so i just had lunch with my very roman catholic grandparents and got in a huge argument. golden rule #1 should be never ever argue with grandparents, but i'm full of piss and vinegar.

here's the dilemma i came down to in telling them how i'm going to raise my kids:

-- they think i should have my kids go to bible class/catholic class while growing up, like i did. this way, at 18, when they go to college, they've learned about the religion and can go forth to make their own choices in life. at least they know catholicism, right?

-- i argued that if i tell them to go to those classes, what about jewish classes? buddism classes? where do i draw the line? why am i telling them 'this is the only religion worth learning about'? of course, they think christianity has a leg up for obvious reasons.

-- and what about teaching them nothing about religion until a certain age? thomas jefferson believes kids are too impressionable to handle something like religion. how about i wait till they're in their teens to start talking to them?

#3. My younger son is only 3, but as my older son (almost becomes more knowledgable of the way the world works, I tell him "There are many beliefs out there when it comes to God. I'm leaving it up to you to figure out on your own what you believe, when you feel that you're at a point in your life to seek out that knowledge." I think they'll respect me much more as adults than if I cram some religion down their throat from the time they're little.

Remember c_b, kids will believe anything you teach them.

#4 Teach them about the Flying Spaghetti monster, so when they get older and realize its all a hoax they will equate religion with myths like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.

I can't help but wonder how many languages you feel you must have them learn.

go on?

Having kids myself I find that everybody has an opinion on how we should raise them. We just smile and thank them for their advice and then my wife and I do what we think is best.

He's saying one religion is good enough for him.

okey!

I would have to agree with Meatwad on this one.
My parents pretty much left it up to my sister and I. My Mom chose this route and I totally appreciate the fact that she didn't cram it down our throats.

She more than encouraged us to go to every church in town, bible study, Sunday school and church outings just to learn and ask questions about every religion. My Mom is also really into comparative religion studies. Everynight before she goes to bed she reads some form of "bible"...

Most of my family is very religious and I see how they are raising their kids. I don't agree with my uncle, who is a preacher mind you, pretty much forcing his children who are 8, 5 and 3 to live and breathe every minute of their day in a church. He is even home schooling them.... there does need to be a line drawn somewhere, and I believe that it needs to be before this, but who knows, it seems to work for them.

I think children, when taught right from wrong, are able to make decent decisions on a whole if their parents encourage them to find themselves... that doesn't just go for religion. Is there honestly one option for anything that is truly right?

Another thing to remember c_b is that you don't need religion to instill a good sense of right/wrong in children. That's what I feel is my most important responsibility in raising my kids. That and common sense.

Exactly.
C_B, how old are your kids?

-2 and Twinkle in His Eye.

i'm just getting myself ready for anything, ya know?

I follow... assumed you had some tykes running around already!

I think it's important to steer your kids in the right direction but ultimately let them make the final decision. Obviously you wouldn't let your three year old decide whether or not it's safe to play in the street... you get the idea I'm sure.

c_b needs to get laid, first.

Take this for what you will.
My parents do not want me to live an eternity in hell. They knew this from the moment of conception. It is perfectly natural for them to tell me what they believe and I know I always have a choice to choose another way. That is one of God's greatest gifts. He does not force you to him. Saying that bringing kids up that way is brainwashing is naive. It may seem that way because as a young person we want to believe in the same things our parents do. I do not believe in the same things my parents do and I went to church most of my junior years. I know of plenty of minister's kids that are spending the rest of their days in prison. Just because you teach them one way younger only enables them knowledge. It does not harm. Of course your parents are going to teach you what their life experience has told them. Otherwise, we might as well not even have any parents. I think tolerance and treating each other as we would want to be treated is very important. The only other commandment above this is to love God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind.

As Stephen Colbert says, there are many different paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.

Actually my 12 year old son has a very basic understanding of quite a few religions. But he can only do this because he has been raised in one religion. When it's a Jewish holiday we may talk about how their beliefs differ from ours. Really whatever questions he brings up we follow. You'd be surprised at the questions kids ask. They definitely are not brainwashed into believing what they are taught. If that was the case how many kids would become juvenile delinquents?
I think not teaching any belief system in a world full of beliefs systems is akin to not teaching your child one language. But prefering them to pick up any words from any language they happen upon, without having any context or understanding of the words. Kids will be influenced by their parents' beliefs but we no kids also get to a point where they question everything their parents have taught them.
But whatever children are taught should include tolerance of other beliefs and acceptance of people with other beliefs and the idea that no one knows for sure. That everyone's belief system is faith based.

How can you consider them 'our beliefs' (yours and your son's) if you've always told him that that's what is truth? Does he really believe it's the truth, or does he only accept it as the truth? I think there's a big difference.