Raising a Child in a Mixed-Faith Marriage - Page 3

Titus2woman · #21 06-04-2013, 11:34 AM

Panentheist (100%)
Regular Monotheist (90%)
Deist (77%)
Dualist Pantheist (72%)
Literal Pagan / New Age / Animist (63%)
Idealist Pantheist (59%)
Agnostic Pantheist (47%)
Atheist / Secular Humanist (29%)
Naturalistic Pantheist (29%)
Agnostic (0%)

Hummmm.....

Dichotomy Girl · #22 06-04-2013, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

100% Naturalistic Pantheist, which makes sense, I suppose, given the info in Antipas's post (interesting stuff, btw!). But it also gives me 53% for Regular Monotheist, and I have no idea how I got there. And 0% Agnostic?! What the?

I got the 0% Agnostic too, and I have an answer for it! It's because we are no-it-all's....no "it can't be known" for us!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Well then perhaps you are both Panentheists and will NOT have to raise your child in a divided home.

I have a great friend who is UU... one of the most balanced and completely decent people I know. I myself have looked at Unity (a Christian church with a universalist lean) because there is one local.

I do think that children who are raised without some kind of religious indoctrination are rarely able to see the need for religion later in life. It seems to be a pretty easy leap from one religion to another but the complete lack of religion in youth seems to make it of no importance later in life. So if you have any desire for your child to wind up religious you might want to get some early training in, in some kind of faith system.

Christianity comes with it's own culture and even language and in my experience seems very alien to those without any early exposure. Just something to think about.

I was raised with very little, we went to a Christian Science Sunday school for a few years when I was maybe 6ish? And I feel like having so little instruction left me open to believing the first thing I came upon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esaias

Mich... is there a God? If no, then you would be foolish to indoctrinate your child(ren) into a false belief system.

If there is, don't you think it would be necessary to let her know about that?

I feel for you, you are indeed in a difficult situation.

That is exactly the problem! He believes the first and doesn't want her indoctrinated, and I believe the second that there is a God, and even though I am "soft" on a lot of the salvational/Biblical/Doctrinal things, ultimately I do believe that we are stronger, happier, and more complete in our attempt to enter into relationship with God. And I do feel a burden to share that with my child.

Ultimately, we love each other, and our daughter very much, and I am still idealistic to believe that somehow love with conquer all

Though, I think it's a good idea that if you are going to have a child with someone who doesn't share your faith that you discuss this and decide what you are going to do ahead of time.

Dichotomy Girl · #23 06-04-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Panentheist (100%)
Regular Monotheist (90%)
Deist (77%)
Dualist Pantheist (72%)
Literal Pagan / New Age / Animist (63%)
Idealist Pantheist (59%)
Agnostic Pantheist (47%)
Atheist / Secular Humanist (29%)
Naturalistic Pantheist (29%)
Agnostic (0%)

Hummmm.....

Antipas · #24 06-05-2013, 07:25 AM

I believe that your family should attend a Unitarian church. They will be open to your husband's atheism and teach ethics that will enrich his life. It will also allow you to explore your own faith. In this environment your daughter will experience a unity and diversity that will ultimately allow her to decide what spiritual path is best for her in her future.

Dichotomy Girl · #25 06-05-2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antipas

I believe that your family should attend a Unitarian church. They will be open to your husband's atheism and teach ethics that will enrich his life. It will also allow you to explore your own faith. In this environment your daughter will experience a unity and diversity that will ultimately allow her to decide what spiritual path is best for her in her future.

I've looked at a few churches like that, this one for example: http://www.unity.org/ and perused their website, they listed quite a bit of information in the "our philosophy" section. This is what they had to say about Jesus

Quote:

Jesus
We believe that Jesus expressed his divine potential and sought to show humankind how to express ours as well. We see Jesus as a master teacher of universal truths and as our Way Shower. In Unity, we use the term Christ to mean the divinity in humankind. Jesus is the great example of the Christ in expression.

And that makes me feel generally unpleasant. (especially because of some of the key words are used by the Christian Science branch of my family)

Actually, I think the perfect church for me would be a progressive Christian one, that deals more with relational Christianity and personal faith, and the Kingdom of God (in the here and now) and not focused on heaven/hell/afterlife stuff.

Titus2woman · #26 06-05-2013, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dichotomy Girl

I've looked at a few churches like that, this one for example: http://www.unity.org/ and perused their website, they listed quite a bit of information in the "our philosophy" section. This is what they had to say about Jesus

And that makes me feel generally unpleasant. (especially because of some of the key words are used by the Christian Science branch of my family)

Actually, I think the perfect church for me would be a progressive Christian one, that deals more with relational Christianity and personal faith, and the Kingdom of God (in the here and now) and not focused on heaven/hell/afterlife stuff.

Diciples of Christ seems to sort of fit that.

http://www.disciples.org/

Antipas · #27 06-05-2013, 09:45 AM

I've found Unitarianism refreshing seeing that many of my experiences are not accepted within the bounderies of Christianity.

Also, there may be an element of divine truth found in all religions. Each religion has filtered this message through it's cultural bias and language, as clearly seen in their "holy books" and their contradictions. Men are imperfect vessels, yet God still chooses to work through us. While Jesus is "the Christ of God"... others such as Buddah, Mohammed, Krishna, etc. are teachers, "prophets", or ascended masters that revealed important aspects of God. One must read between the lines of cultural bias and language to truly grasp the truths inherent in each spiritual path.

n david · #28 06-05-2013, 10:12 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGEmlPjgjVI

MeChurch.....cause it's all about me.

Dichotomy Girl · #29 06-05-2013, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Diciples of Christ seems to sort of fit that.

http://www.disciples.org/

I do like that it said this on their website "Our unity is discovered in Jesus Christ not in structures or theological agreement"

I also feel comfortable with their mission, vision and confession. AND amazingly enough there is one located in my town.

Dichotomy Girl · #30 06-05-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antipas

I've found Unitarianism refreshing seeing that many of my experiences are not accepted within the bounderies of Christianity.

Also, there may be an element of divine truth found in all religions. Each religion has filtered this message through it's cultural bias and language, as clearly seen in their "holy books" and their contradictions. Men are imperfect vessels, yet God still chooses to work through us. While Jesus is "the Christ of God"... others such as Buddah, Mohammed, Krishna, etc. are teachers, "prophets", or ascended masters that revealed important aspects of God. One must read between the lines of cultural bias and language to truly grasp the truths inherent in each spiritual path.

I actually agree with the majority of what you said. And when it comes to my intellectual and philosophical approach to spirituality, I like to think that this is the way I approach it. And I would love to be part of a ecumenical study or discussion group.

But (and this goes beyond the scope of my original intention of starting this thread), when it comes to the practicing of my faith, in my personal walk, I find that I am wanting something more on the Christian spectrum (but definitely on the progressive and liberal side).

Keep in mind that I have been unchurched for 6 years, and in the last 4-5 years have been largely removed from any of the trappings of Christianity.

I would actually love to hear more of your background (i'm not sure when you joined the forum and if we had any interactions prior to my departure in 2007-2008ish), and your current understandings of faith. (we can either way tangent-ize this thread, start a new thread, or take it to PM, as you prefer)