Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBrattified
Saying that you disagree with someone is not disrespectful unless it's done disrespectfully. One of the things I really appreciate about my mother (and my father, too, when he was alive) is her ability to have a conversation with me and not get upset if I question the "sacred cows." She doesn't get mad and act like I'm going to backslide just because I want to talk about something. Unfortunately, that IS the reaction of many elder ministers when young people have questions, and it's the WRONG reaction. It actually makes the problem worse, because then that younger generation will go elsewhere for answers. I don't do that to my children--if they ask me a question, I answer it as best I can, no matter how shocking the question. You know that a lot of ministers get angry when the question is posed--they don't care about the motivation. IMO, that's a combination of pride, and a fear of the question.
Bottom line, if a person fears to have his views questioned or examined, he'd better start questioning and examining his views himself.
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You're exactly right. I hit that wall often - the "don't question" wall. My children know that I will be honest with them, and I don't mind them questioning anything, as long as the questions are framed respectfully. I've learned many things from my children and their questions. They've made me think. One generation doesn't have the monopoly on knowledge, and they are very wise when they acknowledge that.
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