such as the Daisy Scout promise and the pledge? I had someone tell my I should and I was rather surprised. While I do believe that "God" doesn't belong in those places I have no desire to ostrasize my kids and simply teach them that whatever god they want can go with the word. If they choose to have the battle when they are older, I will fully support them, but I'm not going to throw a fit about it. Have I "sold out"?
2007-11-10 04:22:48 · 22 answers · asked by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know of Spiral Scounts, but I wasn't impressed with them AND her friends are in Daisy Scouts. I know it's Christian based and it doesn't bother me much honestly. I have no problem with her being exposed to Christianity. It's all around her. It would be pointless and silly to think so. I teach her about our faith at home and reinforce what she learns in the world with the term "Everyone believes differently and that's ok. You worry about what you will believe and respect others in that same right".
2007-11-10 04:39:05 · update #1
Yeeeeah not. That First Amendment was all a joke by the Founding Fathers and those who don't believe in god should all just leave.
I bet you are one of those bigots who think blacks should be shipped back to Africa too.
2007-11-10 04:41:19 · update #2
Craig I have my gods, but thanks for the offer. I teach my kids our gods and answer questions as other gods come up. She does have contact with those who believe in just about every god out there though. I have many friends of different trads in the pagan community here. "As for my and my house, we serve the Aesir"
2007-11-10 04:58:00 · update #3
No, of course not. But we should insist on the ability to bring our *own* gods into things.
Nobody will ever convince me to take some sort of a pledge to a bloodthirsty middle-eastern god. If I want to make it serious, I will take a pledge to MY gods.
Whenever anybody asks me something, or says something along the lines of "god bless" i *always* say: "Which one?"
Then I sit back and enjoy the confusion ;)
I don't think we should make life more difficult for kids than it already is. Tell them not to stand out, no problem. But at the same time, educate them enough not to blindly swallow all the cr*p.
2007-11-10 04:28:07 · answer #1 · answered by Ymmo the Heathen 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If it doesn't really bother you and it doesn't interfere with the way you want to raise your children, then saying something is just stirring up trouble for no good reason. People will always be exposed to things they don't want to hear, whether it is something about another religion, swearing, etc. We all have to learn to just let some of this stuff go. Maybe you don't believe in 'God', but the Scouts(Boy Scouts at least, I assume Daisy Scouts as well) are rooted in Christianity so God is a part of their pledge. This is plenty of good that kids can learn from the scouts, and you can still teach your children the religion that you want. It should only become an issue to speak up about if your children are being treated differently becuase of their beliefs.
2007-11-10 04:30:14 · answer #2 · answered by mcq316 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is always someone who won't be pleased with what the watch or listen to. The real truth is "It's just music". We make music for our own enjoyment. Some people, prefer to write about politics, and terrorism, and stuff like that. Toby Keith for example. But the thing is, in this country, you not only have the freedom of religion. You have the freedom of speech. Freedom of speech.. includes music. But the only thing holding a song back about how much they love satan, is a record producer's fear of ratings. Few people would find some songs like that enjoyable.. but many might. And also remember, the Beatles? Most of their songs don't mean a blessed thing. But Don McLean's American Pie, is a story between the lines. When you are listening to these songs you find controversial.. look into them. Some of them don't make a single shred of sense, but some have a story, or a cry for help within the lines. You'd be surprised. But to be honest, i don't think there is anything anybody can do about it... everyone has their freedom of religion and freedom of speech in this country. Which means, they could do alot of things... which includes hating a religion and putting that hate into a song. But this would be an interesting question to ask a band, or a music producer. Why do you market such racist and prejudice music?
2016-05-29 02:09:25 · answer #3 · answered by alida 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a GS leader. Girls Scouts do not require you to say God. You may substitute any name you like. You can say a pledge to the spaghetti monster if you like. GSA does not care. They are not a Christian based group. Though when they pray in groups it is always a Christian prayer. That's because the majority of the girls are expected to be Christian. That is a great chance to teach your kids reverence. I explain to my daughter that we don't have to bow our heads in respect to the belief or the god being prayed to, but we do have to bow our heads in reverence and respect to the believers. It is basic good manners.
As to causing a stink everywhere God the father is included, I wouldn't. For some people, it is their greatest happiness and I can accept that to a degree. I only speak up in extreme cases of exclusion and only if it is an organization or institution that receives federal funding. I made a scene at the school once over a Bible class/party they were having. Even then I came to a compromise on that year, but obtained a promise from the super internment that it wouldn't happen again.(It has not.) Meanwhile, we used to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. They are a Christian group and make no bones about it. I love their work and quietly respected them during their prayers while I held my own in my head and heart. It is a big world. We have to teach the kids to get along with everybody.
