Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:16     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.


Love goes both ways. You want to receive, but not give? What about your parents? They love you, but you don't love them? I don't worship God because I have to. I worship God because it fills my life with so much joy. I can't imagine going about my daily life and not loving God at every waking moment. How can you not love such a sweet and gentle being like God?


My friend's sister was raped on her way home from school.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My student's brother was killed in a gang incident.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My friend's school had to collect coats b/c 90% of the children qualify for free and reduced meals.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being" in the lives of these children?

My father spend 6 years dying of Parkinson's while my mother went nutty trying to care for him at home.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

Stop fooling yourself. Your life may be good, but there are many out there who suffer. You make yourself sound like an ignorant ass.




Serious question, can you tell me why you are angry that other people believe and trust in a loving God?
I have had bad things happen to me and mine as well. However, it is my relationship with the heavenly Father that has sustained me. It is a growing spiritual understand that has kept me and helped me to grow past bitterness and being mired in pain. I don't think I can explain that to you. I certainly would not want to condescend to you or make it seem it is beyond your intellectual capacity to understand. If you want to know God, try Him, ask Him, seek Him. Just don't assume that those of who do are ignorant. Best to you .
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:09     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.


Love goes both ways. You want to receive, but not give? What about your parents? They love you, but you don't love them? I don't worship God because I have to. I worship God because it fills my life with so much joy. I can't imagine going about my daily life and not loving God at every waking moment. How can you not love such a sweet and gentle being like God?


My friend's sister was raped on her way home from school.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My student's brother was killed in a gang incident.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My friend's school had to collect coats b/c 90% of the children qualify for free and reduced meals.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being" in the lives of these children?

My father spend 6 years dying of Parkinson's while my mother went nutty trying to care for him at home.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

Stop fooling yourself. Your life may be good, but there are many out there who suffer. You make yourself sound like an ignorant ass.




And you sound angry(and I'm not the pp to whom you are are responding). I have had horrible things happen and I still believe in, trust, and yes,love God. You ask where was God -- He is here. God gave us free will and with that free will we have created a world rife with horror, anger, sadness and misery. But it is all of our own making. I totally sympathize with how you feel, I understand it and ask the same questions sometimes. But, I also realize that when we decide not know God, understand God or to follow the things that He puts forth in order to create a better world and life for ourselves, then how can we ask Him why is everything so terrible? We can't take God out of everything and then wonder where He is. Many people say they don't want to believe in or worship a God that tells them what to do or how to be, so then you cannot be mad when everything goes to crap.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:05     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:Is there anybody on this thread who's a Christian but who's NOT a Catholic? Why are only Catholics posting here?

I am not Catholic !
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:04     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Not at all. Much of waht people believe in based on evidence, or things they choose to believe on their own without being taught and without being threatened with punishment if they choose not to believe. People use to believe the earth was flat, based on what they could see. Now we know that the earth is round. It's accepted based on evidence. Indoctrination requires no evidence -- just faith and blind obedience.

And some people of faith have had experiences that don't meet your standard of evidence -- but it is real and it is proof to them.
Just let them be -- you don't believe it -- then keep it moving. This whole indoctrination debate is just dumb now. Some people believe in God, some people don't. I don't think you were indoctrinated into atheism, so you do not say I indoctrinate my kids -- deal?


What? Another invitation to shut up and please go away? You could do the same, you know. Are you engaging with atheists to try to change their minds or to convince yourself that you're not indoctrinating your kids (though all teaching of doctrine without evidence is just that) or what? Certainly you don't need approval from an atheist to know you're doing the right thing for your kids.

You're right -- I was not indoctrinated into atheism -- I thought and read about it an looked at facts and evidence. But I was indoctrinated -- like everyone else - into religion. It was mild indoctrination, but indoctrination nonetheless. All religions do it -- except the Unitarians, maybe.

If these conversations make you uncomfortable, perhaps you should just avoid them, instead of trying to make a "deal" to silence someone with a different view that you find unsettling.

Whatev!
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:04     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.

You are very off-base.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:03     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

you'll be "called to task?" by God? do you mean you're indoctrinating your kids with beleifs you have no evidence for because you're afraid that if you don't, then you'll be punished in the after life by God? If what God wants people to believe is so good for them, why does god have to threaten loving parents to get them to teach their kids about it?


I am not the pp to whom you are responding, but I am a person of faith who teaches my kids about God and we most certainly do not teach OR BELIEVE that God is going to punish us. You do realize that not everyone of faith believes the same thing?


Yes, of course I do. I know it's very common for people to pick and choose among the tenets of their religion a and decide what suits them and then decide what they will teach their children to believe. I'm glad religious people do that, when it means teaching children a less punitive form of religion.

