Here is a follow-up question to Mrs. P's thread about religion.

[fl8meplz]

Originally posted by MrsPuddlesFL
I think it's important to introduce some religion to young children, just as we do with almost all things in life. ie. You don't wait to teach your child how to cook until they are leaving home.

Giving them some education about different religions is what I do, with the most information being based on Christianity since that is what I know the most about. Included in the religions I've discussed is Athiesism. As she matures and gains more knowledge she will discover for herself what she wants to believe in. When she was very young I printed out the 10 commandments for her. I explained what they all meant. I did not tell her that if she didn't follow them that she would burn in hell though. I think the 10 commandments are basicly good values and kids need to learn values starting from when they're very young.

Wow puddles! We are on the same page.

I have made sure that I have not indoctrinated my children with any particular religion. Because that IS what your are doing when they have no choice. We talk about religion and they attend, with friends, church services of many faiths. They haven't been to a budhist or a jewish temple yet, not sure how to work that one out....

[Puddles]

My daughter has gone to different churches with her friends and I think it's a great experience. I did that too when I was young. I never went to temple but I babysat regularly for years for an orthodox jewish family and loved learning about some of their beliefs and traditions.

Cory, the Catholic church really turned me off when I had a friend who's mother was abusive to him, he ran away from home and showed up on my doorstep. He was Catholic and we talked and my mother suggested that we seek assistance at church. We took him to our parish and the priest said he couldn't help because the boys family were not contributing parishioners. Grrrrrrrrr!

[Cory]

Originally posted by MrsPuddlesFL
Cory, the Catholic church really turned me off when I had a friend who's mother was abusive to him, he ran away from home and showed up on my doorstep. He was Catholic and we talked and my mother suggested that we seek assistance at church. We took him to our parish and the priest said he couldn't help because the boys family were not contributing parishioners. Grrrrrrrrr!

This is exactly what I'm talking about. You can simply teach your children right from wrong and you don't need religion to even enter the picture. The two can exist on their own without the other. I'm just surprised that it is still hanging around annoying the crap out of us in the 21st century. It just doesn't make good sense today in our sophisticated world of logic and technology. I hate to say this, but it is passe'.

[Lexi]

I was raised in a weird situation. My parents sent me to Catholic School all my life (preschool through highschool) but yet my father is agnostic. My mother has been a believer but not a huge one. We never went to church (I only went with friends, or while in school) So because of the mixed signals I was getting, I was, and am still, often confused.
I remember a conversation with my sister when I was very young, and I said, "God is our real father" and my dad chimed in, "No IIIIIII am your real father".... shit like that. I remember and have always been confused about it.
I would choose to remain Catholic, yes, but I am more of a spiritual person because I do believe there is something out there. (I pray every night) BUT I also do not believe with a lot of the things I have read/heard. I dont believe that God is against homosexuals...they are his people and his children too. I totally believe this with all my heart.
I do NOT think that he hates anyone. ALTHOUGH, I also never LIKED the concept that if someone was a murder and asked for forgiveness, tha they would be accepted by God. I remember asking my teacher, "So Hitler killed 12 million people, 6 million being Jews... if Hitler were to ask God for forgiveness, he would accept him????" And my teacher said, "Yes, he would forgive him, but only if he was truly sorry for his sins."
Now I can KIND OF understand it; meaning, if he was TRULY sorry. Not just, "im sorry, let me in" kinda thing. BUT even still, I do not feel that those kinds of people SHOULD be forgiven, I dont cre HOW sorry you are. Know what I am trying to say?
So I am always in a twisted confused state of mind when I think about my religion although I do TRY to make the right choices.
Some little shithead called me out that I am a dancer... So what? I dont think I am a bad person for doing it. Does God hate me? NO!
Ahhh I am sorry for the ramble...LOL

[Gods Son]

Lost Souls.....I weep for you not with you.

[Aurora]

Originally posted by Gods Son
Lost Souls.....I weep for you not with you.

