A bittersweet event happened a couple of weeks ago. Our eldest, of highschool age, expressed an interest in taking a comparative religion course. She has been raised to be ethical and moral without religion. She knows how her mom and I feel about religion but from time she could ask such questions my answer has always been the same - deciding what you believe is a choice that you alone get to make. And she is a wonder. A kinder and more empathetic soul has never lived. She is also smart and confident and not easily swayed. She is free of guilt and baggage. She gives me hope for our future.
I suggested that we could have a series of sessions like that at home. She politely said that she preferred to gain an outside perspective on the subject.
"I'm not interested in the teachings so much as the history of religions,"She said.
"No offense, but you and mom kind of cloud the discussion with political commentary about religion."
It is a bit of a shock when your wildest hopes for your children come true - a father's hope that his children would be better than he.
She is.
I suggested that we could have a series of sessions like that at home. She politely said that she preferred to gain an outside perspective on the subject.
"I'm not interested in the teachings so much as the history of religions,"She said.
"No offense, but you and mom kind of cloud the discussion with political commentary about religion."
It is a bit of a shock when your wildest hopes for your children come true - a father's hope that his children would be better than he.
She is.
6 comments:
Cool.
I became an atheist after intense upbringing and study (in my case, Judaism), when I came to the realization I had never asked myself if any of belief system made sense, despite the years of being concerned primarily with observance. At that point, I began to study the other "majors" (and a few minors) until I relaized that none of them had any better reasons to believe. I wish I could have done this the way you have allowed your daughter to do so.
Pliny, your daughter sounds a lot like my daughter. All I've ever hoped for my kids was that they got a better head-start in life than I did. That, and to grow up to be independent, capable, fully-functioniong adults.
It's still a work in progress...
Yes it is Ed, As long as we don't screw them up too badly the kids may turn out alright.
As a parent I'm very happy for you.
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