[QUOTE=Flowerchild;1854063]

I actually was taken aback by the comment on the Duggan family that have their beliefs... The comment that their swimsuit was "ridiculous". Conversley your swimsuit may be "ridiculous" to others. We should be very wary of judging anothers beliefs/ways as ridiculous, silly or anti... From what I know many a fine war has been started in the name of religion. That is not religions "fault" it is the folk who judge anothers beliefs in a way that can be heard as hurtful and arrogant.

QUOTE]

the comment that i made about the swimsuits being ridiculous was intended in the context of children not being able to be comfortable within their body - that 'god' made -, but are instead expected to be covered at all times, and be kept modest. bodies are something that should be celebrated, not something that children should be made to feel they have to keep hidden for the sake of thier faith.

this comment does not make me 'anti' anything, i too was raised as a catholic, and had my family torn apart by religion for many years., i have a good understanding of what religion is all about.

the part about parents teaching children thier religion that bugs me is when they teach their child that there is no other way. this does nothing for society except create another generation of people that fight to defend their beliefs, resulting in more pain and anguish.

and yes, i do find that a lot of religious people, especially in my experiences, catholics, are quite biggoted against people of other religions, and isn't that in it's essence against what they are taught? aren't we supposed to accept our brothers and sisters?

it was brought up in the santa thread that i push my beliefs on my children with regards to manners etc, so i can't really say anything about pushing religious beliefs. to be honest, i find this to be the most ridiculous statement, i teach my child manners so that they grow up to be a valued member of society, without manners, common courtesy and a sometime conversion to the norm, society would fall apart, there would be no order. so no, i do not believe there is a relation in teaching my children manners, and pushing my beliefs or non beliefs onto them.