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Post by Tara on Sept 20, 2004 10:52:30 GMT -5
I never thought to discuss this before, until now that is. What are your stances on children and religion? For example, should a child be foreced to participate in religious customs and dedicated into a religion when they're small? Or should they have the chance to observe the traditions and see if they want to become apart of it? Or should they have no choice in the matter until they reach of age (whatever that is in your area) I think this is very important to address, don't you?
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Post by Amalcas on Sept 20, 2004 15:45:49 GMT -5
Baha'is believe that children should be brought up in our ways, but become learned in all the religions. Infact, it is a duty of the parent to expose the child to many religions and make them learn about them. They, at the age of fifteen, are given the choice to sign the card. Its more of a formality, as children born into a Baha'i family already have an ID and stuff, but it is the first age when they can request to be removed from the Faith.
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Post by Avalon on Sept 20, 2004 16:00:22 GMT -5
I have a hard time with this one. If you teach them a certain religious belief as a kid, they can be generally bias and sometimes even hateful towards other views. If you do not give them a religious foundation, they may be lost as an adult, or grow up with a low set of moral standards.
I personally, grew up, with no religious backing. At the age of seven, I joined a Catholic church on my own. I turned out okay, but I'm still young, so we'll see.
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Post by Tara on Sept 20, 2004 16:14:12 GMT -5
If you do not give them a religious foundation, they may be lost as an adult, or grow up with a low set of moral standards. Are you saying that if you had not joined the Catholic church back when that you would be without morals and/or structure? Would you say this about Atheists/Agnostics? If so, I disagree.
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Post by Avalon on Sept 20, 2004 16:30:29 GMT -5
No, I had previously been tought a great set of morals,which I retained at a young age.
I believe you missed my very important use of the word "may".
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Post by Tigress on Sept 20, 2004 16:53:33 GMT -5
What are your stances on children and religion? For example, should a child be foreced to participate in religious customs and dedicated into a religion when they're small? Or should they have the chance to observe the traditions and see if they want to become apart of it? Or should they have no choice in the matter until they reach of age (whatever that is in your area) I think a child should be brought up in the religion of his or her parents, but should also be made aware of and taught about other religions and alternatives alongside. I'm not sure how I feel about baptism, but then I'm not sure it would matter to someone leaving the religion. Concerning the issue of age and leaving a religion, etc; I honestly don't believe in a set age. If a child of eight decides that he or she wants to "go on a spiritual search," who are we to stop them? All we can do is support them and have confidence that they'll keep in mind the morals and values they've been taught thus far.
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Post by justfree on Sept 21, 2004 8:54:09 GMT -5
I don't think there is anything wrong with inroducing or even bringing up a child in your particular faith. I think it is important though, that you teach them about other faiths as well and never make them feel as though they are "forced" into anything...in the end the choice must be theirs.
Avalon, this is just my opinion, but I think that morals can be learned from many different sources. The society and culture you live in, your parents, your religion, your state (the law); all of them convey to each person a set of moral standards. All of them give you an image of what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. As far as I'm aware, none of the mentioned sources are by far superior to the others in conveying morals: the deciding factor is internalisation, how well each person integrates the morals into his/her personality and chooses to abide by them. Moral values are disregarded by some regardless of the source.
While there are some fundamental morals that seem to apply across the board around the world (shall not murder, steal, etc.), nothing points to there being a universal "moral standard", and therefore there can be nothing like "low moral standards" - just a different set of moral standards. Some standards might seem low to you because they are not in harmony with your own moral standards.
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Post by Mestemia on Sept 22, 2004 14:51:35 GMT -5
I think a child should be brought up in the religion of his or her parents, but should also be made aware of and taught about other religions and alternatives alongside. I'm not sure how I feel about baptism, but then I'm not sure it would matter to someone leaving the religion. Concerning the issue of age and leaving a religion, etc; I honestly don't believe in a set age. If a child of eight decides that he or she wants to "go on a spiritual search," who are we to stop them? All we can do is support them and have confidence that they'll keep in mind the morals and values they've been taught thus far. I tend to agree with you. I have two daughters and I have strived to teach them right from wrong. My eight year old like going to church and I have not any problem with that. When she asked to attend church with one of her friends, I wanted to know where the church was so that if there was a problem I would be able to get to her a bit faster. It turns out that it is a Muslim Temple. When she got back she said that the people at that church are not the bad peolpe that she always sees on the news. What a way to start teaching her that there are extremists and fatalists in every religion.
