reply to post by asmeone2
I was raised as a Christian, when i was small i was sent to sunday school and ocassionally brought to church, but it didn't take long before i said
that i didn't want to go anymore. I was then allowed to make my own choice about sunday school/ church attendance, i was never forced to go which i
am very thankful for. I was allowed to accompany friends to their church services to see what others believed.
My gramdmother was Lutheran and i grew up hearing her say the Lord's prayer every night before she went to sleep, going to church every sunday,
getting her ashes on ash wednesday, etc. She would tell me certain ways that she believed that i should behave to follow what God wanted, but it was
never to force me, rather to expose me to her beliefs, to give me some kind of spiritual guidance. I can not remember my gramma even one time telling
me that i would go to hell for something, she NEVER used scare tactics on me.
I believe in God and Jesus, however i am more of a spiritual person i have always had a problem with organized religion, even as a child. I have the
occassional day that i have a desire to attend church, and because i was allowed to make my own choices when i do attend, i attend the church that is
truely the church of my choice, the one with beliefs that i am most comfortable with.
When i had my sons i took them to sunday school, read them stories from the children's bible, told them about my beliefs. They really showed no
interest in attending sunday school, so i stopped taking them and just answered their questions and exposed them to my beliefs. They have grown up to
be fine young men and both believe in God and Jesus because they were allowed to make their own choices as what to believe in.
Now i have grandchildren and my son and i were doing the same with them. Last year when my grandaughter was six and started asking questions about
what church was like and what it was for i answered her questions, She starting asking on a regular basis if she could go to church, so i took her
because she showed an interest and it was her choice. Even though i personally don't care to attend church on a regular basis, i take her and her
brother because they have a desire to go, my son is unable to take them as he has to work on sundays.
So in my opinion yes there is a way to raise children to have a spiritual side, and believe, or not in a higher being without forcing religion down
their throats. I believe it is actually better for them as it allows them to make their own choices freely. There are too many people out there that
believe in something, not because they have made that choice on their own, but because it was forced upon them and they know no other way.
When it comes down to it you have to raise your children as you see fit, just as your mother raised you as she saw fit. You may want to remind her of
that fact.
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