My son is making his communion this year. I'm atheist but from a Catholic background, history, former marriage, community, education, society and country. I'm finding participating difficult but want to be supportive as my son seems enthusiastic and I want him to find his own way. Any advice?
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My son joined a Lutheran church and decided to make his confirmation last year. He wants to fit in with his friends and be a part of the community and I understand that. I stood when everyone else stood, sat when everyone else sat, and even bought new shoes for the ceremony. My son is his own person and I try to give him the freedom to make these choices and hope that some of my worldview rubs off on him. I have the feeling that not supporting him would send a message I don't want to send. Hope that helps.
Ya it does help thanks. I'll just try to be respectful but encourage him to think about and challenge the things he'll be learning in the process. It's just difficult to sit through meetings where a priest is advising that our children need to confess genuine sins, instead of the generic ones used each year, like 'I said a swear word'. He's seven and a good kid and I don't want him burdened with the Catholic guilt BS.
Okay, that's a little extreme. I know I wouldn't be able to sit idly by for some of that. Also, seven is pretty young to be making those choices. That's how they get them, starting so young. Maybe find some other compromise?
I think it is part of the education to learn how to integrate with others.
When he is mature enough he will understand on his own that true friends are the one who accept you for who you are and not how much you agree with them.
Until then you should be supportive but clear on your opinion in this matter.
It is good to let your kid know that there are other options, even if they are ignored for the moment.
Not knowing about other options is the main reason for Christianity success, they have been killing and destroying any other voice accept theirs for 2000 years.
Jeff-You are so profound giving such obvious advice. I THINK IT IS PART OF THE EDUCATON TO LEARN HOW TO INTEGRATE WITH OTHERS. WHEN HE IS MATURE ENOUGH HE WILL UNDERSTAND ON HIS OWN THAT TRUE FRIENDS ARE THE ONE WHO EXCEPT YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND NOT HOW MUCH YOU AGREE WITH THEM. Well put???? As if that generalization and obvious statement cannot be repeated by everyone in the universe. Jeff you never stop surprising me on your continuing silly advise. God Bess
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Well Schweiger ....
Jeff may never stop surprising you.......
But you Kenny are your usual totally predictable self ......
So how about giving Susan the benefit of your wisdom.....
instead of your usual outpouring of unrefined pedantic bile ....
So what would your advice be ?
Watchman--My advise to Susan is not to take advise from the morons like you in this forum. Watchman I like your black hat your stupid ugly face-not so nice--- God Bless
Let me get this straight: you're putting your 7 year old son in the same room with a Catholic priest?!?
I know... to be fair he's the local priest and has done all the sacriments for years with the schools. If there was anything dodgy about him it would have surfaced by now but he's still not a very nice man. Not relatable and bad eye contact. I heard one of the parents say the other day that she'd be chatting with her son about doing what the priest says (in relation to prayers etc) but it gave me chills. But my son believes in God at the moment and almost all our schools are church run (mores the pity), so I've decided to proceed with caution to support my son so he's not excluded and can learn about faith and religion until he can make an educated decision when he's older. I want him to be a freethinkers but I have to acknowledge the constraints of our society.
I know... to be fair he's the local priest and has done all the sacriments for years with the schools. If there was anything dodgy about him it would have surfaced by now but he's still not a very nice man. Not relatable and bad eye contact. I heard one of the parents say the other day that she'd be chatting with her son about doing what the priest says (in relation to prayers etc) but it gave me chills. But my son believes in God at the moment and almost all our schools are church run (mores the pity), so I've decided to proceed with caution to support my son so he's not excluded and can learn about faith and religion until he can make an educated decision when he's older. I want him to be a freethinkers but I have to acknowledge the constraints of our society.
Thanks watchman and blasphemy. I listen to any advice and take note of some and ignore some, especially advice from morons like Donald Trump and Fox news ;-). But u, nor I, have any indication really that Jeff is a moron so I will thank him for his advice and disregard anything irrelevant.
Thanks and ignore blasphemy, he is just trolling to get attention.
I was in your kid situation myself when I was a kid.
I live in a country where 97% are Catholic Christians, my mom is a catechist and she sent me to a church school.
Having my father a non believer asshole helped me a lot to see that there are other options even if he was the wrong example.
So no matter how bad the impact may be, it always helps to have more knowledge about things.
The thing i hated most about my parents was the constant lies they told me, that they thought they were for my own protection.
This only leads to mistrust later on in their teens.
Children are smarter then what we give them credit for, they just need more attention and time to get past their bias and not be self centered like most kids are.
.... are you Italian, Jeff?
Nope I'm Maltese
(from Malta)
Neat. "...and you're little dog too! :P"
yea the dog is more famous then the country :P
For the most part, I believe if a person is given enough support and honest education, a lot of them can generally work it out. Just be watchful and make sure others aren't shoveling bullshit into his head, as it is much easier to get it in than it is to get it out. I know it can be hard, I live in Texas myself, and have a ten year old son. Fortunately he is an atheist, thus far, and I have only ever cautioned him not to talk about his lack of belief in school.