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August 2016 Moms
kiwico14
member
GTKY: Religious Affiliation & Beliefs
kiwico14
member
I was just lurking on September 2016 and they had this great, open-minded, mature discussion about their spiritual beliefs or lack thereof. I'm curious about everyone's background, and I would love to have a similar discussion with you ladies. On the S16 board, someone suggested a poll, and that was vetoed because there are just so many options (I agree).
So, if you're willing, share your background/affiliation/beliefs. Hopefully, we can make some new connections with each other and learn about each other's perspectives.
So, if you're willing, share your background/affiliation/beliefs. Hopefully, we can make some new connections with each other and learn about each other's perspectives.
Re: GTKY: Religious Affiliation & Beliefs
We we knew we wanted DS and this LO to have some form of religious education but be able to choose their own paths. We somewhat randomly started going to this UU church...the only reason I even knew to Google it was because my mom once mentioned that she would like to attend a UU church someday. It ended up being one of the best things that has happened to us. We love the values, openness, and thoughtfulness. The religious education program is amazing and allows kids to explore many religious beliefs and then supports them as they articulate their own beliefs. It's an incredible community.
I have been doing some research and I think I am more towards Agnostic at this point.
edit: To add my parents are still very religious and I am sure this will be a point of contention especially when it comes to their grandchild. My husband is very adamant about our children not going to church and I can't help but dread the future conversations we will have to have.
We don't go to church anywhere for the past year or so. We got tired of the politics that come with church but we still/will teach our children our beliefs. That is, if we don't find a church before they start getting older.
We are pretty relaxed in our beliefs as far as drinking and such. Christians, in my experience, like to make everything a sin or bad. We don't condem people or judge them for believing differently than we do. I like anybody until they prove me otherwise.
We both serve at the church and when we met, hubby was working for the church.
We take our children to church, and when they are old enough, we will have open conversations about religion and all the different facets.
At some point in college my belief system started to change. I started questioning things more and thinking (what I consider to be) more logically about the world around me. This led me to classify myself as Agnostic. Here's what that means for me: I absolutely do not buy into the whole "God" thing. I think there's something deeper at play but religion doesn't answer it for me. I cannot belief in something that cannot be proven. I look around the world and cannot imagine that all I see and everything I feel is some random fluke in the universe, but I cannot believe in something that cannot be proven without a doubt.
We don't really talk about it much, but I'm pretty sure hubby still identifies as Christian, which I'm fine with. We have discussed how our child will be raised and we've decided that once the child is old enough we'll begin attending Universal Unitarian services 3 times a month (aligning more with my views) and that once a month we will attend the Presbyterian church in our neighborhood, which is a very progressive LGBT friendly church (very important for me). I'm not going to tell our child they have to believe one thing or another, rather I'd prefer to introduce her to many religions/non-religions and let her make her own mind up.
Our parents have yet to ask how we'll be raising the child (religion-wise) and we don't bring it up. I imagine that when it's brought up it won't go well - his parents are extremely active southern Baptist and my mom is one of those "everyone's going to hell except Christians" type people.
I do talk to our kids about the Bible, but am not interested in shoving it down their throats. My older son goes to a school program once a week where they learn a bible story and talk about God. Lately, after many years, my dad has started to go back to church and he's been on me to take my kids. I've been lucky, in that I work a lot of Sundays, so I've not had to really get into it with him about why I'm not taking the kids. I feel like I need to find the "right" church. As @BritMC18 mentioned, it HAS to be LGBT friendly, as I'm so tired of the bigotry that comes along with so many "Christians" and the church that my dad goes to is not LGBT friendly!
However, I have to add that DH and I love learning about other people's beliefs and are open and accepting of many different religions. It's fun to learn about all the ones out there. We just choose to not believe it ourselves.
I was a religious studies major in college for a short time before switching over to journalism so, I have researched many different religions from all different times and locations. I truly believe that all (mono-theistic) religions come down to the same basic principle - God Is Love.. Point blank period. Anything done in love (patience, kindness, understanding, forgiveness, etc) is the right path in life regardless of the term you use to identify yourself.
