last week because she could not tell me what she was taking it for. I told her that when she can give me an answer about what communion is and why she wants to partcipate, then she can. I am an athiest, but my children go to church with their grandparents so they are getting religious education from the christian point of view and from an athiests point of view. Do you think it was wrong of me to ask her to wait until she understood the reason you take communion.
2006-08-12 18:00:05 · 40 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
as i said she is getting a religious education from me her church, her godparents and her grandparents. she has many different ways of finding the answer
2006-08-12 18:05:33 · update #1
As a Christian I would like to say that you have a very enlightened attitude. I personally would do the same as you. What is the point in following mindless ritual? If you are going to worship God it is at least decent to know and understand what and why. It is the correct way to becoming fully persuaded in your own mind. By all means encourage her to find out as much as she can about the why's and wherefores of what they are teaching her. Then she can choose for herself if she thinks it is correct or not.
2006-08-12 19:56:45 · answer #1 · answered by ManoGod 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is so sad.
Do you know the reason Communion is taken?
Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me".
When your child has a question, help her find
the answer. In life, children don't stay young long.
They may turn to the wrong people for answers.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD
IS THAT THE ANSWERS ARE THERE, IN
THE BIBLE.
It's good you give her a chance for a Christian
religious education. If you aren't comfortable
telling her about Communion, ask her Grandparents to.
They can be a big help with questions.
2006-08-12 18:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by elliebear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Was it wrong? NO, it wasn't wrong.
Taking communion is meaningless unless you know what you are doing and why you are doing it.
I would say you are a little ahead of the curve on this - probably moreso than some of the members of the church your daughter is attending.
I congratulate you on your ability to do a couple of things, 1) be an atheist and still allow your children to go to a church you don't believe in, and 2) take a stand and make sure she understands the religion that she is participating in.
You may have single-handedly changed my opinion of many atheists.
Peace,
A Catholic
2006-08-12 18:05:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
First of all if you're daughter is catholic, then they will have a specific time for that after a lot of classes that teach them about it (lutherans do that too). But if she is baptist or some other sect where they don't provide such classes, then I think you are within your rights. I was raised lutheran and my mother and I went to a baptist church for awhile when I was young, I didn't understand it then and she wouldn't let me take communion. But when we found a lutheran church and I went through my first communion class around sixth grade then it wasn't a big deal because I knew why I was taking it. I think you are right for telling her not to take it. Atheist or not, communion is a big deal for certain sects of christianity and you have every right to say what you said, also that is your daughter, not your sister, so your parents (or inlaws) should respect your wishes
2006-08-12 18:13:16 · answer #4 · answered by Elora 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you want her to for SURE be a Christian, then forbidding it would be one good way to make it happen eventually. Really, children will tend to be more interested in anything that is forbidden. You know what I mean.
But your question.... was it wrong of you...
I don't think anybody really has the right to forbid another person to take communion at church; that's between them and God.
Even the Catholic Church, who discourages divorced people from taking communion.... doesn't FORBID it.
If the church she is attending has no policy against taking communion before the person has been properly educated about its meaning, then why should you interfere with that? If you are letting her go to church with them, I'd say let them handle it.
2006-08-12 18:09:41 · answer #5 · answered by mia2kl2002 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Has she made her first holy communion? That was when they explained it all to us. I think we were 7 or 8 at the time. I don't know how old your daughter is, but children aren't supposed to take communion unless they've received the sacrament via their first holy communion (which follows a prior sacrament, confession/renunciation of sin/whatever). If she's made her FHC, she should be able to tell you why she's taking communion. If her grandparents are bringing her up to the communion rail without her having made the sacrament, they're engaging in a dogmatic no-no.
Just FYI, I was raised Catholic but am no longer a member of that faith.
2006-08-12 18:07:21 · answer #6 · answered by Banba 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually we are not supposed to take communion unless we have examined ourselves and made ourselves fit for it. So you did the right thing. I commend you for giving your kids the opportunity to learn of God. However, you used the term "godparents". I assume that this is probably a Catholic education they are receiving. I hope that they also learn from other Christians. Email me if you want some lessons for them. We send them out for free all over the world.
2006-08-12 18:13:54 · answer #7 · answered by unicorn 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What Church is she taking communion in?
If it is in the Catholic Church and she has NEVER made her First Communion then the GRANDPARENTS are at fault here! She is NOT to partake in Communion UNTIL she makes her First Communion.
In other Churches I believe it is when you BELIEVE and accept Christ as your Savior THEN you can partake in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
She needs to KNOW why she is doing this NOT just doing it because OTHERS are!
2006-08-12 18:12:40 · answer #8 · answered by jennifersuem 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think you are being a good parent here. No doubt your daughter will grow to be an intelligent person no matter what direction she takes.
If only most people had parents like you this would be a much better world.
I would recommend a comparative religious course though since the environment at the catholic church is really an illusion made to indoctrinate others. Knowledge is freedom, just give her plenty of it.
2006-08-12 18:07:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
How old is she? If she's old enough to know (which she must be if she's offered communion), then I think you were correct. There's nothing worse (well, OK, a few things are worse) than people who portray themselves as 'good Christians' just because they go to church every Sunday but they don't even understand the basics or really live by them.
2006-08-12 18:05:45 · answer #10 · answered by just me 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