A question about what your kids read *warning mild religious content*

[~Jessie~]

Just an added note:

it seemed to be common belief that you should not let a child read about God if you do not believe because 2 year olds will believe anything you tell them....

Ok well that is all well and good .... but.... you believed a lot of things when you were two that are not correct..... do you still believe those things now? Do you still believe cartoon characters are real? Probably not. but I bet you still look fondly upon those cartoons and maybe even remember the "lesson" that was in the episode such as learning to count, or be nice to others. So why is a book about God any different? So at two you believe there is a God (just like you believe cartoons characters are real) because his name was mentioned in a book that also taught a very good lesson such as "treat others as you would like to be treated". when you are ten are you going to still believe that there is a God if you have been taught otherwise by your parents? probably not.... but hopefully your parents will have kept the LESSON in that book alive in you.

I mean.... I read the berenstein bears when I was a kid..... I believed that they really exsisted when I was very young. Should I not have been allowed to read that because my parents didn't believe there were actually bears out there that wore clothes and raised their little bear families? lol it's the SAME thing. If you don't believe in God..... reading a book that has God in it is the same as reading them winnie the pooh (in their eyes) but we still read them winnie the pooh because there is often a good message in the book.... help those in need. A book about God can teach the same lesson and God can be the "winnie the pooh" of the book if you don't want your kids to believe in God.

In other words, if we didn't want our kids at two years old to believe in anything that we don't believe in as adults.... a kids life would be pretty boring if you don't believe in God than just make him another "character" like winnie the pooh and your kid will be none the wiser. and no harm done to those who do not believe in God.

Why is it any different?

Because you're teaching your kids about religion. No one believes that Winnie the Pooh and the Barenstein Bears created the world. They are harmless fictional characters. Some people would rather not put religion into the picture. These examples are completely different.

 

[tessa_s212]

Just an added note:

it seemed to be common belief that you should not let a child read about God if you do not believe because 2 year olds will believe anything you tell them....

Ok well that is all well and good .... but.... you believed a lot of things when you were two that are not correct..... do you still believe those things now? Do you still believe cartoon characters are real? Probably not. but I bet you still look fondly upon those cartoons and maybe even remember the "lesson" that was in the episode such as learning to count, or be nice to others. So why is a book about God any different? So at two you believe there is a God (just like you believe cartoons characters are real) because his name was mentioned in a book that also taught a very good lesson such as "treat others as you would like to be treated". when you are ten are you going to still believe that there is a God if you have been taught otherwise by your parents? probably not.... but hopefully your parents will have kept the LESSON in that book alive in you.

I mean.... I read the berenstein bears when I was a kid..... I believed that they really exsisted when I was very young. Should I not have been allowed to read that because my parents didn't believe there were actually bears out there that wore clothes and raised their little bear families? lol it's the SAME thing. If you don't believe in God..... reading a book that has God in it is the same as reading them winnie the pooh (in their eyes) but we still read them winnie the pooh because there is often a good message in the book.... help those in need. A book about God can teach the same lesson and God can be the "winnie the pooh" of the book if you don't want your kids to believe in God.

In other words, if we didn't want our kids at two years old to believe in anything that we don't believe in as adults.... a kids life would be pretty boring if you don't believe in God than just make him another "character" like winnie the pooh and your kid will be none the wiser. and no harm done to those who do not believe in God.

Why is it any different?

Fantastic point.

Just as there are parents that force religion upon their kids, there are parents that force athiest belief systems on their children as well. It is just the sick world we live in that says someone must think and believe what you do in order for you to accept them, instead of loving them for the fullness of who they are, no matter if they are different from you in appearance, belief, or opinion. Forcing one's belief on another, especially one's children, is not a Christianity trait,.. it is a poor character trait that can be shown by anyone and everyone if they do not understand and appreciate the importance of diversity.

Basically, I just think everyone would be a whole heck of a lot better off if everyone stopped trying to make everyone think and believe everything they do, but instead appreciate and have an honest curiosity for the thoughts and beliefs of others.

 

[sparks19]

Because you're teaching your kids about religion. No one believes that Winnie the Pooh and the Barenstein Bears created the world. They are harmless fictional characters. Some people would rather not put religion into the picture. These examples are completely different.

But if you don't believe in God.... you don't have to bring religion into it. just let your two year old believe that God is just another character. Only YOU can make God religious at that age. otherwise they are none the wiser about who God is. Make God a harmless fictional character if you don't want your child believing in that religion.

I still really don't see the difference. You are the one that chooses what they learn about at that age.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I never said they wouldn't go to church with me or that I wouldn't teach them to pray etc etc.

but I will not shelter them from other beliefs. I WANT my children to share my faith but I will not shun them if they don't.

my parents were not christians (although I was baptised). and I didn't grow up under the influence of any belief. Although we always believed in God I can't say there was really any sort of faith in my household.

I came upon my faith all by myself without guidance from any other human. to ME that was GREAT. I truly appreciate my faith after living a lifestyle that was less than desireable for so many years. I chose my faith all on my own and I appreciate it that much more because I was allowed to choose it..... it wasn't forced on me by anyone. Like I said we always believed in God and heaven and we had prayers at funerals and such but we were never practicing.... we never went to church or anything like that.

