I've been rasing my son Christian, for his 6 years of life...I have recently gotten engaged to a wonderful man, who is Jewish. Neither of us are very active in our religious communities, but I believe Jesus to be God's son, he doesn't....is there a happy medium? Neither of us are willing to convert. We can deal with the celebrating Chanukah & Christmas...but how do we teach my son, and any other potential children we may have?? Thanks!
2007-04-26 06:08:18 · 11 answers · asked by lnzymere 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
my son's best friend is from a jewish and christian home. dad is christian mom is jewish. they have raised him in both faiths. they have taught him to have an open mind and think for himself. he celebrates christmas and hanuka. my son and i were proud to attend his bar mitzvah a couple of years ago. our family is pagan, but that doesn't matter to them. they are open minded. don't force beliefs on children, open their minds and eyes to many beliefs, and you'll have a wonderfully well rounded young man in a few years! congratulations on finding someone special!!!
2007-04-26 06:12:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
One family i know was in the exact same situation. Neither parent was very active in either faith. Mostly what they did was just celebrate both sets of holidays. They went to a christian church on easter and christmas and they lit a menorah at Chanukah (or whatever jewish people do. I really dont know) They just informed their children about both religions and let them decide. If you want a happy medium look into Jews for Jesus. good luck.
2007-04-26 06:31:35 · answer #2 · answered by poebebryton 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I may be mistaken, someone feel free to correct me if I am.. but I think I heard that Jewish people take the same outlook as Muslims on this, any son of theirs is the same religion as the father. So to the Jewish community any son of your future husband would be in the eyes of his faith, Jewish. It may not be an issue now, but what happens when your future husband becomes a father.
IMO a happy 'medium' would be to practice neither or both.. the problem is that means you either don't practice any faith or by practicing both you could end up just confusing a child.
However you decide to handle it you need to make that decision before you tie the knot.
2007-04-26 06:23:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's going to be tough. To say that Jesus is the Son of God, and God Himself is blasphemy to a Jew.
You have hit the nail right on the head. Sometimes, mom and dad can make it work, esp. if neither was that actively religious to begin with.
And now that you've said "neither of us is willing to convert" that tells me that maybe you hold more strongly to your beliefs than you think. That means that as the years go by this is very unlikely to resolve and will cause division in your marriage and resentment as each spouse tries to instill their different religious views on the children, and wants them to be visiting both religious services.
But believe me...when the children come suddenly your beliefs will start to matter tremendously again b/c you and this Jewish man will realize that now another soul is at stake and what you will teach is of UTMOST importance.
Your children will count on you to teach them the Truth. Letting them choose is ridiculous - children want to be guided by their parents. They want answers to their questions. If you marry a man with such different beliefs it will confuse your son tremendously and he may reject religion altogether.
The question is - How can you even consider marrying a man that doesn't agree with you about what Truth is?
I would seriously reconsider this marriage. Make a good decision based on what is right, not what feels good. Your son is 6 years old now, and you will be asking him to accept a man as father AND spiritual leader who does not acknowledge Jesus as God? That's huge!
Jesus as God is not just some minor religious difference. If He is not God then there was no ressurection, no crucifixion for our sins and no redemption. See how important this issue is?
Oh, and don't EVER marry someone on the hope that they "might" convert. That is TOO much to stake a marriage on. You cannot read the future.
2007-04-26 06:13:05 · answer #4 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're entering a really hairy situation. However, since these are your children, they are not Jewish, and you don't need to worry about teaching them Judaism, only to the extent that your fiance wants to teach them about his background.
That aside, I know you're in love, but you guys are going to hit serious issues. It's ok to marry someone with different politics, likes and dislikes, but religion is different. Christianity is obviously very important to you, but no matter how non-religious your fiance is, his unwillingness to convert tells me he still has a strong sense of who he is, and he will probably eventually want Jewish children, he'll want to give them a bar mitzvah, etc.
My best advice is to consult not only your pastor, but a rabbi. Contact a reform synagogue to find a rabbi. They'll help you guys set ground rules and understand each other's expectations before you get married.
Also, I don't know why Paxico said that G-d is blasphemy to a Jew... G-d is the foundation of Judaism...
2007-04-26 06:37:36 · answer #5 · answered by Suzanne 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I say that you continue to raise your child Christian, but teach him about Chanukah, Passover, and celebrate them because they are holidays that Daddy's relgion celebrates. My mother is Jewish and my father is a Christian, and they did something similar. They raised me and my sister Christian, but we also learned that Judaism was Mommy's religion and celebrated Chanukah and Passover as well as Christmas and Easter. Just be aware that there is a strong possibility that your son may decide to be Jewish when he grows up, just as my sister did.
2007-04-26 06:14:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
your son has a perfect teacher for the OT and one for the NT. I think you may find that your husband will open up to Jesus as savior once he starts learning it. When alot of Jews see how prophesies are fulfilled in Him they become Messianic Jews. That is a rapidly growing faith among Jews. Another sign of the end times.
2007-04-26 06:16:15 · answer #7 · answered by Connie D 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your teaching him an excellent lesson already. That neither one of you has a clue who is right. That at least should make your son Agnostic. AWESOME!
2007-04-26 06:13:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i often wondered the same thing. i am wiccan and if i were to marry someone of a different path what would i do?
i decided on this: tell your child "this is what i believe, and this is what he believes. and this is what other ppl believe." then let your child choose what he wants to believe when he is old enough
2007-04-26 06:11:48 · answer #9 · answered by Sara 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The children should be able to have views and teachings of both.
2007-04-26 06:17:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