| Jul 20 @ 10:06 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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j_goose
Posts: 1,954
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I thought this would be an interesting question.
I was raised in prayer, reading the Bible, and learning about salvation.
My parents were raised in prayer, reading the Bible, and learning about salvation.
However upon closer examination, I came to the conclusion (at a young age) that it was a lot of bunk. (to me anyway) ,And left those beliefs and practices behind. For years I talked the talk just to avoid the confrontation with family members.
Years of research and reading made me a confirmed athiest.
However, any time MY children show an interest in the Bible, God, or Jesus, I gladly pull out the Bible and show them the teachings. And invite them to investigate from there. I also encourage them to read the Eddas, The Book of the Dead, Ancient Greek and Roman Gods, etc.
In my opnion, a truly educated answer to a belief is a well researched religion.
They can choose their own path, and I leave MY opnions out of these types of conversations. It's up to them to decide what path they should follow. My daughter believes in reincarnation. My son, not sure yet, he is currently reading a book about Norse gods.
How many people have actually sat down, looked at various religions and REALLY decided based on information rather than inheriting their belief system from their parents and other family members?
Wouldn't that make which ever path you choose more solid and not just a copycat or brainwashng?
How many people have read only one or a few books and made a snap judgement and said "hey, this is for me?"
Would that really be fair to a child, to raise them to believe exactly what YOU do?
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| Jul 20 @ 10:15 AM |
How are you raising your children? |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,101
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My parents encouraged me to explore all avenues of faith, all denomonations. I did the same with my children. I explored all of them, found them very lacking and empty, powerless, even found Christianity to be the same until I found the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, then I found power and truth.
My children, all chose Christianity because they knew the miracles and wonders that the Lord did in my life and theirs, there was no doubt. Did I push those on them, absolutely not. I simply lived my faith, they were intelligent, they could see the things that the Lord did in my life and theirs that defied logical explanations. They saw the results of my prayers and my faith. What greater testimony could there be than that?
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| Jul 20 @ 10:19 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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eastham
Posts: 5,963
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My boyfriend is a B'hai. As a B'hai father, you are obligated to teach your children about all religions. B'hais, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, and some Protestant sects have rites of affirmation when kids are in their teens, the various religions may call these rites by a different name, but they require study, preparation and thought.
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| Jul 20 @ 10:23 AM |
How are you raising your children? |
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Thor1960303
Posts: 1,770
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They can choose their own path, and I leave MY opnions out of these types of conversations. It's up to them to decide what path they should follow
My children were exposed to the family faith, but were free to choose their own. So far niether has shown a close interest in any religion save for the occasional visit to a friend's church. Right now my youngest daughter hangs out with a Jewish boy (they're too young to be really dating), so she's learned a few things about the Jewish faith, including what a Bar Mitzvah is all about.
I want my kids to learn about different faiths, but not be indoctrinated like I was.
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| Jul 20 @ 10:26 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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j_goose
Posts: 1,954
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My children, all chose Christianity because they knew the miracles and wonders that the Lord did in my life and theirs, there was no doubt.
I'm not picking on you today, I had enough fun with that last night, but bev, did you ever give them an opportunity to read the Book of the Dead, Eddas, etc?
Do you allow them to read the Bible and then let them read all the "Lost Gospels" like that of Judas or Peter, or Thomas? Do you even own those?
I have them all along with religious documents from various religions. When I get on a reading frenzy and re read some, I'll sometimes say "He, guys, this is interesting..." and let them read it.
All the miracles you "witnessed" are also explained in other religions. Not just Christianity. Or did you say to them, "It was God"?
Be honest. I grew up in a family like yours.....I'll sniff you out.
I explored all of them, found them very lacking and empty, powerless
But they all have the SAME message. How is one more powerless than the other?
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| Jul 20 @ 10:45 AM |
How are you raising your children? |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,101
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You see, there is no power in the other faiths. Like I said, I tried a whole bunch of them.
You can read all you want about Chrisitianity. I did that, too, went to church, but until I found the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I found nothing. I found love, all the things that most religions cite as good, but none of the power, none of the reality, no miracles, no power, just a people who were tossed around by life with no power over life. I could even find peace within myself, but never that peace that passes all understanding.
You see, most every faith says to love, and I can do that on my own, but I can't take authority over life and what life does to people with those faiths. I must simply just roll with the punches. There again, I can do that by myself, don't need those to do that. So, believe it or not, I DO know where you are coming from. I have been there myself. I am the kind of person who does not EVER like to feel helpless so I searched further until I found the truth and the power. Do you think I want to let something like cancer ravage my body? NO, I don't want to let anything have control over my life but God and Jesus, and in Him I have power over those things, as well.
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| Jul 20 @ 10:52 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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Loreli
Posts: 19,231
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My father is agnostic, and only attended church for weddings and funerals.
