Comments on: Religion and Small Children http://system13.org/2009/01/02/religion-and-small-children/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:39:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Josh http://system13.org/2009/01/02/religion-and-small-children/#comment-52677 Josh Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:04:55 +0000 http://system13.org/?p=559#comment-52677 Akhen - <blockquote>I think as a parent, you have the responsibility to raise your children the way you want them to be raised, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. You must give them direction at this young age, and when they reach an age where they are mature enough to make their own choices, then they will, just like you did.</blockquote> The thing is, I don't really have any preference in regards to what religion they practice, if any. I'd be quite fine with instilling morals in him without any doctrine attached. I think direction can be given on how to behave without necessarily saying "this is why we're here." Slone - That seems like the way I'm likely to take. And certainly, he can disagree with me, at least on issues like this. Bed time is an entirely different affair, however. :) As an aside... your avatar is disturbing. That hat *had* to come from eBay, right? Akhen –
I think as a parent, you have the responsibility to raise your children the way you want them to be raised, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. You must give them direction at this young age, and when they reach an age where they are mature enough to make their own choices, then they will, just like you did.

The thing is, I don’t really have any preference in regards to what religion they practice, if any. I’d be quite fine with instilling morals in him without any doctrine attached. I think direction can be given on how to behave without necessarily saying “this is why we’re here.”

Slone – That seems like the way I’m likely to take. And certainly, he can disagree with me, at least on issues like this. Bed time is an entirely different affair, however. :)

As an aside… your avatar is disturbing. That hat *had* to come from eBay, right?

]]> By: Joshua J. Slone http://system13.org/2009/01/02/religion-and-small-children/#comment-52608 Joshua J. Slone Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:14:47 +0000 http://system13.org/?p=559#comment-52608 Perhaps this seems like a cop-out, but when it comes to big "Why" questions and how to answer them without starting up a bias, I like to go the "Different people believe different things." route and list a few possibilities, one of which will be my own belief. For me this situation tends to come up with my 12-years-younger step-brother and topics like politics or even different types of software/hardware, so of course it's not quite identical to religious matters with one's child. I suppose the most important thing (moreso going forward when he actually considers things at a deeper level) is to make sure he knows he can disagree with you on these things without repercussion. Perhaps this seems like a cop-out, but when it comes to big “Why” questions and how to answer them without starting up a bias, I like to go the “Different people believe different things.” route and list a few possibilities, one of which will be my own belief.

For me this situation tends to come up with my 12-years-younger step-brother and topics like politics or even different types of software/hardware, so of course it’s not quite identical to religious matters with one’s child.

I suppose the most important thing (moreso going forward when he actually considers things at a deeper level) is to make sure he knows he can disagree with you on these things without repercussion.

]]> By: Akhen http://system13.org/2009/01/02/religion-and-small-children/#comment-52606 Akhen Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:24:23 +0000 http://system13.org/?p=559#comment-52606 Hello Josh, It's a matter of opinion of whether or not you were raised Christian, because there are so many beliefs under that umbrella. What I mean here is, that someone who celebrates Christmas and goes all out to buy gifts, and decorate the tree every year might claim that they are devout Christians, while some may scoff at the very nature of Christmas, and would rather celebrate Pentecost, as this being a day Jesus actually participated in. I can go on and on, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here. I think as a parent, you have the responsibility to raise your children the way you want them to be raised, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. You must give them direction at this young age, and when they reach an age where they are mature enough to make their own choices, then they will, just like you did. Hello Josh,

It’s a matter of opinion of whether or not you were raised Christian, because there are so many beliefs under that umbrella. What I mean here is, that someone who celebrates Christmas and goes all out to buy gifts, and decorate the tree every year might claim that they are devout Christians, while some may scoff at the very nature of Christmas, and would rather celebrate Pentecost, as this being a day Jesus actually participated in. I can go on and on, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make here. I think as a parent, you have the responsibility to raise your children the way you want them to be raised, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. You must give them direction at this young age, and when they reach an age where they are mature enough to make their own choices, then they will, just like you did.

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