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moonchain
Guide
It raises a fever of intense apathy.
Posts: 595
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Post by moonchain on Sept 22, 2004 16:47:02 GMT -5
I don't have much extra to say on the raising issue. I agree with a bunch of people here that parents should be able to teach their kids whatever religion they want, but at the same time they have an obligation to keep the children's minds open to other spiritual paths (not necessarily for conversion, but just so we can recognize each other exists, love each other, and get on with our lives).
As for early rites, such as baptism, I have no problems with this. A) It is not binding because if it were you would never see anyone convert from the religions they had been bound into. (I know that's obvious, but still...) B) Converts will honestly not care because most other religions (or non-religions) do not have anything writ that says that the rituals you experience as a child makes you impure - or if they do, then there are usually ways through this new religion to become pure. C) It's not just (in baptism's case, for example) a welcoming into a religion, but most of the time it is to bind a child into a community. Religious community is very important (which is why I come on here all the time and try to keep in touch with the few Pagan friends I make). If I ever decide to revert to my Methodist ways I can always go back to this community that made me one of them a long time ago or if I want to be Baptist I can go through another baptism ritual to be reborn into a new community. First rites are important, even if someone eventually leaves a religion.
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Post by PhantomsPandora on Sept 22, 2004 18:21:14 GMT -5
I loved bible school when I was little. But you think back about bible teachings when you were younger. It is good values to know that you are loved by God and Jesus-you learn things that enrich your soul and learn morals and values that are good for children at that time.
Man I love the preacher's little boy, Brayden. I'd love to to take him home, ya'll. He's only 14 months old, has a sense of humor. I often wonder if children can see what we cannot, we grow older and a bit out of touch, but to that degree I don't know. I gotta talk about him on the church experiences thread, he's a cut up when it comes to church services.
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Post by Tigress on Sept 22, 2004 21:32:11 GMT -5
When she asked to attend church with one of her friends, I wanted to know where the church was so that if there was a problem I would be able to get to her a bit faster. It turns out that it is a Muslim Temple. When she got back she said that the people at that church are not the bad peolpe that she always sees on the news. What a way to start teaching her that there are extremists and fatalists in every religion. I think that's a good experience to have as a child. Especially for children now, after 11/09/01. I'm afraid that some children may grow up to be anti-Muslim because it seems like every Muslim is being targeted and blamed for the attacks. Btw...isn't a Muslim Temple actually called a Mosque?
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Post by Tigress on Sept 22, 2004 21:37:32 GMT -5
I often wonder if children can see what we cannot, we grow older and a bit out of touch, but to that degree I don't know. I think that's why Jesus said to "become like little children" or something along those lines. I think a child's mind is more "susceptible" to the spiritual aspect of things.
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Post by Amalcas on Sept 22, 2004 22:04:41 GMT -5
A child is pure. As we learn, we pick up bad with the good. To "become liek little children" is to purify oneself.
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Post by Tara on Sept 23, 2004 13:07:27 GMT -5
Btw...isn't a Muslim Temple actually called a Mosque? Yes.
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Post by Mestemia on Sept 27, 2004 16:07:59 GMT -5
I think that's a good experience to have as a child. Especially for children now, after 11/09/01. I'm afraid that some children may grow up to be anti-Muslim because it seems like every Muslim is being targeted and blamed for the attacks. Btw...isn't a Muslim Temple actually called a Mosque? That I do not know. I have found out that they (the Muslims) are encouraging her to come back and learn more. At first I thought this was a conversion tactic but after following up on it (going there and talking with the head honcho (no disrespect intended, I forgot his "title")), I believe that they are not trying to 'convert' anyone. they are merely teaching others their true beliefs and letting others know that 99% of what you see in the media is fanatic and extremist groups. Anyway, I have told my daughter that if she wishes to go back that I have no problem with it. If she does not want to go, I have no problems with that either. I do feel that I have the responsibility to check up on any group with which has my daughters interest. There are many con artists out there and many 'cults' that kidnap people.
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