How many of you go to church with your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My concern for people who claim to be agnostic or aethiest is that I have to wonder how much they have really explored what that really means. I have met too many people who label themselves with those terms, but who have spent practically zero time researching what that means or what they've not chosen (other faiths or practicing religions), or they rely on stereotypes on what certain religions or faiths believe or do not believe. Too often it seems to be a "quick answer" or a substitute for actually spending time learning and making informed choices about pursuing faith or not. It's easy to choose a label or classify yourself when it doesn't require any (or little) work.

It has nothing to do with intellectual laziness. I think there are many benefits, both personal and social, to having faith. But I just don't believe there is any higher power. I can't force myself to believe. Therefore, if I did join a faith or practicing religion, I would personally be living a lie. I don't want to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What would one "research?"

I guess one would "research" what you are choosing, as well as what you are not choosing. The point of my post was that I have known too many people who claim to be agnostic or aethiest, not because of what it means to be either, but because they would rather not have to know what it means to have a faith or a practicing religion. It is easy to say "I don't believe in God" or "there is no God" than actually learn about faith, religion, etc., and make a conscious choice about whether to believe or not. I'm not judging it, I'm just saying that way too many people (I think) use those terms when they haven't really taken the time (and discipline necessary) to educate themselves one way or the other, and that seems like a lazy cop-out to me.

what's to research if you don't/can't believe? I don't mean to be flip. But if you can't pass that hurdle, there's nothing left.

[Anonymous]

I am a Catholic and we attend Holy Trinity in Georgetown with our 2 1/2 year old son.

-we go every week
-we say prayers every night and my son can bless himself
-he enjoys saying his prayers
-my son actually likes to go to church and loves the music
-he will be enrolled in Sunday school
-we will think about a Catholic based school most likely for high school

My husband is not Catholic but agrees that this is the best way to raise our son. My husband was raised Episcopal but is very comfortable at Holy Trinity.

[Anonymous]

In my view, the OP asked a terrific question. It is quite relevant to me and husband as we are thinking through the same issue. My husband was raised Lutheran and will never return to it and has no desire to go to church. I was raised without church or religion and also have no desire to go to church. I do, however, feel like I missed some cultural knowledge and experiences by not attending church as a child. I try never to mention that I'm not baptized (not exactly hard to do) but I sometimes feel like an outlier in a predominantly Christian society. Do I want my child to feel the same way? Is there comfort to be derived from the rituals in church that I completely missed? Would a religious godmother or godfather help?

I appreciate the poster who pointed out at what age Sunday School starts for young children. I know nothing of such things and that's helpful to know.

Sorry, no answers, just more questions.

[Anonymous]

I'm an Episcopalian; my husband is a Unitarian Universalist (UU). We belong to different churches and are trying to make our 2 1/2 year old a part of both communities (though it's been really hard to get out of the house on Sunday mornings, and I think we've only taken him to church once a month or so for the past year).

I have several reasons for wanting my son to grow up as a member of a faith community (or rather two faith communities).

1. Community: Church gives him a chance for him to form relationships with people of different ages and different walks of life--a world more diverse than our neighborhood or our group of friends. My church is actually predominantly gay; if it turns out that my son is, too, he'll be surrounded by some amazing role models.

2. A connection with the spiritual: My husband and I both believe that there's a spiritual world to know and live in. Attending two different churches (one of which is not Christian), I'm hopeful that it will help him find a way to connect with the Divine.


Attending the Episcopal church specifically, I hope he'll get:
3. Knowledge: Growing up in the Episcopal church, I learned not only a ton about the Bible, but also wound up memorizing sections of the Book of Common Prayer, the 20th century version of a pioneering work from the 16th century, one of the great classics of literature in English. I was an English Lit major in college, and I had a huge leg up on most of my classmates, who couldn't recognize Biblical allusions, let alone BCP allusions. I know it's not likely that my son will follow the intellectual path that I did, but if he does he'll be very well-prepared.

4. Truth: I believe that the things my church teaches are true & real--the virgin birth, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the whole bit. I'd love it if he chose to be a Christian. (That said, I'm not worried about his immortal soul if he doesn't.)

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier that we take our children to church, but I've given it more thought and basically, I want my children to know that they are and always have been loved not just by us, but by God, who is gracious and merciful. It's good news, and I want them to hear it.

[Anonymous]

This is a great thread. I've been working through similar issues myself. I am a former Catholic now agnostic (meaning don't know, don't care) and husband is culturally Jewish but only practices at family celebrations. I plan to raise my children without actual religion, the way I would have wnated to be raised. But at the same time, they need the cultural knowledge.

