true path' is vital.

At the end of the day, there is no proof for one religion that another doesnt claim to also have really. Most single deity religions believe they are the 'one true faith' and we will never know which is which until we meet our Makers...May as well learn and love as much as possible while we are here.

Charlotte will be raised with many religious beliefs around her, and I hope that I teach her to appreciate all of them and make her own decision about which path to take - and that that path is the one that gives her joy, love, comfort, energy and hope.
I also hope that she chooses a path of tolerance and understand, respect and love for all - to do this I wholeheartedly belief that I must lead by example.
She will have the Easter Bunny and Santa, because they are social norms....but she will be raised with Rituals, and Faery stories, and the knowledge of those who have gone before her. She was blessed under the full moon and will celebrate many events most of her peers will not even comprehend.
I hope at the end of thise when she is old enough and well enough equiped to make a decision on her path she will make a choice that is best for her, regardless of what we as her parents believe.
I would love her to embrace my religion lol make things easier But at the end of everything, the core of that faith is love, balance, understanding and respect - all the qualities I would want her to retain whether I was Muslim, Pagan, JW or Hindu.