religion and the family

[flea]

So, Casper has mentioned the Bible, and she points out Jesus in the big stained glass window of the church on our walk home (I said yes, Jesus was a wise teacher who lived a long time ago), and she asks me to sing a song I don't know about Jesus and children all over the world. (This song seems to be fairly mainstream - 2 of the 3 mainline-protestant raised friends who were present when I mentioned it broke into song together.) Clearly the nanny does some casual mention of religion, above and beyond the usual secularized Christmas/Easter.

I was raised in an atheist home until the age of 10, at which point my parents divorced and my mother mandated attendance at Episcopal church. I went on condition that I be allowed to sing in the choir (we had an excellent music director from Harvard) and under no circumstances go to Sunday School or Youth Group. This situation endured until I was 13 and we moved, at which point I became a Christmas-and-Easter Episcopalian. Since graduating high school I've been to various churches occasionally for the purposes of anthropology or attending other people's events. I do not believe in God. I feel that one's own religious beliefs and choices are very private, and I am uncomfortable with much discussion of religion in public arenas.

But I am a secular Christian - Christian religious holidays are observed by me in their secular incarnations, and I appreciate the traditions, music, and history of churches, with a particular prejeudice towards the Anglican/Episcopalian. I also have read the entire New Testament (for a class in high school) and have a decent grasp on the Old (due to a good child's Bible stories book and my study of Mediterranean ancient history) and have had occasion to be amused that I, the atheist in the room, may know the Bible better than the people who attend church or temple.

I like the idea of attending church for the sense of community activity, but can't even bring myself to join the local Unitarian Church because I feel that their spiritual community, though broad, is not so broad as to embrace my rejection of belief, plus they have cheesy "inclusive lyrics" music. The local Temple's preschool is high on the list for Casper for age 3, however - it's 2 blocks away, good, you don't have to be Jewish, and I like the idea of her being exposed to traditional Jewish holidays in an age-appropriate way.

Parents, especially fellow non- or low-believers, how have you/do you plan to educate your children about religion? Can anyone recommend children's books on religion that describe or illustrate traditions or stories and aren't really cheesy or proselytizing - i.e. that would pass my critical test both for artistic merit and squeamishness about overt religion? I like Madeline L'Engle's The Sphinix at Dawn, for example, but it's not simple enough for my toddler.

Comments

[cindywrites.livejournal.com]

>and she asks me to sing a song I don't know about Jesus and children all over the world.

If you want to know it to be able to sing it to her, it's probably this: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/jesloves.htm. This one has the words set to the music: http://susie1114.com/LittleChildren.html. Casper may well only mean/know the refrain.

I don't come from the perspective you're looking for, to help you with the rest. That said, you might browse a Barnes & Noble and see what they have in way of Bible Story Books, and/or other religious story books. I have an old Taylor's Bible Story Book. You'd need to review it (or similar) yourself, to see if it crosses your proselytizing line, but a Bible Story book might be a way to educate her on the stories of Judaism and Christianity, without getting heavy. I don't know what to suggest for other religions, though.

A Unitarian/Universalist Church should/would actually/probably be totally welcoming and accepting of an atheist, fwiw. If the musics and hymn lyrics were too cheesy, it would drive me far, far away though, so that's all I will say about that.

Do you have a United Church of Christ near you? Usually they have "Congregational" somewhere in their name (but not all Congregational Churches are UCC, and those that are not UCC are usually more religiously conservative). They're the 'God is Still Speaking' people, although not all congregations participate in that campaign (you'd be more likely to prefer one that did). What doctrine the 'God is Still Speaking' churches preach is going to be Christian, but many of them are very theologically liberal (more left than mainstream), and pastor-depending, you might be as likely to hear a Robert Frost poem as the gospel, as the focus of a sermon. Pastor and congregation depending, you could possibly come out as an atheist and still be most welcome and not proselytized at.

What's Mr. Flea's religious background--any?

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that's the right song. I do know the tune, but can't think of what words I know to it. (Casper can't carry a tune for more than about 3 notes, so I only had snatches of lyrics to go on.)

mr. flea was raised and confirmed Catholic (but didn't go to Catholic school and really, compared to many ex-Catholics I know, was unaffected by the experience.) I think his current beliefs might be classed as liberal Christian plus - he's interested in some Buddhist and Taoist ideas. He'd be comfortable at the UU church. But he's too lazy to go.

[veejane.livejournal.com]

We have known and fled from the cheesiness of UU. I know they vary a lot, but whoa the cheese.

flea, if you want to UCC people to interview, I have two flatmates you can call up. They don't proselytize at me, and are very community-oriented, and I have no idea what their doctrine is, except "yay same-sex marriage", and "don't be harshing my mellow".

[cindywrites.livejournal.com]

The thing to keep in mind about UCC churches though, is they aren't homogenous. Generally, that's a good thing. But they are truly congregational in government, so V's roomie's experience may or may not have anything in common with the churches you'll find near your house. Some are ultra liberal (with one conference minister gleefully describing the area meetings to me as "bootcamp for radicals"); some are quite liberal; some are moderate; some are even conservative in comparison the the UCC as a whole, although still probably to the left of the Protestant mainstream both doctrinally and politically.

The more liberal ones will be just as glad to have you as an open atheist. The UCC is not big on proselytizing in general. I don't know what you'll run into, in your area, though.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they'd be glad to have me, but I don't think I'd be comfortable with them. I have a great coworker who is a pillar of the local UCC, but I went to their web site, and I just can't imagine feeling comfortable at a place where the "Welcome" page begins "We affirm Jesus Christ...". I'm just not a churchgoer.

[cindywrites.livejournal.com]

>> "We affirm Jesus Christ...".

That's the denomination, though. That's what I'm talking about it being congregation-dependent. My church is actually UCC, but it's not. That is, we are Christ affirming, and monotheistic, etc. Our church is thinking of either leaving the UCC or dually affiliating with a more theologically conservative denomination (with an eye toward leaving eventually, when the last handful of UCC loyalists are gone), because much of the denomination's lip-service to Christ, Christianity, and the Bible is just that. My cousin has gone to a pagan solstice celebration with a UCC group. Another acquaintance (not from my church) who has told his pastor he is essentially a pantheist and has moved past religious faith in Christ, is invited by same to take leadership positions.