My 6-year old DD is getting into religion because of the Berenstain freaking bears

[Anonymous]

DD 6 is a big fan of the Berenstain bears books. We’ve encouraged this as those books have been very helpful to her learning to read. However, a problem has risen. Those books have gotten very Christian, and she’s read the ones about religion because she reads all of them. And after reading books about the Berenstain bears going to church and stuff, she’s started asking why we don’t go to church or Sunday school and saying that she wants to attend.

Now, when DH and I got married we agreed to raise our children in a secular way as we’ve both had bad experiences with religion. I’m not saying that our daughter can never explore religion or faith, if she wants too she absolutely can. However, in my view six is a little young for this. Especially considering that she is only interested because of the Berenstain bears.

How do we handle this? I don’t want our daughter to feel that we don’t support her but we also have no interest in joining a church. Maybe there are more laid-back ways to give her a taste of religion? What would you all suggest?

[Anonymous]

Good for her.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you should support her if she’s interested. What was your bad experience with religion?

[Anonymous]

You sound really immature

[Anonymous]

Treat it like camping or football or gardening- some families do this, some do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound really immature

Why? -NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound really immature

+1 But really, this is just an an intentionally provocative post to induce mass rage posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound really immature

+1 But really, this is just an an intentionally provocative post to induce mass rage posting.

OP here. No it’s not. Why would you say that?

[Anonymous]

When my non-practicing parents learned of my interest in the Bible, at 7 years old, they brought out a children's Bible and a book about world religions. I very much appreciated both... as well as the Bible class taught at my protestant elementary school in northern Europe.

I do not practice any religion, OP. But I think it's critical for young people to have comparative religion studies, even dumbed-down ones for kids, because it will turn them into adults who are not afraid of others just because of their religious practices. Knowledge is the best weapon against fear and intolerance.

Buy her a children's book of world religions and read it with her! This is the perfect opportunity.

[Anonymous]

This could be a real spiritual calling. Just go to a church. Church shop, whatever. You do not need to ‘join’ right away. But, by all means, try it out. Don’t allow one bad experience to negate all other potential experiences. Try a different denomination even. This should be viewed as an opportunity. Surround yourself by a loving community and a healthy kind youth group. Search around, if need be, but this is your time to explore and find spirituality in your lives.

[Anonymous]

Or take her to the nearest most traditional church and let her sit through a boring service - not one with kid stuff and a rock band.

[Anonymous]

Stop reading berenstain bear books. She’s getting too old for them anyway. Give her a new more secular series to get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD 6 is a big fan of the Berenstain bears books. We’ve encouraged this as those books have been very helpful to her learning to read. However, a problem has risen. Those books have gotten very Christian, and she’s read the ones about religion because she reads all of them. And after reading books about the Berenstain bears going to church and stuff, she’s started asking why we don’t go to church or Sunday school and saying that she wants to attend.

Now, when DH and I got married we agreed to raise our children in a secular way as we’ve both had bad experiences with religion. I’m not saying that our daughter can never explore religion or faith, if she wants too she absolutely can. However, in my view six is a little young for this. Especially considering that she is only interested because of the Berenstain bears.

How do we handle this? I don’t want our daughter to feel that we don’t support her but we also have no interest in joining a church. Maybe there are more laid-back ways to give her a taste of religion? What would you all suggest?

I don't see a problem. My second grader just learned about greek mythology at school. I describe Christianity the same way. They're fictional stories from a time when people couldn't explain the world around them. The stories can be interesting, sometimes even a bit ridiculous, but they're obviously not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my non-practicing parents learned of my interest in the Bible, at 7 years old, they brought out a children's Bible and a book about world religions. I very much appreciated both... as well as the Bible class taught at my protestant elementary school in northern Europe.

I do not practice any religion, OP. But I think it's critical for young people to have comparative religion studies, even dumbed-down ones for kids, because it will turn them into adults who are not afraid of others just because of their religious practices. Knowledge is the best weapon against fear and intolerance.

Buy her a children's book of world religions and read it with her! This is the perfect opportunity.

+1. As long as you're not raising an idiot, exposing them to mythological stories isn't going to do any harm.

[Anonymous]

Find a church with a good Sunday school. You can take her to Sunday school and sit in the lobby and play on your phone. You don’t have to participate at all. You don’t need to join. It’s fine. I teach Sunday school and see parents doing this who are not religious but their kids express interest in church. Just like you would sign her up for soccer if that’s what she asked for.