I used to be a good Catholic. Well, “good” if that equates going to church (most weeks), going to Confession (and telling the priest almost everything), and attending CCD (though I remember nothing of those classes except which girls were nice to me).
Oh and I remembered to pray when I needed/wanted something.
But, really, I was a pretty pathetic Catholic, especially when you consider that I didn’t learn what the Trinity was until I was in (Catholic) college. “Waitaminute—Jesus is supposed to BE God and the holy spirit too?!?!” Blew my mind.
Since abandoning that faith in my twenties, I’ve dabbled in Unitarian Universalism and, now, agnosticism (another way of saying, “The eff if I know!“).
With kids now, I’ve been determined to raise them with an open mind and allow them to come to their own conclusions about faith and religion. I figured they’d hear me talking about my belief in a higher being (which I call “god” most of the time) and latch on to this.
Instead they find my quasi-beliefs sort of quaint and ridiculous.
When I was explaining the story of Jesus at Christmas and did my typical, “Some people believe. . .blah, blah, blah“, one of my kids scoffed at the notion of any god at all.
“What do you call people who don’t believe any of it?” “An atheist?”, I said quietly.
“Well, that’s what I am then.”
Gulp.
And while I respect their decision, whatever it may be, my suppressed Catholic beliefs squirmed uncomfortably in my gut, as if them uttering those words will bring a bolt of lightning down onto our house.
Good thing I no longer believe in hell or I’d really be nervous.
Interestingly, while all this has been going on, I read Stacey’s post at Is There Any Mommy Out There? where she wrestles with her child’s growing belief in the “saved” vs the “damned” from their attendance at a Christian school. Her dilemma is the yin to my yang.
But if I had to choose between my child having no religious faith, or thinking that people could burn in hell for eternity for having different beliefs, I think I’ve got the better end of the staff. (heh)
Though they’d better still stay up late and watch The Ten Commandments with me. I want to impress them with all the lines I’ve memorized.
Are you raising your kids with formal religion? Is it the same religion you grew up with or is it something different? How would you feel if your kids’ beliefs differed greatly from your own?
Also, I realize religious discussion can be something of a hot button, so please be respectful. If I don’t like a comment, I will feel free to smite it with my all-powerful finger.
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