What to do when 5 teenage boys... (reject, hell, God, heaven)

[michel]

Originally Posted by Djamila

I suppose I'd have to hold their cute little faces in my hands and lovingly cut their heads off.

Kidding.

That isn't funny - not even by your qualifying it with a "Kidding"......

Originally Posted by jacquie4000

I have never had this happen....I am hoping some of you have.

I have five teenage boys in my house who all of a sudden want to discuss religion.

They are all throwing questions...

Who said their is a heaven or hell, how do you really know?

Man wrote all religions so how do you know what really came from God?

Why does God let children die of cancer? Did they sin? Or was it not God.

One of my main concerns is ...I don't want to get to involved because alot of their family have different ideas then the other . So what do you do when they throw the question at you. I feel it is a cop out in a way to say go home and discuss it with their parents.

I would deal with the situation much as I would with any other one. Tell them the facts; tell them about all the religions that exist (well as in "hundreds"), tell them what you believe (if you feel you want to - qualifying it with a "This is my belief, I naturally think I am right, but a lot of others wouldn't agree"), tell them each to make up their own minds - but, most importantly, tell them where to get good literature about Religions.

IMO, Knowing where to find good material is far more useful that remembering thousands of facts.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by jacquie4000

At the same time I did not want to intrude on what their parents teach them.

I think you're doing a wonderful job with them! You'll probably become the confident of all five of them at the rate you're going.

Personally, I think teens need to know there is a diversity of opinions out there on these subjects. Younger children might be scared or disturbed that not everyone thinks like their parents. But in my humble experience, teens can handle it. They can learn of other points of view without coming to disrespect their own or that of their parents. Just my opinion.

[PureX]

I would just tell them the truth: that I don't know the answers to their questions, and neither does anyone else. That people choose to believe different things, about God, and that they will have to think very carefully about it, and discuss it, and eventually decide for themselves.

[darkpenguin]

Originally Posted by jacquie4000

I have never had this happen....I am hoping some of you have.

I have five teenage boys in my house who all of a sudden want to discuss religion.

They are all throwing questions...

Who said their is a heaven or hell, how do you really know?

Man wrote all religions so how do you know what really came from God?

Why does God let children die of cancer? Did they sin? Or was it not God.

One of my main concerns is ...I don't want to get to involved because alot of their family have different ideas then the other . So what do you do when they throw the question at you. I feel it is a cop out in a way to say go home and discuss it with their parents.

I would tell them what they wanted to know with the best of my knowlege regardless of what their parents would say (it would be their problem for not giving the child a better understanding in the first place!). I would also make sure i told them that they were my views and if they wanted to learn more about them should they be interested, point them in the right direction to information.
I would also ask that they talk to their parents about the questions too.
The post about one of them getting detention ammused me as it seemed fair IMO, school is not the place to practice religion but i do agree with religious studies teaching about practices of all religions and then letting the child come to their own conclusions and what they believe in. Theres nothing sadder than a child who is brainwashed by their parents into believing that a certain religion is right, I believe that a child should be just that and not have the resposibilities that come along with religion, jeez they grow up too fast these days as it is without the burden of religion weighing them down. I just don't think children have the mental capabilitys to realise just how powerful religion is and I think they should be tought about it but not have any religion forced on them by parents/teachers/preists etc!

[darkpenguin]

Originally Posted by michel

That isn't funny - not even by your qualifying it with a "Kidding"......

I thought that, it seemed a little disturbing for lack of a better word!

[Kcnorwood]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I would tell them your opinions, but make sure that they realize that they are YOUR beliefs, that they don't have to adhere to them. Stress that it's important for them to come to their own conclusions.

So very true!!

Whatever you do please don't ever force them to believe one way or another!

[jacquie4000]

So very true!!

Whatever you do please don't ever force them to believe one way or another!

I agree I did not push anything on them. I gave them different views to what the answers could be. I told them as a group they should research together, as they were all quite peaceful about the conversation. Then get together and discuss it more. They are always welcome here and I want them to gain knowledge, then make a decission based on that.

[Feathers in Hair]

Originally Posted by jacquie4000

Here is one I like...How did we learn all the words we have now? Did God give us language, and why does everyone have different languages...Who came up with the names for everything anyway...

Some people believe it's due to the Biblical story of the "Tower of Babel". Other stories credit it with humans having been spread far apart so that they would have to learn how to get along.

This is indeed an interesting topic! It almost sounds like a mini-RF!