Question for you

[Chezzie]

Originally Posted by koan

Some people will want their children to continue the same belief system that they hold and the answers to the child's question will be easy, or they can ask their spiritual leader (minister, preacher, guru etc) how to answer the question. For anyone that is either unsure of their belief system or individualistic about it (believing that religion is a personal experience, different for everyone) they should encourage the child to explore all the different answers that exist and come to their own conclusions.

Myself, I believe that children have more insight into where we come from and what we are as it hasn't been as long since they were unmanifest. It's one of the areas in which, I believe, the child can acquire a better answer than the adult.

This particular question shows the perceptual problem that occurs once we are in human form. We frame our questions about the creative force in a way that asks for an answer that falls within our perceptions of time and space. It is well known that human perception is limited. Dog whistles are a simple example. Why we think the answer to our spiritual questions can be found in a way that makes sense to our limited perceptions is quite a mystery to me.

That's a long version of saying the idea that God is manifest is quite funny to me and that I answered all my daughters religious questions by giving her a multitude of answers from different religions and encouraged her to find the answer herself.

Hi Koan, nice to see you
Alot of that went over my head, my problem not yours lol.
My children attended a methodist run playgroup/nursery, I was manager of this charity run Nursery. My kids loved it there, no force fed religious lesons, just harvest etc...We would take the children up into the church sometimes, always for any ceremonies.
Now @ 9years and 8 years old they are taught RE at school, they come home full of ramadam, muslim, hinduism facts and love to learn about the different cultures etc...but both say they dont believe in god. Myself and my husband have had no bearing on this, we fully support anything our kids want to do and believe in. My youngest who asked me this question says she also asked her teacher, who replied I dont know, know one knows Molly. Kind of says it all.
My eldest daughter came to me the other day and told me she wants to be a buddist, so I said sure....True to how 9 year olds work, I havent heard anymore about it lol

[Chezzie]

Originally Posted by kazalala

Are you sure? i have experienced many "coincidences" and after a while i realised those coincidences did mean something. Sometimes signs are hard to see.

Well I think I would realise like you did wouldnt I?...The coincidences you experienced havent happened to me to make me think other wise hun x

[kazalala]

Originally Posted by Chezzie

Hi Koan, nice to see you
Alot of that went over my head, my problem not yours lol.
My children attended a methodist run playgroup/nursery, I was manager of this charity run Nursery. My kids loved it there, no force fed religious lesons, just harvest etc...We would take the children up into the church sometimes, always for any ceremonies.
Now @ 9years and 8 years old they are taught RE at school, they come home full of ramadam, muslim, hinduism facts and love to learn about the different cultures etc...but both say they dont believe in god. Myself and my husband have had no bearing on this, we fully support anything our kids want to do and believe in. My youngest who asked me this question says she also asked her teacher, who replied I dont know, know one knows Molly. Kind of says it all.
My eldest daughter came to me the other day and told me she wants to be a buddist, so I said sure....True to how 9 year olds work, I havent heard anymore about it lol

I think that was a good and truthful answer. I think its ok to say i dont know in answer to childrens questions sometimes,,, and they seem to accept it

[Chezzie]

Originally Posted by minks

thas a good one chezzie, I am a stronge believer in the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Beyond that I guess pretty much my "faith" is in myself. If my child were to ask that question, I would have to tell them first if they believed in god, then likely direct them to their grandmother who very much believes and maybe she could help. My children were raised without religion and at 20 and 17 I would think if they were asking it meant they were maybe considering looking further into some kind of faith.

Sometimes I feel guilty for not having got married in a church, had my kids christianed and attend church, only due to peer pressure as I have no desire whatsoever to be a hypocrit. Thanks for that Minks, sounds like my life and if my kids grow up as yours have, I'll know I havent gone far wrong

[Chezzie]

Originally Posted by CARLA

Chezzie none of us know the answer to this question and in my mind that is how it is to be. We all believe in something even if its not believing in anything.

I respect your belief system as I would anyone's. You are a good person raising your kids a loving family that is what counts to me more than any religion.