As you smoke cigarettes, do drugs and alcohol. :rofl:

[Gods Son]

Never said i was perfect LOL

[Cory]

well quit preaching your shit to us then, as you punch the shit out of innocent people and go to jail. I can't stand hypocrits!! :mad:

[Aurora]

Well if it makes you church thugs feel any better Im brushing up on the gospels in prep for seeing the new movie :D

[Lexi]

Originally posted by Gods Son
Lost Souls.....I weep for you not with you.

I hope this wasnt to me LOL :rofl:

[Gods Son]

No Lexi, I thought it was a joke.Seeing how we had it out on the other thread,I guess humor is not welcome.You know some belive if your Christian your supposed to be a mirror reflection of Jesus.Sorry to let you guys down.

[Gods Son]

By the way....My faith is christianity..meaning i belive in the bible,Im not saved.I need to be but im not.

[Cogar]

This is an interesting question. Before answering, let me say that I composed this answer based on the initial question before reading the rest of the thread to avoid bias in my answer. Anyway, here goes:

Although my family (I am including all my relatives in this one) claims to be "Christian," most of them did not regularly attend church and I strongly doubt that any but a small handful are actually real Christians. A couple neighbor ladies (mother and daughter) that lived together next door took me to church for years when I was a small boy. Since that time, I looked into various religions (that is, attended their services, etc.) and nothing fit. By the time I finished college, my interest in spiritual things was truly zero. It stayed that way for a number of years. Through a course of events, my wife and I started attending a church where on the first day as part of his talk the pastor said he could prove Christianity was true. Over the course of the next few months, he did just that. (He did not spend all that time on that topic, but brought the subject up for a few minutes each time to prove one point, that sort of thing.) Anyway, over that time I found out the Bible and Christianity were true and provable through a variety of scientific, archaeological, historical, and linguistic evidence. I became a Christian.

Getting back to the original question, although I am not the best example, since my family was and is "lukewarm" about religion, I believe that anyone can learn the truth about religion if they are looking, truly unbiased, and willing to learn. (That does not imply that they believe everything they are told, but merely listen to what is presented and weigh the evidence. That is, people can be skeptical, but being a cynic will only allow you to keep your prejudices.)

[Puddles]

Cogar, very interesting post. :) What are some of the things that convinced you that Christianity, believing that God is real, Jesus was his son and rose from the dead, etc., are all true?

[Cogar]

Originally posted by MrsPuddlesFL
Cogar, very interesting post. :) What are some of the things that convinced you that Christianity, believing that God is real, Jesus was his son and rose from the dead, etc., are all true?

It is hard to summarize, since the evidence is greater in quantity and scope than most people will come across without specifically looking for it. Still, there is a web page I refer people to that gives a good overview of the evidence available, although it is more oriented to the Bible than Christianity as a whole:

http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/b_proof.shtml

In addition to this, there are several books on this topic, which I have read and include the following:

Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. (Written in a sort of outline format. More of a reference than a book a person would "read.")

The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel. (Written from the perspective of an investigative reporter who interviews various scholars.)

Know Why You Believe by Paul E. Little. (Written for the average Christian who wants to know if there is any proof to back up their belief.)

I should mention that all of these post-dated my exposure to the proof I initially received from my church. I did not feel I "needed" it, but the quantity and depth of information fascinated me to the point I spent quite a bit of time seeking it out. This may be similar to the way some of us get wrapped up in bodybuilding and feel a desire to learn more about it. I hope that makes sense.

One more comment: You will find sites and commentary on the Internet that both endorse and oppose these documents. I believe it is up to the individual to check them out and make a decision for themselves regarding the validity of the evidence put forth. I have a bachelors and masters degree in engineering and worked in research and development in the electronics industry for many years, so I have a good grasp on real and contrived data. I am not stating this to impress anyone, but rather to state that the information is worthy of a serious look even by someone with a scientific (rather than emotional) orientation.