interfaith families

[vegdumpling]

i'm curious to how you guys feel about interfaith relationships? what if your partner had no beliefs or had strong beliefs that you didn't share

Comments

[alu_chan]

My boyfriend is agnostic, and he has no issues with me being pagan. We never have any arguments or anything.

As far as any future children, I think I wouldn't hide my pagany things from them, but I wouldn't tell them that pagan is the only way to go either. I would tell them to question, and be curious. If they like what I do, cool. If they seem to dig Islam more, then by all means, do what makes you happy. I think the only way I would interfere is to ask them if they've really researched the faith they're interested in, and aren't just blindly following/listening to one person.

[vegdumpling]

see, that's a totally reasonable way to raise a kid.

i have to admit that i don't understand why people wouldbe afraid to share something that is important to them with their kids.

my boyfriend says he's an atheist but i'm not sure that's exactly true. i tend to describe him as having had a bad break up with his god. he thinks it's cool i have something that i believe in and even cooler that i have researched and made my own decision on what that is instead of blindly following what i was told.

he believes it is good for kids to be raised with some sort of spirituality and for them to have the freedom to question and explore other choices. i do agree with him about that but i have sort of assumed that any children we have will be raised pagan because he is no longer a practicing jew, nor does he claim to believe in it.

Re: Raising children

[vegdumpling]

i understnad what you mean about christianity just not feeling right even as a child. it was definitely that way for me too.

i guess the way i'd probably go about it is to share with them what i do and why it means what it does. i would invite them to participate but not require it and i would support them in researching how other people worship.

i agree that there are a lot of priciples in wicca that aren't exclusive to the religion. i think that teaching my children about the similarities between religions would be a good way for them to learn about accepting and respecting differences in others. of course, i'd include respecting nature in that becuase that is one of my own deeply held beliefs.

[book_of_sage]

at the moment, i'm dating someone whom we'll call "D" with different beliefs than mine. we actually talk about our seperate beliefs a lot... but we're both passive in the end because we're both secure in our own beliefs

[vegdumpling]

i agree that studying serveral religions is a very beneficial thing but what about when a child is very small? do you think there is anything wrong with sharing your own religion with a child until a point comes when they are old enough (maybe 7-ish, perhaps younger depending on the child) to intellectually understand learning about different religions?

oh and, i totally support the not having kids thing. we have more than enough people who want them and overpopulation exists so there is no need for anyone to make more people if they aren't inclined.

[book_of_sage]

when the child is young, of course they are going to see their parents participating in things that go on within their religion, for example: a magick circle one parent may be having and the child may see the set-up in process. i would explain what it was and what is going to be happening. if they had any further questions, i would answer them. children are naturally curious, i find, and if they ask a question pertaining to my religion, i would answer it, and would expect their other parent to do the same if the child were to witness something religious going on

[vegdumpling]

i've do want to have kids in the future, someday not too soon, but whether i have one or more will completely depend on my financial capabilities. too many people without the means have kids they can't support. it's not like we live on farms anymore and you needed to have kids to work the fields, don't have a huge family unless you can support it

[vegdumpling]

i would want to make the same choice as you. if something is important to me ican't see why i wouldn't want to share it. i totally see what you are saying about the basic benefit from a household with more options built in, how could a kid from an environment like that grow up closeminded?

[vegdumpling]

you are both wise and eloquent, i bow before your mighty keyboard and oppression slaying typing skills.

;)