| What Should We Teach Our Children In most Christian churches you will find Sunday schools for the children of the church members. In Jewish communities there are children at the temple. All over the world children are learning the religion of their parents and no one really thinks about it. However, we as a society need to ask ourselves what should we teach our children. For the pagan parent, or a parent who's spouse or family may disagree or simply have different belifes what to teach a child becomes an ever harder question. Should we, as parents, teach our children our religion or let them find their own, and where do we draw the line if we do teach them? To religions who believe their god is the only one and true god this question may be simple. Many people of faiths who believe such teach their children about their religion and will do all they can to deter them from straying from that faith. The children raised this way are for the most part not horribly branded and can be very happy and satisfied with a faith they were raised in. Some children raised this way however are not and seek other paths to god on their own looking for fulfilment or in fits of teenage rebellion. Other parents who teach their children their religion do so because it is right for them and their lifestyle and do so because they assume it will be right for their child and the child's lifestyle as well. This too can be fine. Other times the children learn about their parents faith through asking questions and observations. In the teen years most children will try to find some way to rebel. In households were a religion is very stressed their rebellion may come in the form of a religious conversion. In a few households this is taken in stride by the parnets with parents eagarly picking up books after their child learning and accepting just as much as their child and keeping an everwatchful eye for their child's well being. In other households though the child can be punished for this, or simply cut off from the family unit by their religious descions. This is not right but many parents think this is in the child's best interest. In most religions however there will come a time when that child is asked if he or she truely wants any part of this particular chruch, temple, circle, or what have you. At this time many parents will see if they have done the "right" thing in either raising or not raising their child in their faith and are giving them the go ahead to make their religious descions. As pagans we know this is not a path for everyone, and is not always an easy path to walk. For the most part it takes a strong person, confidence, and discipline to live the lives we do. In some areas of the world people can be harsh and downright cruel to people of different faiths and very unaccepting. At the office water cooler gossip can be filled with rumours about what you did last weekend and sacrificing babies. In courts sometimes it can be used against you as "proof of character." Should you openly display your faith in some way you run the risk of being harrassed on the street. Should we expose our children to this? Many people would say we have no right to, however, our children will be exposed to us and unless we cut our religion out of our daily lives they will see if not understand some concepts of our religion. It is foolish to think we can raise our children and never expose them to other religions or that they will not notice they are "different." Just as Jewish children at some point will realise that Christian children have Christmas Trees and they don't, Pagan children will realise that other children celebrate Christmas and Easter at different times and they mean different things. This can result in teasing by other chlidren or a feeling of isolation. The other children will most likely not understand your child's belifes either. Be sure you let your chlidren know about other religions, ecspecially those of their playmates. Let them know other pagan children too so they will be able to discuss their own belifes with people who have similar ones. In predominately Christain places like the United States it is good to teach children about Christianity. Never teach your childre about other religions being "bad," be clear all religions are "good" and acceptable and teach them not to discriminate against people of other faiths. There is also controversy surrouding the practice of magick and children. Is it wrong to teach our children magick? Should the teaching of skills like reading tarot careds and scrrying wait until later or should they be taught when they are needed as a daily part of life in your home? Where is the child's place in the circle, especially if you are in a coven. Should children be included in the actual ceremony or just watch fromt he outskirts? My personal stance is that we should teach our children as much as we can about our own religions. If we don't teach them our beliefs someone else will teach them theirs. However I think children should know what other children in the neighbourhood believe and do. If magick is used often and common in your home, then teach your children magick but also teach them "Johnny" and "Jane" may not do this at their house. In coming years as they begin to mature they can seriously study the art of magick or abandon the practice altogether but I believe they should be allowed to make that descion and given the opportunity to practice. Also, keep in mind children learn by example so teaching our children our religion does not mean sitting down and explaining why we don't celebrate the resurection of Jesus Christ on Easter or why our Easter doesn't match the other children's Easter isn't always neccessary unless they ask. We can teach our children simply by celebrating with a Yule log and Yule Tree, by doing a tarot reading in the front room, or simply by holding a coven meeting in the home. Of course, by all means, let your child help you in your religious tasks just as you would housework! Let them decorate the Yule Tree, deocrate eggs for the alter at Ostara, spend Midsummer outside let them be a part of your religion and when they are mature enough, let them deicde and respect whatever descion they come to. Teach your children about all religions and let them pick what is right for them. Even if they one day deicde to convert to Catholism, they will always treasure happy childhood memories of baking bread for Lammas or picking apples for Mabon; don't deprive them that. |