My daughter is a christian!

[moonmari]

I was just wondering how other parents might be dealing with children who are of a different religion/spiritual path. My oldest is 14 so she does her best to challenge me, oppose me, and figure out who she is in her own right. She likes to accuse me of being mad at her for her spiritual choices. Of course I support her in her choices. I have tried to teach her tolerance of other beliefs and ways. My 12 year old son seems to be an agnostic, though he out of all of kids has the strongest past life history. He is even aware of them. My little one is turing into quite the little witch.

I was just wondering about other mixed families. Thanks!



Blessed be the children!:heartthro :heartthro :heartthro :heartthro

[Yvonne Belisle]

I have 4 kids and one of mine is a christian as well. He has stated that he saw Jesus and Mary in the sky one night and then again a few months later. That happened 5 years ago he is about to be 12 and his story has never changed but he doesn't follow a church he just beleives in Jesus. My bigest problem to date has been when he came home from a friends church spouting thou shalt not suffer a witch to live at which point I asked him if my husband or I were bad people and pointed out we are witches. The other occasion was when he tacked crosses up everywhere in his room including on his brothers bed and a small war ensued. Mostly I just let my kids experiment to see what they feel is right for them.

[moonmari]

That is so amazing that your son had visions! what a wonderful gift from the universe. I remember when I was a kid I pinned popcicle stick crosses up all over the house! My parents were both non-religious. Religion fascinates me and it is interesting to watch the children develope their own paths of sirituality.:D

[Yvonne Belisle]

I tend to agree it is interesting to watch. My son definitly has been blessed with such a strong belief.

[Sequoia]

when I was younger, I went through what I like to call my "Christian Phase" ^^;; I was the most bible-thumpin' ten year old you'd ever meet.

I grew out of it ^^; It was mostly me wanting to be accepted. When I saw it didn't change how everyone treated me, I gave it up. I was really into Jesus and all that stuff, but not so much the spirituality as the mass hysteria ;) I kinda developed my own spirituality from that point on.

I think it's great that parents let their kids learn about different religions. . . Yvonne - I don't envy you those bedroom battlefields ;) *hug!*

[Margie]

I'm almost positive my 3year old is Pagan. She's seen many visions, she tells me about things she's *done* (or thought shes done) in her sleep, when she was JUST TALKING she'd wave her hands around while intently staring at something, and mumble a few words (which she would never tell me) and has often aluded to doing magic-though my boyfriend and I are concerned as to what she is or isn't doing. Maybe just wishful thinking and she doesn't quite know what to do with what she has yet? Anyways, she has shown interest in everyway. THe baby...well we'll just have to wait and see. ;)

[manstranger]

Originally posted by Puma Hime
when I was younger, I went through what I like to call my "Christian Phase" ^^;; I was the most bible-thumpin' ten year old you'd ever meet.


So did I ... i got rid of all my Wiccan tools, which sucked when i decided Christianity wasn't for me again.

I guess Christianity, not Paganism, turned out to be the phase.

----

My brother is a twice a year christian, and I share a room with him. Having him challenge my beilefs then say he doesn't want to goto church because its boring is hypocritical to say the least, IMO.

I'm my parents first kid thats openly a different religion. Well, semi-open. I think it annoys them, because of their preconceptions.

Its good that all of you actually took the time to find out what your kids beilefs where, tho .. i wish my parents where like that.

[Flaire]

I live in the reverse home...My mom & bro are Christians (my bro's not really into it, just my mom pressured him, I guess. :rolleyes: )
But in the beginning, when I first told her about me being pagan, she challenged me with some trivial stuff, but now she's trying to drag me to churchly things as much as possible ~ trying to get me to help out around the church, etc. I really think me being Pagan is bugging her now, even though she said she accepted it. :2G:

[Sequoia]

my mom just recently decided to call my friends satan worshippers who have brainwashed me through the evils of "witchcraft" and D&D. . . -_-; honestly. *siiiiighs* it's just another in her stream of scapegoats. But it's really annoying when she says outragously stupid things and blames religion. Like she's christian. -_-; My mom's just as pagan as the next person, she doesn't go to church, and only celebrates Christmas, Easter, etc because that's what she grew up with. She doesn't really belive in god, she belives in a higher power, etc etc. . . *SIIIIGH* so she's just doing it to hurt me and piss me off. I wish she'd have a vision - one of realizing that her doing that is going to force me AWAY from her, not away from my friends.

I'm sorry, the faces she was making shows me that she obviously has no idea what witchcraft is and that she hasn't been listening to me when I say I don't even practice it. . . -_-; *siiiiighs*

[PhoenixTwilight]

Currently, I am not a mother.. but I do expect to have another chyld in the future... (long story with my last daughter... may her soul be blessed on the otherside...)... I was wondering what the best way to raise a pagan chyld is...

