I am an atheist, but attended the ceremony as it was something that was important to my daughter. Afterwards they had a "getting to know your bible" class, that parents and kids attended together. On the way home I had a talk with her about what I believe, and how it is not the same as she does.
Her Aunt had a fit and said, "You can;t shove your opinions down her throat."
So I said to her, "thats basically what you and your church are doing, just because you believe in it does not make it true, and you should be wonderfully happy that I even allow her to go, as it would be my right as a parent to forbid it. Instead, I prefer her to learn all she can about many different beliefs so she can make up her mind later on." I then reiterated to my daughter, that she can believe what she wants to, but I expect her to question and ask about things and not just accept them blindly. If it doesn;t make sense to you, ask someone to explain until it does, whether thats the pastor or me.
2006-10-08 09:22:38 · 24 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the question is was her aunt out of line?
2006-10-08 09:27:16 · update #1
how does allowing my child to go to church even though i do not believe in it, amke me a horrible parent? Thats kind of silly isn;t it.
2006-10-08 09:28:13 · update #2
seems to me that the person who does not allow their child to experience and learn different things is the one who is messed up. I have enough faith in my child to believe that the more she knows the more of an informed decision she can make.
2006-10-08 09:32:21 · update #3
She was definitely out of line. As an atheist myself, I won't allow my son to be exposed to any kind of indoctrination until he has developed skepticism and critical thinking. Once I am confident that he is capable of thinking critically, I will encourage him to expose himself to all of the worlds religions; not just Christianity, and let him make up his own mind. Being raised a Christian myself, I know there's a lot wrong with that blood cult...er, I mean religion as many people prefer to call it. I'm not exactly the favourite of my family, all of whom are still Christians; but I think there's enough of them who are doubting Christianity that the peace is kept at family gatherings.
2006-10-08 09:57:58 · answer #1 · answered by digitalquirk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is wonderful that you let her go and that you have such an open mind about it and let her decide.
However, you can reverse the comment you made "just because you believe in it does not make it true",
By reversing that comment I mean that, just because "you" do not believe in it does not mean it is not true.
So you see it goes both ways. I think that your daughter's aunt and yourself will only confuse your daughter when you both have your opinions in front of her and in turn that will not give her a fair view of her own decision on her beliefs hearing you two do that in front of her. That is more damaging to your daughter then anything. I think she should ask her pastor and someone other than yourself and her aunt if she has any questions so that she gets an outside opinion totally outsdie of you both to decide for herself since she has to hear you and her aunt with opinions all the time. Good luck and God Bless!
2006-10-08 16:37:34 · answer #2 · answered by yeppers 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't see a question, but... I think you were in the right and her aunt over reacted. You are allowing your child to choose for herself, which is what my parents did as well. You telling your child what you believe doesn't necessarily have to be an attempt to "convert" your child to our side and take her off the "good road" as her aunt must have thought. In this world it is important that a child be raised to know that different people believe different things, and as her father it is definitely important to know and understand that you believe differently, but that beliefs don't change your family or the love in it, and it's best to have tolerance and love all people no matter what they chose to believe or not.
2006-10-08 16:30:07 · answer #3 · answered by Indigo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am glad that you let your children go to church. I was very angry at God while my children were growing up. (not an atheist,mind) but not a christian all the same. I let my kids go to church and I am glad that I did. I believe that they needed what I was not giving them. Now that I am a Christian I am sure of it.
Your aunt, really should speak more appropriatly when talking to you, esp. if talking in front of your daughter. Little pitchers have big ears, as the saying goes.
2006-10-08 16:33:33 · answer #4 · answered by 2ndchhapteracts 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Her aunt was completely out of line. You are doing the right thing in letting you child getall of the information she can about a subject before making a decision. I am atheist and my wife is Christian. We both share our beliefs with our children and we dont shove it down their throats. We actually dont discuss it unless one of them asks us a question about it. Then we both sit down and answer the question. My wife usually goes first and I come in next with the rebuttal. My kidfs learn both side of the debate and THEY choose which one they believe.
I applaud you for giving your child the right to choose to believe what she wants. Not what you , or her aunt, want her to believe.
While you at it, you may want to fill her in on all the other religions beliefs. Hell, you never know.....................
2006-10-08 16:41:27 · answer #5 · answered by wilchy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's good that you give her freedom of choice. Many parents make the mistake of shoving their beliefs down their child's throats, and don't give their children a chance to learn about other beliefs.
It seems to me that her aunt was being out of line. You don't have to let your daughter go to church, but you do and the aunt seems to be a hyprocrite.
2006-10-08 16:28:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is your responsibility to teach your child not her aunt and yes she should be taught to think. Have her read and study her Bible so she can make an intelligent decision and not one based on others opinions most of whom either never read or don't understand the Bible.
2006-10-08 16:31:59 · answer #7 · answered by beek 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a great parent. Besides letting your daughter develop her own viewpoint from a good healthy range, you've probably made it easier on yourself later on by introducing her to a moral code beyond our own parental anxieties. I hope you and she will always feel you can talk to each other about anything.
2006-10-08 17:04:47 · answer #8 · answered by shirleykins 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think its good that u let ur daughter go to church. I don't think it was wrong to tell ur child ur beliefs. Its good that u let her decide what she wants to believe and not what u want her to believe.
Oh yes, her aunt was out of line.
2006-10-08 16:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by dragonkisses 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HIP HIP HOORAY !!! you are doing fine in my opinion as when I was a youngster mom would literally force me to go to church. would pretend to be sick just to get out of going. one day I asked her how old I was going to be before I made up my mind to stay home or go and mom said 21. commented something like 15 more years to go. needless to say I go if I want and if I don't well this is my choice. being forced to go is not a good thing in my opinion.
2006-10-08 16:43:43 · answer #10 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