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Questionable Shapeshifter
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 Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:08 pm
This issue has come to my attention lately. I will not name names, but I know one member here has encountered in the RW. There is an unfortuneate paradox that comes with Paganism and children. As so much of the fear and stigma remains attatched to religions such as Wicca it can be a difficult position for a child to be in.
If you tell them not to tell anyone you are telling tham to treat their religious belifes like a dirty secret, and casting it in the same category as molestation or a drinking problem. Not healthy for the child.
However, if you tell them to say it loud say it proud then they open themself up to ridicule they may be ill-equipped to handle. Some on has to fight the battle, but it shouldn't be a 5-6 year old child.
So, anyone have some input on this conundrum? is there a secret option #3 that we're all missing?
Thoughts?
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:22 pm
It is a very heavy issue, but I do not really think the problem lies with those trying to raise their children in their own religion, I think it has to do with the world itself surrounding them. We are at the dawn of the twenty first century, yet many racial superstitions seem to be held against those with pagan beliefs (based on what I've seen and heard). Though I'm not exactly sure just how and if this problem can be fixed, as man will always fear that which he cannot understand or refuses to..
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:55 pm
Raise them with truth and honesty, teach them what you believe and why you believe it, warn them that others might ridicule them for what they believe, they understand bullying. Hey it worked for my children.
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:32 am
Personally I don't think raising a child and making that religion public is right. No it's not a dirty secret, however a religious path should be meant to be kept private, as it is your private bond between you and the Divine.
Coming out of an athestic family and being raised Catholic, religion wasn't a big part of my life. Even as a pagan I'm not very religious. For me, religion is a great conversation starter, but other than that it's not needed to be paraded throughout the streets. That is something I would pass onto my children.
I think secret option #3 is a mixture of both. When they're young and impressionable tell them that religion is a private thing, if people ask you what's your religion, tell them. If they make fun of it have them have a little "chat" with me. Children shouldn't be the ones to fight these battles at 5-6 or even at 13.
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Questionable Shapeshifter
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:34 pm
Ravynne Sidhe Personally I don't think raising a child and making that religion public is right. No it's not a dirty secret, however a religious path should be meant to be kept private, as it is your private bond between you and the Divine. Coming out of an athestic family and being raised Catholic, religion wasn't a big part of my life. Even as a pagan I'm not very religious. For me, religion is a great conversation starter, but other than that it's not needed to be paraded throughout the streets. That is something I would pass onto my children. I think secret option #3 is a mixture of both. When they're young and impressionable tell them that religion is a private thing, if people ask you what's your religion, tell them. If they make fun of it have them have a little "chat" with me. Children shouldn't be the ones to fight these battles at 5-6 or even at 13. I had not taken in to account the possabilty of keeping the secret, but talking to the children about privacy as apposed to hiding or llying. Very good.
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:45 pm
vwytche Ravynne Sidhe Personally I don't think raising a child and making that religion public is right. No it's not a dirty secret, however a religious path should be meant to be kept private, as it is your private bond between you and the Divine. Coming out of an athestic family and being raised Catholic, religion wasn't a big part of my life. Even as a pagan I'm not very religious. For me, religion is a great conversation starter, but other than that it's not needed to be paraded throughout the streets. That is something I would pass onto my children. I think secret option #3 is a mixture of both. When they're young and impressionable tell them that religion is a private thing, if people ask you what's your religion, tell them. If they make fun of it have them have a little "chat" with me. Children shouldn't be the ones to fight these battles at 5-6 or even at 13. I had not taken in to account the possabilty of keeping the secret, but talking to the children about privacy as apposed to hiding or llying. Very good. -nods- For me my parents weren't religious. My mom was a Catholic and taught CCD classes that I went to but wasn't devout and my dad's an atheist. The one thing I learned is that religion shouldn't be put on a pedestal. You're just opening yourself up for attacks, especially when I was 13 and told my classmates I was Buddhist. Not fun being told I was going to hell...x.x
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Questionable Shapeshifter
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:51 pm
Ravynne Sidhe vwytche Ravynne Sidhe Personally I don't think raising a child and making that religion public is right. No it's not a dirty secret, however a religious path should be meant to be kept private, as it is your private bond between you and the Divine. Coming out of an athestic family and being raised Catholic, religion wasn't a big part of my life. Even as a pagan I'm not very religious. For me, religion is a great conversation starter, but other than that it's not needed to be paraded throughout the streets. That is something I would pass onto my children. I think secret option #3 is a mixture of both. When they're young and impressionable tell them that religion is a private thing, if people ask you what's your religion, tell them. If they make fun of it have them have a little "chat" with me. Children shouldn't be the ones to fight these battles at 5-6 or even at 13. I had not taken in to account the possabilty of keeping the secret, but talking to the children about privacy as apposed to hiding or llying. Very good. -nods- For me my parents weren't religious. My mom was a Catholic and taught CCD classes that I went to but wasn't devout and my dad's an atheist. The one thing I learned is that religion shouldn't be put on a pedestal. You're just opening yourself up for attacks, especially when I was 13 and told my classmates I was Buddhist. Not fun being told I was going to hell...x.x What really wrankles me at that age level is you know these kids probably aren't that religious. They just found another thing to use to tese someone. It's bad enough when this stuff comes from adults that are devout in their beliefs, but when it comes from kids that are just tying to get a rise scream . Riligion shouldn't be used that way. It's disrespectful.