I loath the idea of sending my chyld to a public or private school where she/he could be brainwashed and/or pressured into a religion.. I know it sounds like I want to do just that, and raise my chyld purely pagan (every pagan parents' dream, right?!), and I admit, you're partially right... but what I want is for my chyld to be in an enviroment where she can be an Awakened spirit... both myself and my otherhalf, Antyoch, are Awakened as is most of our Family... but anyway...

I was curious about pagan home-teaching.. does it exist? Well, obviously, it has to exist, but is it opening available and recognized?

[Margie]

I don't think this has been discussed before, Poenix. Hopefully someone can give us their experience if they've "Pagan-Home Schooled"

[Yvonne Belisle]

All you would need to do for Pagan home schooling is to teach the regular school work and add lessons of your own in your particular beliefs. If shouldn't be that hard to incorperate into your lesson plan,

[PhoenixTwilight]

That's true... I was just wondering... I want to plan my chyld's future right...

[Sequoia]

ne, Pheonix Twilight? I'm curious as to what you mean by "pure pagan". . . isn't pagan oftentimes a mishmush of many different paths? ;) hehe

I plan to let my kids study whatever they're drawn to. My daughter wants to know about christianity? no prob, I have an EXCELLENT picture bible that's still a pleasure to read. Two, actually. She wants to know about judiaism? we'll look it up. Maybe attend a service if she'd like to. She wants to know about buddhism? I'll send her to her uncle ( ;) unkie bry )

if she wants to know, I'll tell her the answer, or we'll find it together. :)

[PhoenixTwilight]

Honestly, I really hadn't meant to use the phrase purely pagan... but what I meant by that, in general, is that I want my chyld raised in an enviroment where open-mindedness and exceptance is a common virtue...

[Sequoia]

hehe okees :) that makes sense!

[LadyWinter]

I think its great when children want to explore religions at all....no matter which one. Just try and have them keep an open mind in my opinion. My daughter goes to church and I have told her that there are many gods....muhammed, jesus, crom, and that everyone has to choose the right one for them..she is 7 so I didnt go into great detail. Just keep the door of communication open is my biggest thing.

Slan Astar
LadyWinter

[Witchy Cowgirl]

To Yvonne Thomas:
The following link is for you and your son
http://members.aol.com/RawnaMoon/index.html
It's the Christian Witchery page.
Please remind your son that all verses of the Bible are open to interpution and the word Witch in the verses he's quoting don't necessarily mean Witch in the way we use it. (I hope the link is the one that has all that info on it. I think it is but I'm gonna seach to make sure. If it's not it's still a good site....please look it over before showing your son....you know....the parent thing and all.
My problem is a little different (being a Christian Witch). I just found out that my middle son is uncomfortable with my "Witch" classification. He told his dad he was afraid that he'd wake up in the middle of the night and I'd be in his room dancing and doing spells over him.
But I do agree with LadyWinter in that we all need to keep open minds in raising our kids. Not just in relgious matters but in all matters. I also try to remember what my mother-in-law told me, she told me, "I was never one of those moms who said my kids will NEVER do that. I always said if it's out there my kids will probably be mixed up in it." It's a scary thought but is more often than not true.

[Xander67]

hello Mari,
I think it is important that you accept your daugter and love her for who she is no matter what..

respecting ones own path is hard at times when it comes to within your own home...

the best thing you can do, Is set a Positive example and let the love of the Godess shine through you and your Daughter will see that .

Your daughter needs a MOM it doesnt matter christian, pagan, catholic, buddha whatever.

I think that as long as you teach her right, and leave the door open for her to ask questions...as no doubt she will be fed alot of nonsense and dissinformation about wicca, and pagan paths...this way, she can come to you and talk to you about it...and she will know for herself and see right through the lies and dissinformation....

not all christians do this...but if your daughter Knows she can come to you with any questions it is important...

and it shows a great deal of love if you let your daughter seek out her own path with your blessings, as long as the two of you have an understanding and respect each others beliefs...

Love conquers all!

that is my opinion and my advice :)

[moonmari]

:) Hi Xander!

I completely agree with you. I have always respected her religious choices, she accepts mine too, but she has gotten greif here and there. One of her teachers asked her and my son if I was still "playing" with "those wicked devil cards." When my children said yes he replied "pathetic." I was so angry. I called him on it but he denied it. Actually my kids have been exposed to my beliefs their entire lives, so they accept my veiws and activities even if they don't believe the same. I'm glad that my daughter has found something that makes her so happy. I don't have any worries that she will look down at me or spout at me.

And you are so very right that love conquors all!:D

[moonmari]

That's a neat link Witchy Cowgirl. I'll share that with my christian daughter if she's interested. It may help her understand my beliefs better and as Isis was her patron Goddess when she was younger, she may even someday chose to integrate the two.

