Any other Pagan parents experiencing this?

Question

Is it hard to convince your children to be open minded towards Christians. As Pagan parents, we have taught our children to have tolerance towards other religions. Unfortunately, the negative comments and pushy nature of many of the Christian children they've met at school has soured them towards Christians in general. They basically feel that if most Christians despise our religion and feel it's o.k. to try to frighten us into converting (i.e. "you'll burn in hell"), that Christians in general SHOULD NOT be afforded the open mindedness that they would give to those of less judgmental spiritualities. What do think? Are our kids right? Is asking them to give Christians the benefit of the doubt asking too much of them. Are we, as their parents being too naive and open minded where those of the Christian faith are concerned? Anybody else having this happen in their family?

Angeltress, I find your answer very interesting because it seems to be such a text book answer. I am wondering if you truly believe this or if you just want to. Have all of your children ended up with the exact same attitudes as you and their other parent? If not, how do you account for this, considering your answer to my question? It would be nice if parents were the only people that children ended up emulating, but as you probably know, most children spend more time with their teachers and peers than they do with their parents. I really do wish your theory was true, though. It would make child rearing a lot easier!

Answer 1

My thought is that each person as an individual deserves the same respect as I would expect from them, until they prove otherwise.

Also, judging all Christians based on the exposure to a very few, and treating all Christians accordingly, makes them guilty of the same prejudice that we Pagans want to overcome.

Answer 2

Not yet! I think the best thing you can do is arm your children with real facts that logically destroy specific Christian arguments. When I was a kid, Christian kids would shut up real quick when I made statements that they could not deny, or asked questions they could not answer, at least not without admitting something they did not want to admit. If the Christian deserves the respect, or "benefit of the doubt" that your talking about, they will accept you children's point of view. The religion as a whole IS dangerous. But individual Christians, can be very good people. And most are.

I also think that you have to teach them to handle it on a case by case basis. Every Christian I have ever met is different from the next.

Answer 3

Although I don't qualify as Pagan (I don't think), I understand your problem. It appears that your children are having the {sarcasm follows}good fortune {normal returns} to meet the intolerant, fundamentalists. I think it is best if they treat these Christians just as they would any other religion, with tolerance and acceptance.

Since Pagan is a rather broad term, is there a chance that your beliefs are ones that cause these Christians to cower in terror, (I'm thinking Wicca)? If this is the case, then maybe your kids need to avoid displaying and talking about their beliefs?

Keep encouraging your children to be tolerant. For those they meet who have no tolerance they will also need to have pity. In the event that the Christians are right, the tolerant will get into their heaven and the intolerant will reside in Hell. They made it so it's theirs to earn.

Answer 4

Tons. When I was growing up, there would frequently be on my birthday, a 'ring around the moon' due to ice particles in the air. On an overnight drive with my husband, we once saw an amazingly brilliant shooting star just as we began discussing deep philosophy. On yet another birthday excursion while in college, we drove through the end of the rainbow accidentally. From inside it, light is refracting everywhere, and the air looks brilliant gold. There really is gold there. I've been on many camping trips where I'd have to get up in the night, and was stunned by the brilliancy of the moon and/or the blanket of stars. Once, when I was walking on campus worried about my student loans coming through, a wind blew a single white feather around the corner right at me. I took it to be a sign of hope. My loans did come through. I could go on and on.

Answer 5

As a Christian, I can tell you this:
Children will find anything to pick on other children about. I was picked on because my father rode a motorcycle, because of the clothes I wore, etc, etc.
I picked on kids because of their clothes, because they were fat, because they were different, blah blah.

It's just children being children. Is it right? Of course not. But you're singling out the religious topic because that's what your children are getting picked on about. Paganism, is not very popular even though it's becoming more mainstream. So obviously your children are going to be picked on because they're different.

You are holding Christian children accountable as ambassadors to our religion. That's just as ridiculous as holding the Bush children responsible for the politics of the nation.

As far as general religious beliefs are concerned, there is a problem with America. Since we're the melting pot of the world, we have too many conflicting belief systems. It's advantageous on some aspects, but has many negative aspects as well as you pointed out.
The fact of the matter is that people of different faiths can never fully get along with each other because their belief system can be completely opposite. Paganism is a threat to Christianity on every level. You can't completely get along with each other because somewhere conflict will arise.
In a nation like Saudi Arabia, the people are more like a brotherhood because they all believe the same way. There isn't the division you have in America so the people will more likely stand together.

You are going to have to deal with the intolerance the rest of your life because of the faith you choose. Christians were martyred for their beliefs in Roman times and are being martyred today in China and N. Korea. It is the life you choose. If you are strong in your faith, then you must learn to deal with the persecution.
Christians in America are starting to get socially persecuted from liberal views and political correctness. It won't be long before Christians are considered the dangerous zealots just as the terrorists are. But the Bible prophecied all of this, so it's no surprise.

If you were as open minded as you say you are, then you would try and learn about the Christian faith and understand why they say "you will burn in hell".
The truth is that no one is completely open minded. That is a form of being the door mat of society. You can't tolerate everything.
If you choose to not tolerate Christianity, that is your choice. Eventually, you will either have to make a stand against it or agree with them. You will not be able to walk the fenceline for long.
That is what standing for your beliefs will result in. It's perfectly fine. We all have to make a choice in life. We will see who is right in the end because we all can't be right, that much is certain. Are you confident that you won't burn in hell? I certainly am.

Answer 6

It insults me as a Christian to hear how many people bash other religions. I apologize on behalf of all Jesus' disciples for the rude behavior of these people. We can be tolerant, loving, and accepting of the beliefs of others. It's just the bigoted minority are so pervasive in society. Call it a superiority complex, some like to think our way is the only way and hell awaits those who disagree. Don't give up on us, we can be good people, just let us try again.

Answer 7

It really saddens me when I hear stories like yours. Christians are supposed to tell of God's Love, Grace and Mercy just to get The Word out. It's up to God to convince and only up to God to judge. I hope you don't hold these unpleasant experiences against all Christians. I don't even let my children say Hell.

Answer 8

growing up, I hoped you noticed that children are cruel. Know this and account for it. Innate behavior must be accounted for. Your claims are just as applicable to a fundamentalist christian family. Other kids shunning your child is a normal occurrence, regardless if you are Atheist or not.

Answer 9

The children of the christian faith are pretty closed minded on the subject if they take their faith seriously, because of the threat god has said "believe in me without the shadow of a doubt, or you will burn in hell" (paraphrased).

Your children should be open minded, but you can't stop them from coming in contact with bigots.

Answer 10

Children learn what they live.
Whether they are pagan or Christian, they get their attitudes toward others by watching their parents.