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:18 am
Personally, if my children chose to be pagan, I will teach them to say it loud and say it proud. We Pagan have worked too hard to get to where we are today just to hide it behind a veil of lies. True that many people today are very close minded and still love to pick apart the paganisim belief but if your children hide it, then why even get them into religion so young? Personally, my child will be taught about all of the wonderful religions and will be allowed ,once old enough, to decide what they want to believe in. But no matter what religion they choose, I will support them and continue to teach them to be proud of it. As long as they are stedfast in their beliefs then I believe they will be fine.
Children can be so mean now-a-days, but I don't believe in hiding my religion or keeping it on a don't ask, don't tell scale. Now, I'm not condeming it for those who prefer to keep it that way, but it's not right in My opinion. I believe that you should be proud in your beliefs and that is what I will teach my children, no matter what they choose.
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:58 pm
vwytche This issue has come to my attention lately. I will not name names, but I know one member here has encountered in the RW. There is an unfortuneate paradox that comes with Paganism and children. As so much of the fear and stigma remains attatched to religions such as Wicca it can be a difficult position for a child to be in. If you tell them not to tell anyone you are telling tham to treat their religious belifes like a dirty secret, and casting it in the same category as molestation or a drinking problem. Not healthy for the child. However, if you tell them to say it loud say it proud then they open themself up to ridicule they may be ill-equipped to handle. Some on has to fight the battle, but it shouldn't be a 5-6 year old child. So, anyone have some input on this conundrum? is there a secret option #3 that we're all missing? Thoughts?  Hold on High the Raven Banner So it Flys above all others Proclamation Of the Valkyrie
"why not? at 8 years i was announcing i wasn't christian. i delt with the insults and fights as i should have. it is the child's rite to fight for their religion. the fact that Christianity has such a strangle hold on people to the point of ostracizing the young is more of a concern than letting a 5 or 6 year old have a difference of religious opinion with their peers."
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:54 pm
Valkyrie Of Heaven vwytche This issue has come to my attention lately. I will not name names, but I know one member here has encountered in the RW. There is an unfortuneate paradox that comes with Paganism and children. As so much of the fear and stigma remains attatched to religions such as Wicca it can be a difficult position for a child to be in. If you tell them not to tell anyone you are telling tham to treat their religious belifes like a dirty secret, and casting it in the same category as molestation or a drinking problem. Not healthy for the child. However, if you tell them to say it loud say it proud then they open themself up to ridicule they may be ill-equipped to handle. Some on has to fight the battle, but it shouldn't be a 5-6 year old child. So, anyone have some input on this conundrum? is there a secret option #3 that we're all missing? Thoughts? Hold on High the Raven Banner So it Flys above all others Proclamation Of the Valkyrie
"why not? at 8 years i was announcing i wasn't christian. i delt with the insults and fights as i should have. it is the child's rite to fight for their religion. the fact that Christianity has such a strangle hold on people to the point of ostracizing the young is more of a concern than letting a 5 or 6 year old have a difference of religious opinion with their peers."
My passionate side agrees with you, but my logical side worries about the emotional health of children placed in that position. I take from your post tthat you grew up in a non-Christian religion. Do have any advice for parents to help their children cope with some of the inevitable difficulties?
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Questionable Shapeshifter
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:09 pm
This reminds me of when I was a substitute teacher for a month this spring. The subjects were english and german. Partially because I was a new face, but mostly because I dressed the way I did (spikes, fingeless gloves, long hair, heck even nail-polish) and they were not used to it, I managed to make a pretty big impact. (A quick note, I'm not a goth, emo, or any other such. There is nothing wrong with it or anything, I'm just not, and I don't want ay such thoughts to influence the way people see this post.) Sure, where I normally live, nobody would've thought twice. Well, maybe a few, but most wouln't care. This was howevera small town, where the difference between what men and women look like and act are a bit.. old fashioned. Men do not wear nail-polish in their world. Teachers do not dress like they are heading out to a rock concert. And they most certainly do not act like it's ok! Anyway, since I've derailed from the topic, I did get into a discussion with a few of them about my religion. I really don't like to discuss that, since I don't have one, I have a belief, not a religion. I don't know if others separate them, but I do. And I tried to explain what I believe in. It was pretty funny to see their incredolous looks as I tried to explain that yes, I do believe in paranormal stuff. I don't know if I got trough to them, but I'd like to believe that I managed to crack a few of their shells and make the next generation a more open-minded one.
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