[shatteredsoul]

IF you are referring to comparing my views with that of your wife, you are seriously misinformed. NOT only do you misquote my words, you then turn around to use them against me.. I DO NOT HAVE ANY VIEW THAT I FEEL IS RELIGIOUS< FIRST OFF, I also do not ever expect anyone to think MY view is the only correct one. I think I have stated that numerous times and on numerous posts. I BELIEVE my own perspective based on my experiences and my upbringing, just like everyone else. MAYBE you don't hear it that way, so you jump into it to find a faulty word and then act like your response is the universal truth when in fact, other than your reference to "objective evidence" ,you have haven't got a leg to stand on.

I don't think (BELIEVE) being aware of energy, the ability to love and be loved, or referring to a creator, has to be about religion or about objective evidence. IT has to do with our individual perceptions of what we believe to be true and correct.

I think your biggest problem is labeling people. I find it almost comical that you are so narrow minded and yet that is the same thing that you speak against. If I am one thing, it isn't narrow minded. I respect your view and I am not disagreeing with FACTS.. I know what a fact is, but interpreting every statement, issue or problem will be different with each person who observes it. FACT, (EXAMPLE) Someone could have the same effects while taking a prescribed medicine as they could taking a placebo (without knowing the difference) , while someone else doesn't feel anything. If someone doesn't feel anything, does that make them more right than the person who does? OR is it a matter of personal perspective?
YOUR view of what could be perceived as factual data that is subject to ALL human beings, MIGHT ACTUALLY BE what someone perceives as accurate information that applies more specifically to them and only them.
MOREOVER< I am not a THEIST nor do I have problem with any approach, except one that is limited in scope. YOUR thoughts aren't much different than someone who is absolutely resolved in their own religion. NEITHER is absolute... and yet I am not religious, nor am I spouting what is true for everyone, but you do not respect my view either.

YOur approach doesn't explain every mystery of the universe and doesn't take away from all the other perspectives on this board. Because you are overzealous in your responses, doesn't make them more accurate. YOu don't have all the answers and your argument that objective evidence is the only way to prove everything, is quite a slippery slope. You married your wife because you love her, is there anyway to actually PROVE that love exists? OR is it just something you know to be true? Do you have a connection with your spouse? Is it something you can show or prove? (Other than the physical things you do for each other) or is it something you feel that is between you. This is what I am trying to explain. NOT everything that exists or is known to be "TRUE" isn't a fact that is proven with objective evidence. THAT IS one way of proving theories or statements of fact. IT is one way.. NOT THE ONLY WAY, NOT THE UNIVERSAL TRUTH FOR EVERYTHING>.

So in a way, everything is relative.. What you see as beautiful, may or may not be true to someone else, that doesn't make it less beautiful. What you see as ethical and moral, to someone else isn't. These are issues that we have to recognize. NOT everything can be proven, nor will everything be understood or proven. WE AREN'T supposed to know everything, prove everything or have all the answers, that is why there are people who come up with their own theories and find evidence to support them. DO YOU see that? OR is it all just the same ground to you? YOUR approach isn't the proper one. (IN MY OWN OPINION)

[Synnen]

I am Wiccan, my husband is C&E Christian. Both my parents and his are devout Lutherans, though my mother converted from RC when I was 10 or so.

We don't have kids, but what we'll probably do when we DO have kids is to teach them to think and believe for themselves. I am certainly not getting up at 7 every Sunday morning to fuss and muss and force kids to go to church. I will, however, take them to church if they want to go. WHATEVER church they want to go to. If they want to see what a buddhist temple is like, I'll try to find one for them. If they want to see what a synagogue is like, I'll certainly try to get them to one. While children are not necessarily welcome in a Circle until they are old enough to understand what's going on--I'll certainly take them to observe one many times.

My husband and I have discussed and decided that we're both pretty open to a person's beliefs being their OWN beliefs, and that we shouldn't "raise our kids as x religion".

[Fr_Chuck]

This is where I will disagree as a Christian, it is hard to be with a non believer if you are a serious about your faith, How could you kiss your wife good night knowing that she is doomed to hell since she has rejected Christ. And someone who is a strong firm beleiver in their faith, would normally have the same feelings. As such it is always hoped and even part of the Christian faith, not to married those that are not.

[Allheart]

I am Wiccan, my husband is C&E Christian. Both my parents and his are devout Lutherans, though my mother converted from RC when I was 10 or so.

