My wife (catholic) and I decided before we had children that we would let them make their own minds up after they are old enough to really understand religions. But my mother-in-law began her indoctrination of my oldest child into Christianity years ago, and now I am afraid she will start on my other children. She secretly had my first son baptised! I kid you not. After that I refused to leave her alone with my other kids for any length of time. I do not want my children filled with this type of brainwashing.
So last year I let my oldest stay over her house for the night, (she's his grandmother,I can only forbid it so long if my wife wants it) so she started telling him about heaven and jesus and all the other myths that Christianity is based on. This after I spoke to her about not proseletyzing my children! So now I have to make the decision, should I never let my children stay at her house, or take the chance that she will start pushing her deluded view of the world on them again?
2006-10-20 08:37:34 · 15 answers · asked by barter256 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It would be a shame to not allow your children to see their grandparents, but it is wrong for your in-laws to go against your wishes when it comes to your children. I don't care what religion they are or how much they really, really, really believe their way is right, they should have more respect.
I'm a secular Humanist, and my grandchildren are being reared as Baptists. That's what their mother wants, and they are her children. I respect her right to make that decision and actively support it.
2006-10-20 08:42:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
If it comes down to what she feels she HAS to do and she won't stop no matter what you say then yes, keep your children away. You are the parent. You are the decision maker. If you don't want them bombarded with any certain religious outlook and she's doing exactly what you don't want, you have every right to refuse to let her see them. Especially after that "secret baptism" thing... I'd keep them away based solely on THAT. How creepy...
But look, if you feel like you CAN reason with her, try that approach. Leave the kids with someone you can trust, go to see her, sit her down and have a very serious conversation with her. Prepare something to say if you think you won't be able to get it all out without fumbling or being interupted. Try to be gentle but very firm and if that doesn't get through to her, you'll have to go with an ultimatum. Stop proselytizing or stop seeing the kids.
2006-10-20 08:42:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest that after your mother in law offers her delusions to your children, show them different aspects of other religions, and beliefs, so they can make an informed choice when they are grown up. Be open to them why you feel the way you do about christianity. Culture is good for them anyways.
In the mean time, untill your mother in law, respects your wishes I would not let your children stay by her.
I know how you feel, I am Wiccan and my mother in law is always trying to take us to church and give us bibles, and gives my son all kinds of christian related books and items whenever we vist her. Luckly she lives in a diffrent state so we only see her a few times a year.
2006-10-20 08:47:08 · answer #3 · answered by paganrosemama 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Definitely do not let them stay over ever again.
Clearly your mother-in-law has no respect for the agreement you and your wife made - or for any other view than her own. Until she learns some respect, she doesn't derserve to play any meaningful role in their lives.
2006-10-20 08:44:28 · answer #4 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's not my case, but it was my parents (with their parents, concerning our education). My parents policies were "our kids, our responsibility". They accepted opinions, but they had their final decision. And they put it like this (especially to my mum's mum): "If you have brought us up well, why shouldn't you trust us? You did a good job on us. Well, now give US a chance to try it our way." After all, my brother, my sister and I were raised outside religions, but we're fairly good people.
2006-10-20 08:41:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
12 Gage
2006-10-20 08:39:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
SECRETLY HAD HIM BAPTIZED?!?!? Dear God man!
Keep them away - for the sole reason that they are YOUR children and she is not respecting YOUR wishes. I plan on do the same thing if/when I marry (to allow my children the right to choose what they want to believe) but for crying out loud!
*shakes head in real life* I can't believe she baptized him!!! That is rude!!!!
2006-10-20 08:40:29 · answer #7 · answered by ηιgнт ѕтαя 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I am concerned about this from both sides. I'll allow noah type trinkets and decerations they buy for my soon to be born boy, but that's where I draw the line. But I'm not sure how I'm going to react if they start prostylizing.
2006-10-20 08:43:57 · answer #8 · answered by Manny 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Your MIL obviously has very strong feelings about her faith, likely believing she is responsible for your kids' souls. But, in lieu of that, she should repect your and your wife's wishes about how you want your children to be raised.
2006-10-20 08:42:24 · answer #9 · answered by I'm Still Here 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
For starters, "atheists" do not all believe a similar issues. did you comprehend what theism is? Atheism is the finished opposite. it isn't a novel element, yet a wide time period for a large spectrum of those who in difficulty-free words percentage one trait - we do not position self assurance in gods. Prayer - so that you imagine this is totally well to rigidity children who're atheist or non-Christian to desire for your god? How about if the Christian children get to desire to Allah each and every morning rather? Prayer isn't banned in college. children of ALL faiths might want to desire. yet public colleges might want to no longer and could no longer sanction prayer. it isn't about atheism. it is about holding the non secular rights of each and every of the scholars. i wager the rights of my atheist children do not count number see you later as you get to rigidity your faith on them? Is that it? God doesn't opt to be on our money or in our pledge, yet i do not truly care. i do not say the pledge with "below god" and neither do my children. this is optionally accessible. Why might want to atheists opt to help a church? YOU help your church. the authorities and faith opt to stay separate. i do not want my money going for your church homes. i like it going to respectable motives. and that i do evaluate abortion, sexual health, and sexual training extra worth of my time and money than any church. the position is this happening? elements please. because i visit dig up articles of a guy who replaced into denied promoting and discriminated adversarial to for being an atheist. i visit tutor you a former president who suggested atheists should not be seen voters. i visit tutor you a woman who replaced into kicked out of the military because someone idea she replaced right into a lesbian. i'm conscious that there is a few hostility adversarial to faith. i'm also attentive to the hostility adversarial to atheism. What you seem to lacking right here's that a lot of it is no longer about atheism, yet secularization. meaning, to honest to anybody, no count number what they believe, we'd want to no longer want all of us conception over yet another. it is no longer atheism. this is call tolerance and being honest. Sorry that offends you a lot. Boo hoo.
2016-12-05 01:20:10 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