My 5 year old is asking alot of questions pertaining to death. what happens after you die, heavan, hell, God...I will be honest. I'm confused myself. I was born Catholic but i'm not practicing, my husband is no religion...this is why I want to be careful on this matter. Give him the best explaination and let him decide what he wants for himself.
How would or did you go about this?
Thanks!
2006-06-06 11:16:44 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Tell him in so many words that everyone has a different idea of God and God means something different to everyone. He is someone who watches over you in life and when life seems bad thats when God is trying to teach us the most, and he is not a person but a feeling inside of us that lets us know we'll be ok in life. As far as death is concerned tell him that when its time for people to leave the earth God will play with them until their loved ones can join them. I wouldnt explain a concept of hell. The world is negative enough as it is you could tell them maybe that when you die you get a pair of wings, but the bad people in life have to do extra stuff in heaven to get earn their wings...im not religious thats why i can answer this ? without being biased and preaching from the bible. I would encourage him when he gets older to take a world cultures class because i loved it and that was the best class i got the most out of.
2006-06-06 11:29:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that you have done the first thing right by letting your child decide for himself what he wants. many parents try to impose thier own beliefs on thier children where, as a matter of fact, they themselves don't truly believe in what they are teaching thier children about god,heaven, and all such things.so congratulations for that.
now, the big problem. i can understand your dilemma. these are topics which are not confined to a well-defined answer. they are very relative. everybody can have thier own views on them. so what i think you can do is be honest with him. make a confession to him that you yourself are not sure of it. then you can tell him what people "generally" think happens after death. but actually and eventually, everyone has to find out the truth on his or her own self.
what i think you should also do as regard to religion is that teach him the common principles of kindness, humanity, equality, justice, compassion, etc. which run through all the religions. help him become a good human being becoz that is what is the essence of all the religions - to make us better.
tell him that all the religions have a god which helps the people to become better individuals. and that the difference between the different religions is just the path they follow to achieve the same goal. then as he grows up, you can explain him the different religions and by that time, he will be able to chose for himself.
one thing that you should be careful about is that don't project "stories" about any religion as true until and unless you really believe that they are true. otherwise also do tell him these stories (it is important for him to know them) but also tell him that these "stories" are what some people "believe" to be true. they MAY BE true, they MAY NOT BE true.
2006-06-06 12:07:18 · answer #2 · answered by heavendropout 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can tell him in terms of, "when I was your age, I learned....". If he asks if you still think that, then it's a perfect opportunity to explore different stories of God, Jesus, myth, and other cultures. He can't decide for himself if he has nothing from which to choose. Biblical stories can teach moral lessons even if you don't believe the "written in stone" theory. If you yourself have any inclination to pursue a spiritual connection, this would also be beneficial for you. I believe that exposing a child to the idea that not all people share the same religion is good and teaches the concept of tolerance. Good luck!
2006-06-06 11:29:54 · answer #3 · answered by peachyone 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that parents have an obligation to teach their children about God, sex, drugs, smoking, and other important things.
If you don't, then someone else will. And it won't be what you want them to hear.
Each issue needs to be brought up at the proper age. Your son's questions show that this is the right time to talk to him about God.
Your son cannot make a proper decision without information.
If you are uncomfortable, take him to church and/or religious education and have a trained teacher talk to him.
You might want to explore your own faith while you are at it. And bring you husband along.
With love and prayers in Christ.
2006-06-06 16:19:25 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell him first that he is a surprise ..only good people will see him when he chooses the time..he has a very large and fantastic gardens with beautiful toys and coloured gardens and pure rivers that are not like what humans have on earth ..whenever we respect adults and follow his orders we are more loved and watched over by him and will be having a beautiful like fairy tales castles in his gardens and only he who chooses the time of going there.
2006-06-06 11:28:38 · answer #5 · answered by rubi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell him best the History of Jesus, from the time Jesus was a baby, he will like to relate to that, Father mother and Son, how marry love his Son, because his Son was the Son of God, ( the true is that no one has yet been able to see God) also that bad man kill him, but the father which is his heavenly Father also, save him, and because he always follow his Father and love everyone while he was a life, he became eternal, so to believe in the Father means not death. you are a woman and you can ask the virgin marry, your self how to continue, though make sure you believed in what you say to your Son, according to Jesus your Son deserved as much respect from you and any one because he(your Son its also God Son. Rely in this words Jesus said regarding the Children's "Children's will own the world and any one who arm one of this innocent doesn't deserved to be a life", as well that "think of me went you lift in your arms one of this Innocent and beautiful Children's, and think of then like was me"--------I will prey for you succes, ---------God bless you, your Son, and the entire family, in Jesus name .
2006-06-06 11:40:59 · answer #6 · answered by paradiseemperatorbluepinguin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would pray and ask God for guidance. I am so excited about your child asking about God. You can e-mail me for info at nicolettemtthws@yahoo.com and I'll give you my number. To start out you have to know that there is a God who created the universe, me, and you. You can start by reading Genesis in the Bible. I have so much to tell you. Why don't you e-mail me. I'll keep checking for you.
2006-06-06 11:26:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
learn biology, especially meiosis. i'm no longer religious yet i be responsive to that durning prophase between the 9 stages something very needed takes place. Biologists call it crossing over, the place a tetrad swaps factors of chromosomes that are a similar. with the aid of crossing over we benefit trillions of recent genetic mixture to gasoline the subsequent 500,000 years and nevertheless have trillions to bypass.
2016-10-30 08:08:21 · answer #8 · answered by sikorski 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one can understand, so just stare at the kid. Not even 969 year olds can understand. Just tell him he's not something you can see or know. ITS CRAZY. He is NOT an old man in the sky. He doesn't have age or body or anything.
2006-06-06 11:19:53 · answer #9 · answered by Gheti 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask him if he belives in things he cant see, if he says no, blow on him and ask if he can see the wind
and death is a part of life, when you are born you start to die, and when death bites your finger nails, you live an afterlife of peace and harmony
2006-06-06 11:23:05 · answer #10 · answered by woundshurtless 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