So YES my children will be raised in a Christian home. they will be taught about God..... but I will not shelter them from other religions. they are going to meet people in life that don't share their beliefs. I don't want them to look down on others because they believe something different. I want them to understand that not everyone believes in God. I cannot and will NOT force my children to share my faith when they decide they are ready to choose. I HOPE they will share my faith but most importantly I want them to know they have the freedom to choose and I can only hope I have provided them with the tools to make an educated decision and not just follow the crowd.

It's great that you came up upon your faith all by yourself when you did. God called people to work in His vinyard at different times. The most wonderful thing is we'll all be paid the same !

As someone who was brought up exclusively Catholic, I never feel sheltered from other religions, and never look down on anyone! I studied world religions in college, took some more classes afterward to go in depth, and have tons of books about them... So, I can humbly say I do know quite a lot about other religions, and the more I learn about other faiths, the more I love mine.

So, bring up a child in a certain faith doesn't mean sheltering him/her in all others.

 

[sparks19]

It's great that you came up upon your faith all by yourself when you did. God called people to work in His vinyard at different times. The most wonderful thing is we'll all be paid the same !

As someone who was brought up exclusively Catholic, I never feel sheltered from other religions, and never look down on anyone! I studied world religions in college, took some more classes afterward to go in depth.. So, I can humbly say I do know quite a lot about other religions, and the more I learn about other faiths, the more I love mine.

So, bring up a child in a certain faith doesn't mean sheltering him/her in all others.

I agree.

I just wanted to point out that I didn't say I wouldn't bring up my child in my faith. They most certainly will grow up in a Christian household. but if someone gave me a book that had Buddah in it or what have you I wouldn't throw it away just because of that. Chances are the book still has a good lesson in it. If my kid happened to ask who Buddah was I would be honest. but chances are a 2 year old is going to think Buddah (I hope I am spelling that right lol) is along the same lines as any other character in any other book unless told otherwise. No harm done unless I make it so.

I agree with Aussie Red.... the important part is they are READING. Who cares if it's about God or Buddah. they are READING. it's a wonderful wonderful wonderful thing.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

do you expect the answers to be the same or different, and why? (I guess I'm trying to understand what you meant..)

Why????

Let's just say my kids are 20, 18, and 15--and I am guessing as you parent your children you will see how what you now THINK is so not the way it will necessarily go.....but carry on with your discussion, I am enjoying it,,opcorn:

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I agree with Aussie Red.... the important part is they are READING. Who cares if it's about God or Buddah. they are READING. it's a wonderful wonderful wonderful thing.

I absolutely agree.

 

[~Jessie~]

But if you don't believe in God.... you don't have to bring religion into it. just let your two year old believe that God is just another character. Only YOU can make God religious at that age. otherwise they are none the wiser about who God is. Make God a harmless fictional character if you don't want your child believing in that religion.

I still really don't see the difference. You are the one that chooses what they learn about at that age.

And if these books were about god chasing after honeypots, then you'd have a case there. The thing is, these books are teaching about god creating things in the world around us. As a parent, it's your decision about what your kid learns about- especially when it comes to religion.

 

[sparks19]

Let's just say my kids are 20, 18, and 15--and I am guessing as you parent your children you will see how what you now THINK is so not the way it will necessarily go.....but carry on with your discussion, I am enjoying it,,opcorn:

I by no means am saying that raising children is easy or predictable. But I will try my best to educate them and I will try my best to teach them to have an open mind. if I fail at that you may laugh in my face I suppose or make fun of what a failure I am.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

I by no means am saying that raising children is easy or predictable. But I will try my best to educate them and I will try my best to teach them to have an open mind. if I fail at that you may laugh in my face I suppose or make fun of what a failure I am.

I really have no idea why you would think I would laugh at you for anything--I have no reason to make fun of you or anything of the like. Apparently your reactions to my posts are far from what I would expect--I'll do use both a favor and leave your threads and posts alone.

 

[bnwalker2]

I was raised by a VERY religious mother. My father on the other hand, did not believe in god. My mother was already married when she "found" god, otherwise she said she would not have married a non-believer... but she did not believe in divorce.

Anyway, I was homeschooled after Kindergarten. I was ONLY allowed to read books about god or about her christian faith. My curriculum for school was all "god based", everything from science to history to even math, everything was centered around god. She tried to teach me that any other religion was wrong and that I'd go to he** if I did not believe what I was raised to believe.

Now, as an adult, I can form my own opinions on a variety of subjects, including religion. I now have no desire to have a religion or believe in a god, in all honesty she completely turned me off to it in general.

I do not have children at the moment but someday if I do, they will not be taught about god or religion from me. But if they learn about it from their friends or however, and that's what they want to believe in, that's fine with me. They will be allowed to form their own opinions about things. I want them to understand that everyone believes something different and that's fine!

As for books, they will be allowed to read whatever they choose to as long as it is age appropriate (i.e., obviously no "romance" novels as a child, lol).

