oboy.....my parents 'sent' me to church, however they didn't attend Sue. I actually became very dedicated and read my bible and had many questions. I went to different ones as we moved and even attended some others with friends, so was exposed to different philosophys.All this made me question 'who' has the truth, when each one says 'they have the truth'. I also questioned why my parents 'sent me' but didn't go, so when I joined the Church of Christ as a teen, I was programmed to judge them because they didn't follow the teachings. They almost never forgave me and I don't blame them, but it was such a lesson. I understand from a personal viewpoint of how children's opinions are formed from religion/culture/education/peers/etc and how they can be pulled away from their parents and turned towards something else. If you go back in time, way back, even to primitives, a group would evolve with common ideas/perceptions and even practices which showed they belonged to this or that group. I believe this extended naturally as populations grew, and unfortunately as they came into conflict with other groups who were different, this caused anger/fear/and more.
I was one of the different ones, however as I also read and devoured so much literature, that it made me question things and of course bible school teachers are not comfortable with that...lol. I argued with my cousin who was Catholic as she never read the bible and didn't even know what was in it. Many things went round and round in my mind. In my early teens I devoured sci fi things which were mind expanding of course, imagining other worlds, and other ways of life.
that teen that joined the Church of christ (a very wonderful bunch of people in that particular church), came to realize later, after visiting others in different areas of the country, that not all are the same, even within the same type. Therefore I got dis-illusioned with 'religion' and 'churches' and stopped going.
In my 30's I was introduced to 'chakras' and more, read the books on reincarnation and the world opened up to me and became exciting and made more sense. I was like a spongue, reading and absorbing 'spirituallity'...I found it was what I was 'about'. So I understand what you are saying.
I didn't raise my children 'in the church' ...none of them, I did raise them with principles that are set forth, of treating others like you would like to be treated, love, etc etc...the truths that I did 'see' in the new testament. I do believe in Jesus, because I feel I was there at that time, and knew him, maybe one of the followers. I do believe in the creator, as this whole thing couldn't have happened by accident, its too organized and repetitive and creative which shows intelligence.
Now to the nitty gritty of what you asked after that looong bit. I do not regret studying the Bible and learning what is in it, as I have the background and knowledge when reference is made to any and all/parts or historical things, to know what they are talking about. I am glad I had exposure to the different types of churches and also my own experience of getting caught up in it,so I know what that was like and can understand children being taught/or programmed can be viewed by some as bad and by others as necessary. I was watching a youtube on the mennomites who moved to Mexico and South America and how they 'teach' the children, and how small, tight and defined their world is so they cannot make other choices. It is a rare person who can break loose.
Now, I have one daughter who has 'awakened' to more of the spirit world, also natural health practices, and all of that, one that is not, and one that is just his own 'being' and can discuss things, knows very much about spirituality, auras and such, but is not a church goer.
I did not do this on purpose, we moved to a town that did not have the church we had joined, so it naturally evolved that we never went again. Then we divorced and I believe my girls went to church occasionally with their grandparents on their fathers side, but it was not a steady thing.
I believe that humans have a need to 'belong' to a group Sue, from those primitive times, and if they get the support that they are not getting at home, then they will gravitate there,whether a church, a gang, or anything else so they feel that they are accepted and do 'belong' to someone. This, as you know, can lead to very dangerous avenues of expression, as well as to a seperation from the parents, whether it is a church/religion or a gang/peers.
I think I was always the odd man out....when I did go to church and studied the bible a lot, the rest of the family wasn't like that, and yet when I was babtized in the church of christ, my parents were quite upset as they would have wanted to be there, which I didn't understand at all. Then when I 'grew' into more spiritual things, I became a 'hippy' in the families eyes.....(which I wasn't)....but they didn't really know the difference.
Sue I think everyone needs something for a moral compass somehow. For some, whom I have spoken with, led lives that were unsavory, they only found that compass when they joined a church or found 'the lord'....and found the love and support that they needed and never had. Thus, I don't toss the baby out with the bathwater.
I can see, speaking with my children, the lack of knowledge/background from not teaching them the biblical stories, and how they lack a reference point. However also not teaching children here, about our forefathers, the constitution,and all that has been our historical background, might lead to a lack of understanding of what a monumental task it was and why it was so remarkable that they did and why it is important to keep the principles intact.
Spirituality in itsef, has many facets, as you well know, layers upon layers, and many teachers and books as well which one might read/hear/follow, so there are differences in that too.
If I had it to do again (and am so thankful I am over that part), and knew what I know now, how would I handle this enigma is a massive thought provoking thing for me. How does one teach basic principles without 'indoctrinating' children? I know there must be many who have done that, including you. I, would, as I imagine you and others here, would want their children to make up their own minds, and learn what choices they make in life has consequences. I have wondered Sue, if I have done wrong by my children by not talking more about Jesus/yeshua being their 'savior' as the Bible speaks of, and even so many who have OBE's talk of how important that is and a personal relationship with God/etc. (which I feel that I have)
Do I believe in hell?....oboy. Do I believe that our dna was manipulated by ET's or that we really are from other worlds and brought here,and yet there is a 'creator'over all that has created 'life' here and everywhere. I wonder if 'hell' is created in the minds for 'those' who have near death experiences and have led nefarious lives, and need to see that they will 'go there' if they don't change their lives, or is it a real 'place'?
I have had many 'experinces' even the holograms sent to me in 1982, to show me future events, and so much more so I know this 3-d is just temporary, and there again their are layers within layers, other dimensions and overlaps, multiverses, and yet, it is ALL energy....science, spirit, soul, ....it is all 'energy' ...and to me it all comes from the 'creator', no seperation at all, just one's viewpoint.
It is all LOVE ENERGY, from the creator and spirit told me, if we are in a state of hate, or fear, then we are in discord with our own 'being' and that causes our problems. That being said, I also understand that there are way too many who have never been shown LOVE in their lives, never have felt it or don't even know what it is, so they are incapable of showing love to others.
That, is one thing I would teach my children, to be realistic when they are dating or mating or marrying others, to look at their families, see how they were raised and understand where they are coming from and what they might experience when they are not expecting actions or reactions.
I think, if one teaches their children to see and read auras, to read even body language, to hone in on their 'other senses' in this day and age, it would be most helpful for them in dealing with this world, use critical thinking/feeling skills which I was never taught, or are many?
I would definitely teach them about reincarnation, about the laws of karma and also to be careful as choices are like rocks thrown into a stream, making ripples and they might not like the end result.
Would I teach them the Bible? Maybe some of the stories, teachings but not forcing them to learn or recite, just so they would have some background on the subject.
Well have I blabbed too much?.....lol...
good thread Sue....I hope you get lots of feedback...k
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