My Mom was a Catholic-turned-Lutheran that forced us to church, choir, confirmation, Bible school.
When I turned 18, I cut out of there, but with peace in my heart to never be forced again. I never forced my kids. They went to Lutheran preschool and loved it. They went to church Easter and Christmas Eve, funerals, weddings, baptisms.
They are also finding their own path without force.
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| Jul 20 @ 10:57 AM |
How are you raising your children? |
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j_goose
Posts: 1,954
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I DO know where you are coming from. I have been there myself. I am the kind of person who does not EVER like to feel helpless so I searched further until I found the truth and the power. Do you think I want to let something like cancer ravage my body? NO, I don't want to let anything have control over my life but God and Jesus, and in Him I have power over those things, as well.
Condecending comment....couldn' ask for anything less from you.
So now according to this, you just gave up and settled. That's sad.
My dear, I am not lost. I have my path. Your's is a copy of other religions. There is no denying that. You haven't researched squat. This is apparent by you remark:
I found love, all the things that most religions cite as good, but none of the power, none of the reality, no miracles, no power, just a people who were tossed around by life with no power over life.
No Miracles?
Dionysus changed water into wine.
Vespatian cured a blind man with his spit.
Pothagoras died, decended into hades, and resurrected.
Come on, bev, you reak of fear and closed mindedness.
No Power?
In religion, the conquering powers made their religion the only one practiced in the region. Christianity had the backing of the ROman empire. Who could resist them? But to make them more popular, they took pagan rituals and made them their own. Proven FACT.
None of the reality?
Where is there any reality in ANY religion?
Find me some.
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| Jul 20 @ 11:04 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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Thor1960303
Posts: 1,770
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You see, there is no power in the other faiths.
Apparently the other faiths don't offer the same emotional charge, the same brainwashing efficiency or hallucinations that Christianity offers.
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| Jul 20 @ 11:15 AM |
How are you raising your children? |
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Jankia
Posts: 8,770
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How many people have actually sat down, looked at various religions and REALLY decided based on information rather than inheriting their belief system from their parents and other family members? When I "sat down" it was with congregations from the Catholic,Lutheran,Moravian and Jehovah Witness churches.My parents were Methodist and Ive seen no reason to change from that denomination.I like it.
Wouldn't that make which ever path you choose more solid and not just a copycat or brainwashng? It wouldnt be brainwashing any more so then choosing any other path we were raised in or taught to follow.
How many people have read only one or a few books and made a snap judgement and said "hey, this is for me?" When it comes to how I will lead my life there arent any snap judgements in anything.
Would that really be fair to a child, to raise them to believe exactly what YOU do? Exactly? No,but its unfair to not give them all the information thats available that we know of as parents,that we feel is right for them.Information we dont feel is correct we dont raise them on.
I enrolled both of my children in bible study classes at Sunday school.They were both taught and confirmed in the Methodist church.After they became official members I told them both that now its up to them.If they want to attend church on Sunday morning or be active in our church,do it because thats what you choose to do and not because I'm doing it myself.
Sure I'm happy when one of them walks into the service and sits down next to me in the pew when I didnt know if they were coming or not.
They enjoy what they were taught by me and the church. 
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| Jul 20 @ 11:23 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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sail_dancer
Posts: 8,132
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Jankia,
When I "sat down" it was with congregations from the Catholic,Lutheran,Moravian and Jehovah Witness churches.My parents were Methodist and Ive seen no reason to change from that denomination.I like it. Those are all christian sects. All believe in Jesus. You were never exposed to other religions, just different christian sects.
You didn't give your children a choice. They were schooled christian. What good is telling them that they have a choice after having them brainwashed with your dogma? If anything, you are testing the brainwashing, not giving them a choice.
Peace
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| Jul 20 @ 11:45 AM |
How are you raising your children? |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,101
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Jankia is right, we SHOULD want the best for our children, and that is what he did. He saw that they had the best. They are still people, and you all should know that as children grow older, they rebel and seek their own path. It looks like they chose Christianity.
Condescending, goose, no, was simply telling you the truth. I DO NOT like to be helpless or feel helpless, and as for what you site, dionysis, proof that that really happened?
Dionysis was a myth unless you believe that Zeus really existed. He is a part of mythology, you know, and he was the god of wine, he never turned water into wine, but made wine by other methods.
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| Jul 20 @ 11:51 AM |
How are you raising your children?
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bevrice
Posts: 11,101
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Reality, goose, you would have to truly know Him, otherwise, you will never know of His reality. Christians know His reality, we know He moves in our lives, our prayers. We see evidences of Him and His love everyday.
Okay, people, if you have kids, you should know that as they grow up and become teenagers and young adults, they are going to choose their own way. It is just natural and nature that they do, it is part of them becoming independent. That is a fact. Anyone who gives their children a Christian foundation does absolutely nothing wrong, they will choose to be Christians or not to be Christians as they grow up. If you think differently, you need to think again. Look at yourselves and the choices YOU made. You didn't hang in with Christianity, goose, thor, now did you? Yet, you both had a Christian upbringing.