So, I have an intellectually curious 4yo and am struggling with how to teach him about religion without having to pick a "church" or alienating him. He's a little young for "some people believe" ("but which is it, Mommy? Yes or no. You know the answer.")

You can find pretty good books on Jewish culture and tradition that educate without indoctrinating. But it's hard to find similar books on Christianity, at least for this age range. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are atheist. I see no need to drag my kids to church. That said, I will encourage them to read the bible when they are of the right age, and the Koran, to broaden their understanding of the kind of nonsense that many people believe in.

It is your decision to be an atheist. It is mine to have faith in God. I would hope that I would never make a statement about atheists akin to yours re: "nonsense that many people believe in." That automatic judgement is not helpful to this conversation thread or to the future conversation you will eventually have with your children. Faith - whether to have it in an higher being or not - is personal and visceral and some people really need it. It isn't nonsense merely because you disagree with it or do not understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What would one "research?"

I guess one would "research" what you are choosing, as well as what you are not choosing. The point of my post was that I have known too many people who claim to be agnostic or aethiest, not because of what it means to be either, but because they would rather not have to know what it means to have a faith or a practicing religion. It is easy to say "I don't believe in God" or "there is no God" than actually learn about faith, religion, etc., and make a conscious choice about whether to believe or not. I'm not judging it, I'm just saying that way too many people (I think) use those terms when they haven't really taken the time (and discipline necessary) to educate themselves one way or the other, and that seems like a lazy cop-out to me.

what's to research if you don't/can't believe? I don't mean to be flip. But if you can't pass that hurdle, there's nothing left.

MYOB and get a friggin' life. What do you care about lazy cop-outs? It's called free will, moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. 9:34, it's attitudes like yours that make me afraid of self-professed religious people. Yikes. Maybe church is not for me, after all. I'd rather hang with 9:46!

I am so sure there is plenty of room for you both. I don't think pp has an attitude. 9:46 has the attitude calling religion nonsense.

9:46 here. I didn't say that religion was nonsense. What' you're calling my "attitude" is actually your own lens seeing me. I'm going to show this to my good friend who is a protestant minister and was just named to the White House faith-based council. Maybe it will be the topic of our monthly breakfast where we explore the mysteries of life together. It'll be good for a chuckle, I'm sure.

Well he - and you - are clearly better than all of us because he is part of a White House Council. How terribly DC to think that should make you superior...oh how cute. Now I am the one chuckling!

[Anonymous]

"I find it offensive when any religious person acts like I need to be reverent towards a god that I believe does not exist. If I came to you and told you that I had an imaginary friend who required reverence, what would your reaction be? "

LOL!!!

[Anonymous]

"9:46 here. I didn't say that religion was nonsense. What' you're calling my "attitude" is actually your own lens seeing me. I'm going to show this to my good friend who is a protestant minister and was just named to the White House faith-based council. Maybe it will be the topic of our monthly breakfast where we explore the mysteries of life together. It'll be good for a chuckle, I'm sure. "

Bragging AND pretentious - classic Annoying Mom crap.

[Anonymous]

"I am a Catholic and we attend Holy Trinity in Georgetown with our 2 1/2 year old son.

-we go every week
-we say prayers every night and my son can bless himself
-he enjoys saying his prayers
-my son actually likes to go to church and loves the music
-he will be enrolled in Sunday school
-we will think about a Catholic based school most likely for high school

My husband is not Catholic but agrees that this is the best way to raise our son. My husband was raised Episcopal but is very comfortable at Holy Trinity. "

How and why the fock does a 2 1/2 year kid "bless himself"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I am a Catholic and we attend Holy Trinity in Georgetown with our 2 1/2 year old son.

-we go every week
-we say prayers every night and my son can bless himself
-he enjoys saying his prayers
-my son actually likes to go to church and loves the music
-he will be enrolled in Sunday school
-we will think about a Catholic based school most likely for high school

My husband is not Catholic but agrees that this is the best way to raise our son. My husband was raised Episcopal but is very comfortable at Holy Trinity. "

How and why the fock does a 2 1/2 year kid "bless himself"?

You've never seen someone make the sign of a cross in front of themselves? Even my non-Christian self knows about that.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread has really degenerated. The folks who don't "believe" in anything and claim to teach and foster respect, morals, etc, seem to be the ones sh*tting all over the folks who have stated they have a faith/religion. Nice that you're all so "open" and "welcoming" to diversity that, according to you, formal religion doesn't accomodate. Doesn't appear that way from the posts on this thread.