This board has spoiled me with all the material to talk about. I've also been chatting on a local Moms board, and there's so much ooohing and aaahing about church daycares and camps, and religious cartoons for kids. I feel kind of awkward mentioning on there that these things aren't da bomb for everyone. At which point they all moon over how open-minded they are but *they* aren't bothered by religious overtones in everything. Suddenly I feel like the only pagan/atheist parent around!
So how many of you are parents? Do you ever bring up your dissent when religious parents are whooping it up?
2008-08-17T20:32:02Z
Edit: I plan to teach them about various religions and I have the books and education to do it... but my oldest is 4 and the concept of religion is a bit complicated and abstract for him at the moment. I think the choose your own way conversation will have to wait a few years yet.
2008-08-17T22:01:57Z
LOL Passenger how'd you know it was Veggie Tales? ;-)
atheistforthebirthofjesus2008-08-17T22:32:13Z
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I'm not a parent, but I can empathise with your 'awkward' sense-ness.
I feel that "ooohing and aaahing ... etc" is a sub-text sort of "group" inclusion-test thing, "code-wording".
It's a no-win situation for 'outsiders'.
Times are changing, and I feel that you are right to teach your children about the various religions. It's always struck me that "deciding" upon path-selection is a tough decision to make at a young age, since kids can't really forsee the impact that such decisions can have. (and many adults can't either)
but, by rights, that's "your lot in life" for all of us
Currently I am the father to two very intelligent and active young males whom each have their own personalities. Religion is a topic which little is made of in our household. I am Germanic Folkway, my wife is pretty much disinterested, and the boys are left to their own devices, save when they ask questions or wish to know things.
Thankfully I've never had the issue that other parents have been overly religious, certainly the children have had some friends whose family is particularly religious, but for me, this is less of a consideration as long as a peoples religion isn't shoved down my or my children's throat.
Indeed, I can see how you could become annoyed with matters, given that they aren't bothered by religious overtones in everything, because the religious overtones are specifically directed at them and their belief systems.
Unfortunately, the simple fact of the matter is that as they are the majority in our society at the moment, we tend to have to put up with it to a degree.
I may be a mother some day, but not for a very long time. I do have a son online though. It started out as one of those just-for-fun online family things, and well, here we are years later and he regards me as a second mother. His parents raised him Catholic, and he knows I'm Pagan. We avoid the subject of religion for the most part. He has come to me for help on school projects, or when someone says something about a religion he knows nothing about. I try to be an unbiased source.
And, OMG how could you NOT like Larry the Cucumber!! lol. =P
Mom of one here. What?? You don't love Veggie Tales? What's wrong with you?
Seriously, I tried to do a local moms group when I first moved to this area and the talk of recipes and magazines drove me up the wall. I left before it turned into churchy talk. I'm a stay at home mom, but one that puts on Iggy Pop and The Rolling Stones during the day.
I am on an adoption forum where there are several people who have to bring God into every little thing. I tend to just ignore it and I rarely go to that forum. But it does get annoying because I fail to see why you need to bring Jesus into a conversation about an unpleasant incident at Walmart with your multi racial family. So yeah, I hear what you're saying but I rarely say anything. I just ignore it unless it's offensive.
wiccan Priest I converted from Christianity at the age of 16 I am 27 now and a parent unlike the other when my child becomes old enough I will let them choose for them self what path is the best for them i hated as a child being forced to go to church I dreaded Sunday morning I don't wish that on my kids so you are not alone just most pagans dont advertise who they are cause well we dont have the need to recruit when the time is right the lord and lady will let them know