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Moonmari,
The teachers question and reply to your kids answer troubles me.
Ask "said" teacher to refer to:
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/christian.htm
Thanks!
(I think it's a nice article....ya'll probably will too.)

[Yvonne Belisle]

Thank you for the URL I will take a look at it.

I think people need to remember there are bigots in the pagan paths too. They are everywhere it's a disease of ignorance.

[Xander67]

I agree Yvonne :)

I was being nice and trying to hint at that without getting into trouble LOL

i dont like to step on any toes ;)

[Myst]

Originally posted by PhoenixTwilight
I loath the idea of sending my chyld to a public or private school where she/he could be brainwashed and/or pressured into a religion..

I don't think that'll happen at public school. At least here (I don't know about the US, I live in Canada), religion isn't taught, and we also don't pray. All we did at primary school (and I'm not even sure they still do it) is sing our national anthem, and when I hear "God keep our land glorious and free" I think of *my* God. :) I can understand that you might want to instill "purely Pagan" ideals and principles into your kids life, because sometimes we find that other religions tend to bash Paganism (say, you don't want them to learn about Christianity because of "thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live"), but then that's why you're there - to say "well wait a minute, maybe you should look into what that *really* means.. and it's ok to learn about that and understand that you don't have to live by it too", and then it'll encourage these very cool parent/child discussions about theology and philosophy (like my mom and dad and I have!!)

You can find some Pagan homeschool sites if you use a search engine like http://google.com , here's some to start off with..

http://www.homestead.com/barbooch/PaganHomeschool.html
http://groups.yahoo.com%2Fclubs%2Feldertreepaganhomeschool
http://members.aol.com/Shahara9/witchlings.html
http://www.tarotreadings.net/paganhs.html
http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/UniFrame.html?JumpBar="Web_Pages.j.html"&Main="/hs/pagan.htm"
http://www.sorcerysearch.com/links/pages/Detailed/100.shtml

[Starry Di]

Originally posted by Myst
I don't think that'll happen at public school. At least here (I don't know about the US, I live in Canada), religion isn't taught, and we also don't pray.

I know about the US :) And from what I hear about Public School (I go to a private school ;)), they are not allowed to introduce any religion :$ However, due to past unpleasent experiances with the public school system (my mom was accused of abusing me *rolls eyes*), the private ones are well worth the money :$ You can find them that don't have any specific religions to teach kids :$ My last private school had no religion forced, there were no religion classes or anything like that :) I do believe that Home School is still around...but it might not be the best choice, as the child won't be hanging around peers as much as they would if it went to school :) Possibly organise playdates or something, if you choose home schooling.

Edited to Add: It really all depends on the type of child you have :$

[Flaire]

Yep, homeschooling is still around - I'm doing part of my this year (gr.12) that way.. (Had a breakdown at the beginning of the year and couldn't continue in public school). But on the home school idea ~ you'd have to get your child out into the public so they aren't totally antisocial. If you have a local recreation center where they offer "classes" for younger children, they're great for kids to interact with one another and still have fun!

But yeah, I agree. Some private schools don't do the religion studies. Some of my best friends went to (2) different private (boarding) schools and they didn't have to take religion classes.

[moonmari]

Originally posted by Xander67
I agree Yvonne :)

I was being nice and trying to hint at that without getting into trouble LOL

i dont like to step on any toes ;)


:) Hi Yvonne and Xander,


If this quote was in reference to me, I sincerley apologize for any misunderstanding. I am proud of my daughter and very happy that she is in a healthy church surrounded by people who love her. She is blossoming and it is wonderful to watch. When I was her age, I was a christian. It was the best path for me at that time in my life, and I am glad I experienced it.:D

[moonmari]

Thanks Cowgirl!

That is a great article. My best friend is a christian who also practices voodoo and reads auras. I think he will also enjoy the article. It goes along his beliefs also. Thanks!

[Yvonne Belisle]

It was actually a gentle reminder to someone else. It's so easy to forget when you are in a community like Mystic Wicks that they are out there. :)

[moonmari]

Thank you Yvonne :heartthro

[Xander67]

:wave: MoonMari

No , I was brought up in a christian home myself
and I was just refering to how some people like to be well
ignorant and closeminded when it comes to ones personal belief and desire for knowledge and wisdom..

:)

[Myst]

Originally posted by Starry Di
I know about the US :) And from what I hear about Public School (I go to a private school ;)), they are not allowed to introduce any religion :$ However, due to past unpleasent experiances with the public school system (my mom was accused of abusing me *rolls eyes*), the private ones are well worth the money :$

I imagine that had more to do with the people involved then the public school system as a whole, eh?