I'm kinda out there when it comes to my faith and beliefs and I have never found a church that aligns exactly with them but, I don't think that is a reason to turn away from spirituality all together. I attend Saddleback christian church and love the feeling of community, love and positivity I get from attending even though most of the other members may not have the exact same feelings as I do. They stream their sermons online as well so it's nice to listen during the week to get an extra dose of good vibes if I need it
Ill raise my kids as Christian but, will also encourage openess to all different walks of life. Every single life path is unique and important for the person experiencing it!
love, light and peace to everyone and their families!! Xo
I am completely non-religious-- I don't believe in a "god" entity (so I am probably an atheist), but I do believe that there are forces beyond our control/understanding that can cause so-called supernatural phenomena or "miracles." My husband was raised Baptist, but left the church as a conscious choice when he was a teenager. He has no desire to go back, but would probably be better characterized as an agnostic than an atheist.
We celebrate Christian holidays in a non-religious way-- Christmas is about showing love and generosity for others, Easter is about springtime/rebirth etc.
Many of our morals align with traditional Christian values. It is very important to me that our children are raised to be compassionate and loving towards other people. I just don't think we need a church to do so. As @Mrsrundell said, "God is love". Even though I don't believe in "God", I do believe it should be our ultimate goal to show love and compassion to others.
I won't take my kids to church as a general practice, but if they want to practice a religion or attend church, I am open to them doing so. It's very important to me that each person is allowed the opportunity to critically consider their own beliefs and come to their own "truths" about the world.
BFP #1: 08/17/2012 DD1 born 05/01/2013
BFP #2: 07/31/2015 M/C 09/23/2015 (11.5 weeks)
My husband and I are both Catholic. As I write this, I find it hard to communicate my beliefs...it is so personal. Going to mass growing up was a big part of our lives and something I enjoyed as a child. I am also Italian so being Catholic also feels a lot like my nationality and heritage as well. My grandmother was always praying to the Virgin Mary. I now find myself doing the same. I still go to mass most Sundays and find it a place of peace and reflection. We baptized our DD but I find it hard to take her to church at this point.
We do celebrate the Christian holidays in a non-religious way; they're traditions for us more than anything, and we enjoy celebrating the fun of giving, family, and love. When our kids ask about religion (i.e. when someone at school tells them about heaven, God, etc. and they ask us questions) we're both careful to tell them that "some people believe..." rather than telling them that we don't believe those things, or that they aren't true, as we want our children to make their own decisions about their beliefs and spirituality. When they ask about the reason behind holidays, we explain the Pagan roots in many of the traditions, as well as the Christian beliefs and why we, as a family, choose to celebrate.
Since we're not religious and do not attend church, my DH and I do our best to teach kindness, compassion, and love in other ways. I'm a frequent volunteer within my community and intend to include my children in those efforts when they're old enough, but for now I just explain what I'm doing, who I'm helping, and why. They also donate about half of their toys once per year and they go with me to the shelter to drop them off, and I explain what life is like for the kids receiving those toys (in an age-appropriate manner, of course). I think it's important to provide them with a sense of community, as well as an understanding of the importance of compassion, and I see volunteering and donating as a way to do that. If our children choose a religion to practice when they're older, we'll absolutely support them.
I'm Episcopalian, and identify with what is considered the "New Episcopalian" - I had a gay rector who was married to a man at my last church, so VERY progressive. I haven't found one I like near us since we moved. DH is Presbyterian, so I think we'll probably end up at a congregational church. I like the sense of community, and the openness in the new church.
We're baptizing the baby in his family church, since he has one. His grandfather seven generations ago helped found it, and all the family on his side has been baptized there. We also did the wedding in our hometown, and promised we would return to HIS home town for this, and his family is also going to throw us a "hometown reception." (Basically a big party celebrating our marriage, not a wedding, done the first time the couple returns to someone's hometown, with everyone who wasn't invited / couldn't make it locally coming to celebrate our new life together) I'm against this, but the in laws are winning out. Lose some, win some. (and honestly - this is one of their less crazy ideas.) We were married last summer, and traditionally it's done within 5 years. I guess it's more of a mid west thing, I'd never heard of it, but I asked a friend from Ohio, and apparently its a thing.
My father's side of the family was strict Catholic until the Catholic priest refused to baptize me because my mother was Episcopalian. Since she wasn't Catholic, so obviously I was a bastard. (That didn't go over well to my parents, who had been married for 5 years, and were married in another church.)