Hello. I read your article on do your child believe in God. i really appreciate you for thinking in such a direction and also sharing ur views with others. Yes I do feel that parents belonging to two different religions should teach their child about all the religions and what is the meaning of a religion why is it followed. They should also tell them what they feel what a religion is and also should tell the child how religion helps in making a man good in all ways. But the trend in India is mostly either after marriage the wife has to converter self and take up husbands religion or brought up the child in an atmosphere of husbands religion. The parents following two different religion in Indian society is not very much acceptable and the adverse affect is on the child to whom the society humiliates. I feel parents should teach the right meaning of religion and should not entangle them in false believes and rituals of a religion. Child should be brought up in such a manner that he may like to follow a particular religion but should respect all the religions. I feel there should be some options also if a child has parents from both religion and wants to follow both. Regards.
Albert Einstein said, "If there is no GOD than we have to create one" for the for peace and happiness to prevail in the universe. But what should be the concept of GOD? At no point of time our knowledge is significantly high enough to be sure on existence of GOD. If we think on the limitation of time (that doesnt exist) and space we will (even science) be lost in mystery of unknown Universal source of power that is controlling everything (actually nothing if we compare extend of all four dimension, including time). We can assume that source of everything as GOD.
I would say two people from extremely different faiths must chose one of their faiths for their children to prevent them from the turmoil of identity crisis, while two people with similar yet not the same religious beliefs have an advantage as they can give theri children a broad base without making them insecure or struggle for an identity. I would certainly give my children the concept of God without making it too angelistic even if i were a non believer simply because the mere presence of a larger than life omni present invisible good being would fill a child's life with a lot of positivity and warmth which is otherwise missing from modern day families.
The author seems to be totally confused! She wants to groom her children as good human beings without the burden of a religious belief or that matter God. Fine , what is Good? For a non vegetarian a 'GOOD' meal may be a roasted chicken. Show the same to a Vegetarian , they may even vomit. Same holds for a peg of whisky as viewed by a tee totaller & a person who drinks. So what is Good for one may be unacceptable or Bad to another(Mind it both are right in their own ways). These are as prescribed by religion and not by law. Even after marrying a protestant christian , she says she is Hindu and may also be sporting a Bindi ...which may give her a sense of identity. God & Religion are strengths in our life and are very much needed in moments of Joy & sorrow and also uncertainity. I am sure even her marriage(even in a court) might have had a oath by each other in the name of GOD to be faithful to each other. I have noticed that the "CLASS" of people who generally openly proclaim their non belief in GOD show more religious straits. They belong to the confused lot in my opinion. My advice to her is that as she accepted her husband(for good or bad) as life partner , so also a GOD.
To be a non-believer is easy to say. Someone being a non-believer get confused in real dire situation of life. And then he/she comes to know that something is really missing in life. On the other hand a believer can be in good position to tackle the bad situation. The real strength for a self being is to keep the mental condition in good shape to overcome bad times. And for a believer it is easier task. Believing in god or to some power which control the universe is the option. And from scientific point of view it is still a mystry how the universe is controlled in a systematic way. This can also be viewed as a representative of God!
I feel when the parents belong to different religion and if they are confused in bringing up the child in particular religion or fatih then its better not to mention of particular way or rituals or God.You have to teach them that there is one Almighty whom we call God and he is supreme and super power.We have to tell them that whatever we say do and act should be good and that is how you serve God.We should behave in respecatbel way in our life and have faith in God and should have obsulute faith and noth changing the gaurds according to the fancy or motivation or other vested interests.Faith is the only God which can make mans life fullfilled irrespective of XYZ God.Dont Attach Releigon and unnecessary rituals which dosent have any value or truth and everthing is man made and human interpretations.Let the child be free of all these chains and live independently and freely with full faith in what he does and belevies.
Q1. Since I believe in God, I am unable to answer your question. Q2. I do not think so if the parents have understand- ing amongst themselves and guide the children properly Q3. The government has to make up its mind. It does not matter whether the child is a Hindu, Jain & so on. Q4. No. The child should know there is but ONE God, irrespective of the religion. Thereafter following any religion does not matter at all. Q5. We read all religious books in our childhood. Keep the books for them, or even better, tell the stories that they can understand better. Q6. You worship God yourself before teaching anything to the child. The child is shrewd enough to pick the relevant one itself automatically. Q7. No. Religion is a personal matter & schools should stick to the curriculum including moral science lectures without mentioning the religion ever. Q8. Being a Good Human Being is the most important thing. However, knowing ones own religious practices is also needed to keep ones tradition alive as long it does not hurt the other parent. Q9. Certainly YES.
The article is enlightening. That there is a supernatural power above the world has to be believed. Otherwise, we may have to land up without an answer for who was behind the formation of the hills, oceans, a tiny mind that captures millions of ideas at any given point of time, human body, reproductive system that makes the earth sustain life. In our country, secularism is being misused to a great extent. Secularism only means impartial towards all religions and not being "irreligious". Pseudo-secularists have this to say. Ever since the "new meaning" started gaining popularity in recent times, children have started believing that belief in God is a superstition. The future society would one day become unimaginably violent, insensitive and inhuman, if there is none to fear about. It is the bounden duty of parents to explain to the kids on the super natural power that guides us all and that it is here to stay and not us. The experience the author had in answering her daughter's query is evidently nightmarish. Let it not happen to any other parent.
