Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

I don't want to offend anyone, please help.

30 replies

sugarplumfairy28 · 12/05/2017 21:14

Ok I will be blunt, DH and I do not believe in any religion. We do however believe that our children should be able to choose the path that is right for them and we will support them.

After a family member had his confirmation which we attended (the family in question know our stance on religion and just wanted us to celebrate with them anyway, no issue whatsoever) our son started asking questions. DH and I spoke to him in a way that explained the basic concept without imparting our beliefs as not to tell him what he should think. I won't say what our son came out with but he has decided he is not religious.

He is 8 and has a religion class at school. DH and I thought this was a general teaching of religion but in fact it more a Sunday school type thing, where it is teachings from the bible etc. DS has asked not to be included which is OK. However (and here is my question) teachers and some children are rather insistent on continuing to tell him 'facts' about life and christian teachings, which is making him uncomfortable. How do I firmly tell them to stop without causing offense?

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 16/05/2017 08:21

I would of course continue to love my child unconditionally and support them if they decided to take up a faith.

I freely admit, though, that I would be disappointed, and feel that I had failed a bit.

Westray · 16/05/2017 08:21

to be taken literally

strawberry - I am fully aware that the bible was written by men.

Which bits do you know to take literally?

The garden of Eden? The creation? The parting of the seas? The virgin birth? The giving of the 10 commandments ?Jesus's miracles? The crucifixion? The resurrection? The murder of millions of people in Sodom and Gomorrah?

Some bits are OK and some not?

sugarplumfairy28 · 16/05/2017 10:36

Strawberry it's not children that are saying that, it is an adult who has been told in essence I do not want her teaching my son about her religion in this manner, and rather than her having some respect, she persists. How tolerant is she being?

The children at school, from what I have been told, have usually come out of religion class and talk about what they have been taught, they collectively go oh, huh, right, I was told this, they drop it and go play football. No issue there actually now his put it in context. For as much as he 'should' be asking the other children why they think that, the same goes for them don't you think?

I would never dream on continuing to bring up a subject, for example, telling a religious person that they are wrong or it's OK they believe and ignore the truth. That is being respectful.

My SMIL is very religious, she says things a lot, she posts on Facebook a lot, and I just scroll past, or gloss over it, I would never go up to her and say you know this is all rubbish, but it's OK I know whats right and wrong and I'll look after you. Or for example my cousins children who are being raised Christian, I wouldn't take them to one side, away from their parents, and tell them it's OK their being taught wrong and I'll look after them.

I'm sorry, but I think that some people of faith simply do not understand what it is to be respectful. What people do in their own homes or otherwise nothing to do with me is fine, but when they insist on dragging others (who have been clear) into it, that's not on.

Oddly enough I studied classical civilization at college, and have frequently spoken to my children about the stories, the temples, myths etc, this mostly came about after they asked about Thor.

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 16/05/2017 10:45

"DD was taught the story of Noah's ark at school. What helpful lesson can be learned from mass genocide?"

(1) God doesn't give a shit if you suffer and die.

(2) Prepare for the worst possible outcome, always.
.............When did Noah start building the ark?
.............Before the rain.

ollieplimsoles · 17/05/2017 16:46

Re praying for people- the Templeton foundation apparently conducted a big study in America on the effectiveness of prayer. They had three groups of people all recovering in hospital from major surgery- one group received no prayers, one received prayers but were unaware they were being prayed for, and the last group were prayed for and knew about it.

The first two groups differed very little in their recoveries but the third group made considerably slower and more troublesome recoveries.

I think if someone says they are going to pray for you and you ask them not to, you should respect that.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread