snoozn
05-23-2008, 07:12 PM
My husband and I had a similar issue around religion with our kids as Kevin relates in smodcast 49. I am agnostic, he is kinda religious but too lazy to do anything about it. My father-in-law kinda struck the fear of god into me when he told me that kids who grow up with no religion are much more likely to join cults. Not what I want!
So we checked out the local Presbyterian church (my husband's brand of Christianity) and the first sermon was an anti-science creationist screed. Yikes! The new-member packet they gave us included info about "curing" homosexuality. More yikes!
I finally found a church that met my criteria: 1) Must not be anti-science or promote creationism/intelligent design, 2) Must not believe people of other religions are going to hell, 3) Must be inclusive of gays. I schlepped my kids to church for a couple of years. The sermons weren't bad, often touching on current events (unlike Kevin's "homily" thingies!) My oldest kid went to confirmation class very much against her will. I felt it was important since they spent a lot of time there learning about other religions and I hoped it would help with the "cult-proofing." She didn't want to get confirmed, calls herself an agnostic and that's fine with me.
Well, we have quit going to church. Two of the kids disliked it and one didn't care. I have re-thought my position on cult-proofing. I think in religion as in many areas, knowledge is power. I teach my kids how marketers are trying to get their money to shield them against advertising. I teach them about religion to shield them against joining a wacko one. Seems to be working.
I think it would be great if Kevin and Jenn both talked to Harley about religion--both the good and the bad points and then she will be armed with the knowledge to reach her own conclusions as she grows up.
Oh...and on the pedophiles in non-Catholic churches...yes it is a problem, though I guess not as widespread. Dan Savage keeps tabs on these guys at http://slog.thestranger.com. Just go there and type "youth pastor watch" into the search field. I don't know if there's a place where all the posts are put together--it would be quite mind-boggling!
Thanks for smodcast!
snoozn
So we checked out the local Presbyterian church (my husband's brand of Christianity) and the first sermon was an anti-science creationist screed. Yikes! The new-member packet they gave us included info about "curing" homosexuality. More yikes!
I finally found a church that met my criteria: 1) Must not be anti-science or promote creationism/intelligent design, 2) Must not believe people of other religions are going to hell, 3) Must be inclusive of gays. I schlepped my kids to church for a couple of years. The sermons weren't bad, often touching on current events (unlike Kevin's "homily" thingies!) My oldest kid went to confirmation class very much against her will. I felt it was important since they spent a lot of time there learning about other religions and I hoped it would help with the "cult-proofing." She didn't want to get confirmed, calls herself an agnostic and that's fine with me.
Well, we have quit going to church. Two of the kids disliked it and one didn't care. I have re-thought my position on cult-proofing. I think in religion as in many areas, knowledge is power. I teach my kids how marketers are trying to get their money to shield them against advertising. I teach them about religion to shield them against joining a wacko one. Seems to be working.
I think it would be great if Kevin and Jenn both talked to Harley about religion--both the good and the bad points and then she will be armed with the knowledge to reach her own conclusions as she grows up.
Oh...and on the pedophiles in non-Catholic churches...yes it is a problem, though I guess not as widespread. Dan Savage keeps tabs on these guys at http://slog.thestranger.com. Just go there and type "youth pastor watch" into the search field. I don't know if there's a place where all the posts are put together--it would be quite mind-boggling!
Thanks for smodcast!
snoozn