My son desperately wants to go to VBS. I have no problem with him going, but I don't want him too confused by what they teach there. I have taught him that God exists and that Jesus was a good man who had a lot of wisdom. I have also taught him that we don't know for sure what happens after you die, but that you do go on -death is not the end.
He is seven years old and I have been careful to answer his questions without heaping too much upon him at this point. I want him to be open minded and use his intellect when it comes to forming his opinions of the spiritual world, rather than judge people or condem someone to hell simply for not believing as he does.
My sister and nephew are going to this VBS as well as several kids from his class. It is a fun week, but I am unsure of how to prepare him for this.Perhaps I will just say "that is how they believe, this is what we believe..." What is your opinion on his going?
2007-05-25 16:53:19 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
By saying I am a reformed Christian I mean that I was once a Christian. I actually was for over twenty five years, but I simply learned too much to be able to continue to believe what is taught within that faith.
2007-05-25 16:55:03 · update #1
Agnostic–noun 1. a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.
2. a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study
*Basically, I am teaching my son that we don't know the answers but that the possibilities are wonderful and endless.
2007-05-25 17:08:52 · update #2
I don't believe I am Theistic, as I am not at all opposed to Atheism.
Perhaps being agnostic is just a bridge from Christianity to Atheism. It takes a lot of courage for a former Christian to finally be able to say "I am NOT a Christian", especially living in the bible belt!
I just want my kids to know better and not be taught to dismiss a person or siltenlty condemn them for their beliefs being different. They would miss so much in this world. I also take great offense to the audacity of trying to "fix" others who do not believe as you do.
All of these answers are great. I wanted to send him, but didn't know if it would be confusing. You have all helped me tremendously. I'll sign him up as soon as I can.
Thank you so much! What great people!!
Oh, and to the one who wanted me to give church another try...been there, done that, got the t shirt, closed that door! However, I am glad it works for you and wish you great happiness there!
2007-05-25 17:14:06 · update #3
Heck I was born and raised an atheist, but I did do VBS twice as a kid, and did enjoy it. I think my parents used it as an opportunity for me to see that side of things and have a better chance to make my own choice on what I believe. However it was not until I was quite a bit older that it occurred to me that the other people believed it all to be real...I just saw it as fictional stories. By nature I have never been a believer.
Sure, why not let him go. But maybe send him off with the meaning of the experience being in getting a better view of what some people believe, and it is ultimately up to him to choose what he wants to believe in his life. That even if the others there believe it, it doesn't mean that he has to, but if he ever feels that he does believe it, then that's ok too.
2007-05-25 17:01:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he wants to go then fine - let him go.
"that is how they believe, this is what we believe..." I'm sorry to be so frank, but you're sort of indoctrinating him. If you want him "to be open-minded and use his intellect" then you shouldn't be telling him God exists as if it is a fact. Allow him to find his own path. He shouldn't just believe what you believe - that's just intellectual laziness.
Btw, if you believe in a god you're theistic not agnostic.
EDIT: Being a theist doesn't make you anti-atheism. An agnostic is someone who says that we can't know whether or not God exists. And a theist believes in a god of some description. Look in your dictionary, you'll see I'm right. :-)
I didn't want to come off being too critical - you're more universalist than most and I applaud you for that.
2007-05-25 17:05:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been an atheist for 32 years. All 3 of my sons are atheists, yet they also wanted to attend VBS. I allowed them to go as I saw no harm in it.
They had a desire to learn and to try new things. To deny them this was to stifle this sense of learning. They had a wonderful time, and it wasn't awkward for anyone involved.
Everyone there was aware they they were atheist. I don't know that anyone was rude, and I do know that everyone was patient and helpful. My family and I also attended the dinner held on the last night, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
If your son wants to go, I say let him. He'll be among friends and he'll have a lot of fun.
2007-05-25 17:01:55 · answer #3 · answered by iamnoone 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist and I would say let him go. It won't hurt anything and since his cousin and friends are going he just wants to be included. That was one part of church I enjoyed as a child. VBS was always tons of fun. By allowing him to make his own decisions about what he believes, you are being an excellent parent.
2007-05-25 16:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as it's not like the vbs in the movie Jesus Camp, I would let him go. Especially if all his friends are going to be there.
There's nothing wrong with preparing him for the opinions that he's about to hear. Because he will hear them. Although the week will be mostly spent singing songs and making crafts, they repeat to the kids over and over that "Jesus died for you."
2007-05-25 17:04:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's up to you, but you are compromising your beliefs because of peer pressure.
It's just as valid for you to teach your son what you believe as it is for a person that has a religion.
Look at it this way, if you were Jewish, would you send your child to VBS just because his classmates were going? No, because they are going counter to your beliefs.
Atheists and Agnostics will stay stuck in the shadows if we can't acknowledge our beliefs and teach them to our kids with the same fervor as religious people do.
But, in the grand scheme of things, you can teach him more later and he will have a better understanding because he has experienced both sides.
2007-05-25 17:04:36 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sleepng bare nonetheless insects me now and then - I are not able to get hot within the wintry weather that method! Or the summer season both - partner loves air-con. T blouse and underwear as I have due to the fact I used to be little. Nighties wrap round your legs and are uncomfortable. Only time I put on or else is off at historical parties within the early spring or past due fall - then I put on sweats to mattress. Gotta be hot whilst you rise up and it is 25 levels for your tent. eight Track - I did not recognize you and the spouse had bunk beds!
2016-09-05 12:37:40 · answer #7 · answered by lawniczak 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can help him expand on what he gets there. It will make it somewhat confusing, particularly depending on the denomination you're sending him to.
He's w-a-a-a-y too young to understand theology. The best thing to do is to let him tell you what he believes, in the best way he can. If he comes home regurgitating dispensationalism or Calvinism, then you've got a teachable moment.
2007-05-25 17:02:22 · answer #8 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would allow him to go if that's what he wanted to do. There's nothing wrong with exploring what others believe, as it brings greater understanding of the other people you share the world with. If you were me, I would encourage him to question everything. Actively discuss everything he "learns" with him.
The key to free-thinking is opening books, not selectively closing them. Just remind him that he can't believe everything he reads, and to question the personal gain of those telling him information. He will--only through trial and error--eventually learn the skills of critical thought.
2007-05-25 17:05:36 · answer #9 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a reformed Christian myself. the church didn't like me giving messages from their deceased ones You think people would be happy about hearing from their dead ones. I can't help it. I hear them. I even hear YOUR deceased relatives talking.
Let him go. Eventually he'll figure it all out. He's too smart to fall for their stuff, but at the same time he needs that spiritual stuff now.
Blessings
2007-05-25 17:01:41 · answer #10 · answered by Milmom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