We don't have kids, but what we'll probably do when we DO have kids is to teach them to think and believe for themselves. I am certainly not getting up at 7 every Sunday morning to fuss and muss and force kids to go to church. I will, however, take them to church if they want to go. WHATEVER church they want to go to. If they want to see what a buddhist temple is like, I'll try to find one for them. If they want to see what a synagogue is like, I'll certainly try to get them to one. While children are not necessarily welcome in a Circle until they are old enough to understand what's going on--I'll certainly take them to observe one many times.

My husband and I have discussed and decided that we're both pretty open to a person's beliefs being their OWN beliefs, and that we shouldn't "raise our kids as x religion".

Hi Synn,

I'm just curious. Will you take them to the different churches? Or only if they ask to go?

I only ask, I know it may sound like a silly question, but children, I wouldn't think, when the are so young, ask about different churches.

I respect your choice, I really do. But would it be better to expose them to the different faiths, even if they don't ask, and see which one they are comfortable with?

Synn, I only suggest this, as the greatest gift my Mom gave me was my faith ( other then life of course), and I cherish it with all I have. But I don't think, if Mom introduced me to God, that I would, on my own inquire, I probably, at that young age, would have just played the day away.

I was, as a very young child, so much in awe of my Jewish friends, and Protestent friends and Mom even let me go to a Protestent Church, but I was much more at home with my Catholic faith. I was even curious about the synoguge, very curious and even asked if I could go, my Mom had no problem with it, but for some reason I never did get to go. I thought I wasn't allowed by the synogoge, but I am only going by memory. I may have asked on their religious holdiay.

Well, now that I think about it, maybe children will be curious enough to ask.

[Synnen]

Oh, we'll go to church for all the special things that families always go to church for--Christenings, weddings, funerals, Easter (which I personally have a hard time with, but since we're usually with family, I go to be part of the family), Christmas (which is such a message of love it's hard to NOT go), First Communions, etc.

I'm not Christian, so I wouldn't bring my child to a Christian church on a regular basis unless they asked. And as a Wiccan... well, my altar is in my home! Religion is every day! So unless they asked, or unless my C&E Christian husband took them, or their grandparents--no, I probably wouldn't take them. Would I explain about different faiths? Absolutely. And any questions I couldn't answer, I'd take them to someone more knowledgeable (a priest, a rabbi, etc).

I would, however, draw the line at my own child telling me that I was going to be punished for not believing in "x". That would be the end of THAT church/faith/synagogue/mosque/whatever. Making a child fear the punishments of a faith is the wrong way to go about it, in my opinion. I'll be teaching my children tolerance, and that every faith has its own beliefs, and that none of them are WRONG--it's just that different people believe different things, and that they have to choose for themselves what THEY believe, and what's in THEIR hearts, and that no one can decide that for them.

Does that make sense?

[Allheart]

Oh, we'll go to church for all the special things that families always go to church for--Christenings, weddings, funerals, Easter (which I personally have a hard time with, but since we're usually with family, I go to be part of the family), Christmas (which is such a message of love it's hard to NOT go), First Communions, etc.

I'm not Christian, so I wouldn't bring my child to a Christian church on a regular basis unless they asked. And as a Wiccan...well, my altar is in my home! Religion is every day! So unless they asked, or unless my C&E Christian husband took them, or their grandparents--no, I probably wouldn't take them. Would I explain about different faiths? Absolutely. And any questions I couldn't answer, I'd take them to someone more knowledgable (a priest, a rabbi, etc).

I would, however, draw the line at my own child telling me that I was going to be punished for not believing in "x". That would be the end of THAT church/faith/synagogue/mosque/whatever. Making a child fear the punishments of a faith is the wrong way to go about it, in my opinion. I'll be teaching my children tolerance, and that every faith has its own beliefs, and that none of them are WRONG--it's just that different people believe different things, and that they have to choose for themselves what THEY believe, and what's in THEIR hearts, and that no one can decide that for them.

Does that make sense?

It does make sense Synn. And as I was writing it, I did recall my curiosity about other faiths. We were Catholics in cement that was for sure (another words, we never wondered what it would be like if we were to be a different faith), but because my friends were all denominations, I was curious about their faith and found it interesting. But there was a common bond, in the reverence to their faith, it was all very interesting.

And on the very special Jewish holdiays (can't remember which one it is now), but Mom kept us in, out of respect for the Jewish community. The block was so quiet.

So, little Synn :), will probably be most curious too. And what a little cutie he or she will be :).

[Credendovidis]

As such it is always hoped and even part of the Christian faith, not to married those that are not.

Chuck : I have been married to a Roman Catholic for 39 years and 4 days.
We never had any problems with our mixed spiritual relation. Neither did it cause any problems to us or others.

All that bothers me are these cold Roman Catholic feet against me every night. Would a pair of cold Humanist feet feel better ? I doubt that very much...

:D :confused: :D :confused: :D

·