Interfaith Children

[Druidus]

What do you do if you are married to a person of another faith and you have children? How do you raise your children? Should it be one particular faith, or neither (certainly not both?) Should it be the man's faith, or the women's faith, in all cases?

I really don't know what I'd do, if my future wife wanted to teach her religion to the exclusion of all others. I suppose I'd continue teaching mine, and other religions, as best I could. I want them to choose, not me or my wife.

 

[njcl]

therin lies the problems of belonging to a institusionalised church...........

sorry misread your post,hmm your question,difficult,compromise??

 

[Lintu]

Good question. I suppose it depends on the situation. Some religions can mesh well, and some can't at all. It's nice to think about letting the kids choose, but at too young of an age isn't really very meaningful. It's just one of those things you have to figure out before you have kids. What particular religion a person is isn't very important to my fiance, so he doesn't mind raising our kids Jewish. If he were dedicated to another religion, we'd likely have problems and have to compromise in some way.

 

[Melody]

What do you do if you are married to a person of another faith and you have children? How do you raise your children? Should it be one particular faith, or neither (certainly not both?) Should it be the man's faith, or the women's faith, in all cases?

Whatever it is....figure it out before you get married and have kids.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

so he doesn't mind raising our kids Jewish .

Some one once told me that the Jews always bring up the children in the mothers faith.
am I right.

Terry
______________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[Original Freak]

I'm atheist, My wife is Christian. I think the problesm really only develope when you get uncomprimising people (who are usually fundamentalist in their beliefs). Our kids know people believe in god, they've been to Sunday school and liked it (they like anywhere where they can do a craft) and they know other's don't. I think it's about exposing them without pushing them.

Whatever it is....figure it out before you get married and have kids.

I didn't truly start to understand, research and accept my beliefs until way after we were together and didn't really voice my opinion until after we had one child.

 

[michel]

It wasn't a problem for me; Marie is not particularly religious, and I am very open minded; I told the kids what I believed in, but at no time pushed them in any direction. They had religious study at school, went to the school Church services - I thought that if they were interested, then it was up to them. I believe now they are mature enough to think about their own morals and religious beliefs; I must say they have both a good moral code, but neither is particularly interested in religion. It's entirely up to them; they know I know a bit about various religions, and I am always here........

 

[Fluffy]

It should not be either. Brainwashing is not an acceptable form of manipulation, largely because it only produces superficial results. Instruction, as unbiased as possible, on as many different belief systems as possible is preferable because not only does this allow the child to make a much better and informed decision on the matter but it also gives them the chances to understand the reasoning behind their beliefs rather than having no basis on which they place their faith.

 

[Lintu]

Someone once told me that all sentences containing "always" and "never" are never true

In most branches of Judaism, a child is Jewish if his or her mother is Jewish. So a child born to a Christian mother is not Jewish (this does not apply to Reform Jews). But whether or not the child is brought up in Jewish culture is another thing altogether. I'm sure there are plenty of Reform fathers who have brought up their half-Jewish kids Jewish.

Some one once told me that the Jews always bring up the children in the mothers faith.
am I right.

Terry
______________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.