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From: lew@ihuxr.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: teaching religion to children
Message-ID: <474@ihuxr.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Jun-83 14:14:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxr.474
Posted: Thu Jun 16 14:14:02 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Jun-83 15:59:36 EDT
Lines: 39

Here are my comments on religious education for children. I have two
children (Lisa age 7, and Max age 6) so I am speaking from experience,
but I don't claim any special status for my opinions.

"Do I simply not teach religion?" - this comes closest to what we practice.
The children are exposed to various beliefs and doctrines (largely from
Roman Catholic playmates) and we answer their questions about these
when they ask. They also have children's Bibles that their "Mimi" gave
them, and they occasionally look at these. I have also related various
Greek myths to them.

"Do I teach them my own religious beliefs?" - This is inevitable if
you're honest with them. Our children mull things over for themselves
but always seek our opinions too.( "Is heaven true?", "Is God true?",
"Is the Bible true?"; Max once asked, "Are firemen true?") They are
powerfully motivated to be in conformity with their parents.

"Do I shield them from certain teachings?" - No! I have found that my
children exercise plenty of control over their own input. Things which
are beyond them simply don't concern them. The only thing I don't explain
frankly to them when they ask about it is nuclear war; it's the one thing
I don't feel they can handle. (Actually, my wife promulgated this policy
but I came to agree with its wisdom.)

"Do I give them the community standard religion line?" - Which community?
Which standard? They find out about this from their friends. Anyway,
this seems hypocritical to me.

"Do I let them chose for themselves?" - Let them ??? This is also inevitable.
I don't think its necessary to instill skepticism. Our children seem
to be very active and independent thinkers, and showed very different
attitudes toward religion (for one thing) at an early age.
Lisa is a real scoffer, given to such pronouncements as "God is stupid!"
Max is something of a visionary by comparison. He once came running
out of the bathroom proclaiming, "The water said 'Darth Vader'!". We
went and listened to the spigot, and my wife thought she could sort of
hear it too, but I was doubtful.

	Lew Mammel, Jr. ihuxr!lew