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| Jul 20 @ 12:05 PM |
How are you raising your children? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 14,715
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You didn't give your children a choice. They were schooled christian.
Sail, so were you, so was I, so was Goose, Mom, Knotty...etc. There's always a choice - it might be made harder if our parents told us that we had to follow their beliefs or be 'shunned' as the Amish do. We chose different paths that had the power to change our lives as Christianity never did.
I'm happy for Bev and her daughters that they find what they need there - I never did. My sons are much like me - we feel that we're part of the Universe and it's part of us...we just don't get into the holy roller type thing, nor do we believe the God of the bible is a true representation of the power we think of as all that there is. We've discussed quite a few different religions but never felt the need to join any particular sect of any of them - not even Unitarianism.
edited to add - Yikes, Bev and I agreed!!
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| Jul 20 @ 12:07 PM |
How are you raising your children?
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sail_dancer
Posts: 8,132
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Jankia is right, we SHOULD want the best for our children, and that is what he did. He saw that they had the best. They are still people, and you all should know that as children grow older, they rebel and seek their own path. It looks like they chose Christianity. Jankia did not do the best for his children. He indoctrinated his children with his christian dogma, never giving them the chance to choose. Then after his children were brainwashed and confirmed in Jankia's faith, he told them that they have a choice. What a laugh!
Having a choice requires a person to have multiple things to choose from. Did Jankia provide his children education in other faiths so that they could make an educated choice? No of course not. His main objective was to brainwash his children with his dogmatic beliefs.
It is not Jankia's fault, but the fault of christian dogma. Jankia was also brainwashed by not being exposed to other religions. This is how christianity works. Brainwash a posible convert and instill in them hate for other religions that worship demon or false gods. Then give them a choice to become christian. It is designed to only give the person only one choice ........ join or go to hell!
Peace
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| Jul 20 @ 12:18 PM |
How are you raising your children? |
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BandTMom
Posts: 26,405
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I am raising my son in loving-kindness with respect for all living creatures.
If he wants to go to church with his cousins, I take him. If he wants to talk about Bible stories, we discuss them. If he wants to taught about my Buddha statue and what the Buddha talk, we talk about it.
My main focus is that he grows into a loving, compassionate man that lives his life helping others.
Edited for typos.
[Edited on 7/20/2008 12:33 PM]
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| Jul 20 @ 12:23 PM |
How are you raising your children?
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alivenwell351
Posts: 1,420
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Interesting topic...and incredibly civil by comparison to others in the religion thread...
I was raised Episcopalian (Catholic Lite, according to Robin Williams!) In the course of my life, I've run the gamut from alter boy (non molested!!), to atheist, then agnostic, to where I am now...believing there has to be something bigger than all this, but without a clue of who or what it might be, or what to call it...
To the list of required reading for those genuinely wanting to figure it all out, I'd add "Chariots Of The Gods." It's the only book I'm aware of that attempts to offer realistic answers to things that actually DO physically exist...ie: explaining how possibly at about the same time, 5 distinct civilizations with no apparent means of intercontinental communications, all built pyramids.
Put a gun to my head and I'd say somewhere within those pages is the answer to the "superior being" thing...
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| Jul 20 @ 12:30 PM |
How are you raising your children? |
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horizon000
Posts: 894
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I am raising my son in loving-kindness with respect for all living creatures.
If he wants to go to church with his cousins, I take him. If he wants to talk about Bible stories, we discuss the. If he wants to talk about my Buddha statue and what the Buddha talk, we talk about it.
My main focus is that he grows into a loving, compassionate man that lives his life helping others
That is probably one of the wisest things I have ever read in this Forum.
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| Jul 20 @ 12:38 PM |
How are you raising your children?
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BandTMom
Posts: 26,405
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Thank you, Horizon.
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| Jul 20 @ 12:52 PM |
How are you raising your children? |
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sail_dancer
Posts: 8,132
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Heaven,
Sail, so were you, so was I, so was Goose, Mom, Knotty...etc. There's always a choice - it might be made harder if our parents told us that we had to follow their beliefs or be 'shunned' as the Amish do. We chose different paths that had the power to change our lives as Christianity never did. That is because christian dogma indoctrination didn't warp our minds. Everyone is different. Most but not all people can be hypnotized, likewise there are a small minority of people that can resist the effects of religious indoctrination.
We were able to make our choices because for some reason we questioned rather than blindly accepted christian indoctrination. We also had the drive to investigate for ourselves the different paths available to us.
Just because we were able to resist this indoctrination, most people can't. So when parents do not expose their children to different beliefs, the chances are that any religious indoctrination children receive will take hold and will continue to rule their lives until the end. They have been denied the opportunity to make a choice.
Peace
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