2007-11-10 08:16:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you, it's a very difficult situation. I went to an Alzheimer's Support meeting and I can't tell you how many times we had to 'Pray to Jesus'. I live in the Bible belt and it's really bad. A prayer before a NASCAR race? Come on these guys are driving around, cursing at each other, and doing anything in their power to beat each other and they think that God is sanctioning it?
As far as how to handle it with your kids, leave it up to them to decide but definitely tell them how you feel about it.
I also agree that if you were to raise a stink about God in the Daisy Scout pledge it would probably cause a backlash against your kids. You have to do what you feel is best for your children. If Daisy Scout is overboard on the religion thing it may be time to get them out of it.
2007-11-10 04:29:56 · answer #5 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think that provided there are no explicit points of conversion or assumption, it's a part of cultural assimilation.
If I were to go to an Islamic country, Although I have never worn a beard , I would respect the prevailing religious convention. Similarly , although my girlfriend and I have a co-equal relationship and she's an engineer by training if we were to visit someplace like Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, she would be unable to drive by law and I would have to accompany her in public as well as the fact that she would have to wear a Hajab as a point of convention in many if not exactly all of these places.
In Pastoo areas of Pakistan or Afghanistan, she would perhaps even have to wear a Birka, as not doing so could create social complications that we might not wish to address.
Similarly - and more to the point - cultural assimilation in the US particularly is by virtue of it being an immigrant descended population necessarily easy to adapt to - relative to some other cultures.
Living in Israel for instance means that you would conscribe to Jewish calendar for holidays and for the most part be unable to find non Hallal/Kosher foods available. And again there is government sanctioned discrimination in all these place, non-Jews may be subject to additional fines / fees and service levels in Israel.
Similar policies and laws exist in almost every other country mentioned - and in most countries in general.
That our nation has managed to have some religious wording edged into a few public statements or in fact placed on the currency, however these actions are ENTIRELY passive, for the most part.
Until/unless you are asked to swear upon the Bible for the purposes of a court proceeding you are not generally actively imposed upon by the state. And here you may choose your holy book of choice if you want, and the state will generally recognize that choice. How cool is that.
If your faith is important to you, make sure your daughter is brought up in that faith with whatever traditions are held and reinforce those systems at home, no matter what the state is up to.
That's what works for every other religion on the planet.
2007-11-10 04:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by Mark T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think you have "sold out". I don't think that is the right time to have such a fight. Now if they push the issue and try to make your kids do something according to "their" religion, then I would fight it. But there's really no reason to butt heads with them at this time. The word "god" is just that... a word. And you're right, it can just as easily mean Odin or any of the others of our religion. When my son joined the Boy Scouts, his troup leader (if you want to call him a "leader") would have prayers, etc before and after each meeting. My son enjoyed the activities, but claimed it was silly to have a prayer "just to make can phones -geez mom these people are weird". But he just ignored it when they had prayer and continued on with what he felt was important to him.
2007-11-10 13:21:37 · answer #7 · answered by River 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i want to keep god out of things, like at some schools they say "under god" everyday in the pledge of allegiance. i tend to skip the line and politely watch others during the few seconds. its not worth making a big deal, but i think it should be taken out. i dont want to speak up that much because being in school, there have been teachers who change grades based on things such as race or gender. im more worried about my grades than speaking up. i can speak up once i rule the world. i do feel kinda guilty for not speaking up, but i dont think we've sold out just yet.
)o(
2007-11-10 14:16:00 · answer #8 · answered by Pluto VT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, god is a generic term, after all. It could mean any god - I think you're doing a good job, at least it's what I would do. You can't just take the Christian god out of your daughter's life - I you said, it's all around us. By teaching her that your religion is this way, their's is this way, and it's all about personal connection with the different gods, I'm sure she will do alright.
2007-11-10 04:45:10 · answer #9 · answered by Heathen Mage 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, my dear, you haven't sold out. You have simply chosen to allow your child to make their own decisions .
WE know that the God and Goddess are in all things; let them believe whatever they want -- it's their right to believe as they wish, just like we do. You do realize that these groups are founded by Christians...if you are opposed, why not put them in the Spiral Scout groups (Pagan scouts). I'll find the link for you.
Here ya go: read first, then look at their page.
http://kidsclubs.about.com/od/scouts/p/spiralscouts.htm
2007-11-10 04:29:20 · answer #10 · answered by wiccanhpp 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