 

[Xerxes]

Well.. *Pause to think if I should continue*.. as I realize I'm once again may swim alone against the current on this thread

IF (a very big IF) you (a generic you, of course) as parents strongly believe in God, and you KNOW without doubt that God is real & through the ups and downs of your lives, you SEE what good faith has done to you, then why don't you want the same thing for your kid?

I can understand non-believer parents do not want to direct their kids toward God, but I can never understand why Christian parents would want their kids to "believe in whatever they choose when they grow up". Wouldn't you want to bring them up in your faith?

For me, I would do my best to instill the Catholic faith in my kids. Of course, I won't do it forcefully, and I won't steer them away from any questions they may have that surely will arise as they grow up... BUT, I'll do it by taking them to Church with me every Sunday, setting good examples for them, teaching them to pray to God, showing them who God is and what God does, and how they can be like-God to others. With God's grace & my efforts, I pray that they'll remain in their faith throughout their lives.

The best thing I inherited from my parents is my faith, and I would hope to be able to pass it on to my kid.

I'm an atheist and I believe the same way that you do.

IF I were a christian (I was raised in a pentecostal family) I would want to have my child experience and know that "truth" which I know. I would also like for them to understand that there are other belief systems out there. I also think that it's only natural that a parent would do this. After all how many Jewish parents let the 9 day old child decide whether or not he wants to be circumsized? How many babies are baptized without their permission? How many children go through the confirmation process every year?

I think that religious indoctrination is only natural and that it is only natural that a parent would want their child to believe and have faith in the same things that the parents do.

 

[bubbatd]

May I say that I was not brought up with any home religion . Though we went to church every Sunday ( me to Sunday school ) when my Grandmother died I was seven and there was no talk of her being in Heaven . Yet , I felt her presence with me and through her became closer to God . Then when I was deathly sick at 9 , I heard my Mother talking on the phone to a friend saying there was no hope . I couldn't talk , but prayed my little heart out ! The next morning my temp dropped to 103 and I'm here today !! No God ??? Hmmmmmmmmmm why am I here !

 

[probe1957]

As parents, it is our duty to instill in our children our beliefs and our values. At some point in their lives, they will either accept them or reject them. All we can do is mold them into what WE HOPE they become.

Edited to correct spelling.

 

[Xerxes]

As parents, it is our duty to instill in our children our beliefs and our values. At some point in their lives, the will either accept them or reject them. All we can do is mold them into what WE HOPE they become.

Well said Billy.:hail:

 

[M&M's Mommy]

As parents, it is our duty to instill in our children our beliefs and our values. At some point in their lives, the will either accept them or reject them. All we can do is mold them into what WE HOPE they become.

:hail: In 3 short sentences, you've said what I've been trying to say in paragraphs after paragraphs. :hail:

 

[milos_mommy]

And if these books were about god chasing after honeypots, then you'd have a case there. The thing is, these books are teaching about god creating things in the world around us. As a parent, it's your decision about what your kid learns about- especially when it comes to religion.

To some people, God IS just a story. The bible is simply just another story. And many people teach the bible in that manner.

I also think it's very strange when people don't let their children read books such as harry potter. The kids aren't going to suddenly decide that their religion is completely fake and that magic wizards exist. Yes, kids might think this is real. They WILL question God. Because kids do that. But i'm pretty sure if they're mentally sound, by the time they're old enough to choose their own religion, they're not going to be walking around truly believing the people in paintings come alive and mail is actually delivered by owls.

In my opinion, sheltering your child from books about God because they'll think that it's real is just as bad as telling a four-year-old they'll go to hell if they don't believe in god.

 

[milos_mommy]

May I say that I was not brought up with any home religion . Though we went to church every Sunday ( me to Sunday school ) when my Grandmother died I was seven and there was no talk of her being in Heaven . Yet , I felt her presence with me and through her became closer to God . Then when I was deathly sick at 9 , I heard my Mother talking on the phone to a friend saying there was no hope . I couldn't talk , but prayed my little heart out ! The next morning my temp dropped to 103 and I'm here today !! No God ??? Hmmmmmmmmmm why am I here !

This is why i definately believe in a higher power. But... i don't think i'm at liberty to judge whether it's Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Zeus, The Goddess, Karma, or whatever that makes these things happen.

 

[Puckstop31]

As parents, it is our duty to instill in our children our beliefs and our values. At some point in their lives, they will either accept them or reject them. All we can do is mold them into what WE HOPE they become.

Could not agree more... And the quote below is why you cannot and should not FORCE faith on anybody. ****

Now, as an adult, I can form my own opinions on a variety of subjects, including religion. I now have no desire to have a religion or believe in a god, in all honesty she completely turned me off to it in general.

**** For the half of you who want to freak out about the "force" comment. It is not up to me to make you believe, all I can do is plant the seed.

 

[Xerxes]

I think the very idea of "forcing faith" is an oxymoron. Faith is trusting the unseen and unknown. How can that be "forced" upon someone?

External structure can be forced, but internal structure cannot. JMO.