Thanks Carla, my little Hawaiin angel x

[Chezzie]

Originally Posted by kazalala

I think that was a good and truthful answer. I think its ok to say i dont know in answer to childrens questions sometimes,,, and they seem to accept it

Yes I agree totally Kaz, however when that teacher is trying to teach them the bible and cant answer their question it confuses them. If their in a math lesson and ask a question, they get an answer, same as in English, History, Geography but not RE.

Im not slating the bible by any means, I would be a hypocrite if I did because I havent read it all and im not informed enough.

I just find it hard to be the parent I want to be when my child asks me these questions. I want to give them a totally unbiased answer but as their are so many different answers to lots of these questions its a toughie, especially the question she asked yesterday that No-one knows..

[Chezzie]

Originally Posted by WonderWendy3

Sending hugs and love to you sweetie!!

awwww received and feeling all mushy inside...your a gorgeous darling

[kazalala]

Originally Posted by Chezzie

Yes I agree totally Kaz, however when that teacher is trying to teach them the bible and cant answer their question it confuses them. If their in a math lesson and ask a question, they get an answer, same as in English, History, Geography but not RE.

Im not slating the bible by any means, I would be a hypocrite if I did because I havent read it all and im not informed enough.

I just find it hard to be the parent I want to be when my child asks me these questions. I want to give them a totally unbiased answer but as their are so many different answers to lots of these questions its a toughie, especially the question she asked yesterday that No-one knows..

it is a difficult one yes because religion believing in God etc. is just about having blind faith. Im not quite sure myself,, and that would be my answer i suppose because that would be the truth and my own opinion, and i suppose thats the way i would put it across, that its something that is personal to each person and you eventually make up your own mind (or not) as you go through life. Right im definately rambling now, i dont know why i involve myself in these situationsAnyway you dont always have to have the answer as a parent, but you can still discuss things without having to come to some sort of final conclusion.
Hope you can understand my ramblings

[minks]

Originally Posted by Chezzie

Sometimes I feel guilty for not having got married in a church, had my kids christianed and attend church, only due to peer pressure as I have no desire whatsoever to be a hypocrit. Thanks for that Minks, sounds like my life and if my kids grow up as yours have, I'll know I havent gone far wrong

I was raised within the catholic faith, and that was all I got out of it, the golden rule and believing in myself. I raised my children to choose what they wanted to believe in, they did not attend catholic school, they went to "public" school which meant no religion was taught basically. I remember one day my youngest coming home asking me to write a note to the teacher to excuse her from class because they started to talk about religion in some country they were studying in social studies and I simply told her, ... you are being taught about another countries beliefs, it doesn't mean anyone (mostly your teacher) is trying to get you to believe in religion. She was satisfied with that and stayed in class. I did tell her afterwards that if she wanted to know more about religion I would gladly take her to her grandmas and let them discuss it and assured her, her grandmother was very knowledgeable and would not push to hard. It never took place mind you.

[Ted]

A good book to read on this topic is "A History of God" by Karen Armstrong. She writes and interesting and scholarly account of the history of man's belief in God.

It is interesting that many claim the Buddhists do not believe in God. This is, however, untrue. Their position is much like mine. They refuse to discuss the existence of God because they believe that the divine power behind creation cannot be described or defined in human language. God is above and beyond existence. None of our words or phrases can deal with the topic. In fact they do not like the term "God" because:

"This is largely because theists use the word "God" in a limited way to refer to a being who is not very different from us.. Like the sages of the Upanishads, the Buddha insisted that nirvana could not be defined or discussed as though it were any other human reality.

Attaining nirvana is not like 'going to heaven' as Christians often understand it. The Buddha always refused to answer questions about nirvana or other ultimate matters because they were 'improper' or 'inappropriate.' We could not define nirvana because our words and concepts are tied to the world of sense and flux. Experience was the only reliable 'proof'.' His disciples would know that nirvana existed simply because their practice of the good life would enable them to glimpse it." pg 31-32, "A History of God", Karen Armstrong.

If you wish a Buddhists comments on Nirvana I can give a quote.

Shalom
Ted