Boy are you off the mark. It's not picking and choosing. Its a matter of people having different interpretations. Geez
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 09:00     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.


Love goes both ways. You want to receive, but not give? What about your parents? They love you, but you don't love them? I don't worship God because I have to. I worship God because it fills my life with so much joy. I can't imagine going about my daily life and not loving God at every waking moment. How can you not love such a sweet and gentle being like God?


My friend's sister was raped on her way home from school.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My student's brother was killed in a gang incident.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My friend's school had to collect coats b/c 90% of the children qualify for free and reduced meals.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being" in the lives of these children?

My father spend 6 years dying of Parkinson's while my mother went nutty trying to care for him at home.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

Stop fooling yourself. Your life may be good, but there are many out there who suffer. You make yourself sound like an ignorant ass.





You do realize WE DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 06:01     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.


Love goes both ways. You want to receive, but not give? What about your parents? They love you, but you don't love them? I don't worship God because I have to. I worship God because it fills my life with so much joy. I can't imagine going about my daily life and not loving God at every waking moment. How can you not love such a sweet and gentle being like God?


My friend's sister was raped on her way home from school.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My student's brother was killed in a gang incident.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

My friend's school had to collect coats b/c 90% of the children qualify for free and reduced meals.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being" in the lives of these children?

My father spend 6 years dying of Parkinson's while my mother went nutty trying to care for him at home.
Where was this "sweet and gentle being?"

Stop fooling yourself. Your life may be good, but there are many out there who suffer. You make yourself sound like an ignorant ass.



Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 02:26     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:Is there anybody on this thread who's a Christian but who's NOT a Catholic? Why are only Catholics posting here?


Yes.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2014 02:17     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.


Love goes both ways. You want to receive, but not give? What about your parents? They love you, but you don't love them? I don't worship God because I have to. I worship God because it fills my life with so much joy. I can't imagine going about my daily life and not loving God at every waking moment. How can you not love such a sweet and gentle being like God?
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2014 22:24     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?


Excellent point -- there's nothing in any religion I know about that requires people to love god - just that God demands his followers to obey him and worship him.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2014 21:12     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:I don't have kids, and this question has been on my mind for a little bit. Parents who go to church, or any other spiritual gathering, do you have to try hard to get your little ones interested? Are they enthusiastic about the whole "God" thing?


What does it matter?

If God always loves you, why put in the extra effort to reciprocate?
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2014 20:51     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Is there anybody on this thread who's a Christian but who's NOT a Catholic? Why are only Catholics posting here?
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2014 16:37     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:
Not at all. Much of waht people believe in based on evidence, or things they choose to believe on their own without being taught and without being threatened with punishment if they choose not to believe. People use to believe the earth was flat, based on what they could see. Now we know that the earth is round. It's accepted based on evidence. Indoctrination requires no evidence -- just faith and blind obedience.

And some people of faith have had experiences that don't meet your standard of evidence -- but it is real and it is proof to them.
Just let them be -- you don't believe it -- then keep it moving. This whole indoctrination debate is just dumb now. Some people believe in God, some people don't. I don't think you were indoctrinated into atheism, so you do not say I indoctrinate my kids -- deal?


What? Another invitation to shut up and please go away? You could do the same, you know. Are you engaging with atheists to try to change their minds or to convince yourself that you're not indoctrinating your kids (though all teaching of doctrine without evidence is just that) or what? Certainly you don't need approval from an atheist to know you're doing the right thing for your kids.

You're right -- I was not indoctrinated into atheism -- I thought and read about it an looked at facts and evidence. But I was indoctrinated -- like everyone else - into religion. It was mild indoctrination, but indoctrination nonetheless. All religions do it -- except the Unitarians, maybe.

If these conversations make you uncomfortable, perhaps you should just avoid them, instead of trying to make a "deal" to silence someone with a different view that you find unsettling.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2014 16:20     Subject: Religious families-Do your children easily love God?
Anonymous wrote:

you'll be "called to task?" by God? do you mean you're indoctrinating your kids with beleifs you have no evidence for because you're afraid that if you don't, then you'll be punished in the after life by God? If what God wants people to believe is so good for them, why does god have to threaten loving parents to get them to teach their kids about it?


I am not the pp to whom you are responding, but I am a person of faith who teaches my kids about God and we most certainly do not teach OR BELIEVE that God is going to punish us. You do realize that not everyone of faith believes the same thing?


Yes, of course I do. I know it's very common for people to pick and choose among the tenets of their religion a and decide what suits them and then decide what they will teach their children to believe. I'm glad religious people do that, when it means teaching children a less punitive form of religion.