Hmmmm, this is strange. This is the first I've heard about it. Sounds a bit like someone is playing a "prank". If not. I have no clue. Maybe someone on here that lives near there would know.
FF
FreedomFrog
JoinedPosts by FreedomFrog
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Ghostbusters like scene in downtown LA
by Pleasuredome in.
does anyone here know anything about this strange black gue that has been appearing in downtown la?.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_3529716
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Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
Good advice LT. I don't think there is anything wrong with saying "tell ya what, why don't we discuss this more when you're a little older". I think that an adult religious debate is too much for a young kid to handle emotionally, especially when mom and dad clearly have different ideas. Though I know that it would be tough to avoid getting really deep into topics like this with Zach, because he's such a smart and curious kid.
Hehehe, Dan's had first hand "dealings" with Zach. As soon as he walks through the door when he visits...Zach has computer "programming" to "teach". So yes, he's full of questions especially when he hears us talking the deep subjects. The "we'll discuss this when your a little older" just sometimes don't fly with him. But, there's a lot of good advice here. Lots to think about.
Thanks!
FF
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My sweet wonderful cousin just killed himself...
by TresHappy inpoor thing...now he's at rest - cousin lee.
i will always miss and love you.
i wish i could have helped you.
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FreedomFrog
I'm so sorry {{{TresHappy}}}....that is so sad...
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40
Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
"Belief" allows them that, even if it's only Santa Claus. When they grow into adults and gain the ability to reason things out properly then inconsequential beliefs will just drop away, if your current tolerance persists.
Be aware of the propensity for your own shattered past to affect your child's normal development, including all the fantasy/belief that they need/want.
I agree...and it's the balance that's hard to get.
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40
Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
Yes, absolutely! Whatever you say, just no more hitting! Please stop with the hitting!
*chases dave with a rolling pin*
But being strictly honest about eternal love I figure, is a conversation best left when they are older. ; Say, when they're about sixty years old.
Well said, and yes, agreed.
I wouldn't be gravely disappointed if my kids grew up and became pagans or even Christians. I hope they choose a more agnostic/atheist path, since I believe it will make them have happier lives. But that's just my take on it. What I "hope" is largely immaterial to what will actually happen anyway.
Yes, that's a nice concept, but when you're children start asking questions you are "forced" in to explaining what life is about and not about. I wasn't really prepared for this...rofl. So, you can't wait until they are 60yrs. They want answers. I also wouldn't be "gravely" disappointed as Dave so elegantly put it if they ended up becoming Atheist. Just, my "gut" feeling is that Zach (in particular because of his personality) won't have that "fulfilled" feeling if he goes this route. Anyway, that's IMHO.
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Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
((((FreedomFrog))))
I think you and AA are one of the nicest couples to ever grace this forum. I'm sorry you're going through a rough patch at the moment, sometimes life hits the fan and leaves a huge mess for us to deal with. All I can do is give you both a hug and tell you that if you can hang in there, it will get better.
Actually, Scully, even though this is hard. Dave and I have "fun" with debates. (I think..do ya honey?) Just only when we hit a senstive topic as to whether or not this will have an effect later on the kids.
Have you ever thought that both you and Dave are giving your children the best of both worlds? You get to teach them the comforting power of ritual and faith, and Dave's example teaches them to have faith in themselves just as much as you teach them to have faith in something external.
The problem is, Dave already feels exactly what he believes...I feel I'm still in the "catch-up" phase. I'm still tyring to learn what I really believe and don't. So, I don't want to "teach" something that I may feel totally different later. At this point I can't ever not feeling a "Higher Power" because of the security feeling it gives me. Believing that there is something more that may be out there gives me the power to live comfortably...a safe feeling. I want out children to feel safe.
Growing up in the JWs, I believed (and most of us who grew up JW believed) that we had no control over anything, that whatever happened in life was at Jehovah's pleasure - "Jehovah willing" my dad would say when we'd talk about going somewhere other than camping for vacation, and then when we went camping anyways, we weren't supposed to be mad at Jehovah for squashing our hopes. Through all that, I never learned the value of having faith in myself... no matter what I did, if it wasn't what Jehovah wanted, my plans were meant to fall through. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy, really. In the words of Homer Simpson, "If at first you don't succeed, why bother trying?" No wonder I went through my 20's in a state of depression!!
I guess that's why I can't believe in the Christian God. What I believe is more with energy. Energy that we can tap into if need be. I do have trouble believing into the "All Powerful-All Knowing". I admit, my beliefs are more for comfort right now. And I want my kids to have that same comfort I enjoy. If Zach grows up in comfort knowing this is it...I'm cool with that. But my fears are that, even though he's logical like his daddy, he's also sooooooo emotional like me that this will effect him later.
It wasn't until after we left the JWs that I learned how to have faith in myself. We've gone through a variety of crises and stresses, but it didn't affect me the same way they would have if we were still JWs who believed that whatever happened to us was Satan the Devil testing us, or Jehovah allowing us to be tested, and we just had to accept it. Now - being self reliant and having faith in our ability to do what is in our family's best interests - we just do whatever needs to be done to get where we want to be. Little by little, it does get better, and ten years down the road, you'll probably be right where you want to be and wonder how you managed to find the strength to get through everything you're going through now.
I believe you need to have faith in yourself...but I believe that that faith sometimes needs a boost. And I believe that that's when we can tap into those energies to gain that faith in us. Does that make sense?You both have an excellent opportunity to show your children the positive things about both your belief systems. Why not run with it and see where it goes?
Actually, it all started with me having a vision of Cougar as my "Power/Spirit/Guide" animal. I have been having "dreams" of cougar for several months now. Then after "prayer" again for a sign of what I need to do, wolfgirl posted a cougar (15 mins after my "prayer" in an "off-topic" situation) which to me was another sign. After looking up the "personality" of Cougar, I'm directed to be more assertive in my beliefs. I haven't done this because of the fear of teaching our kids "wrong". But, yes, I do agree, I need to be more vocal when it comes to my beliefs.
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Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
Most of my fears originated with a belief in a "god" and evaporated along with my belief in said deity.
In that case, I understand why you would feel this way. But, most of my fears are from nothing being out there. Whether they are true or not is beside the point. No one on the face of this earth can prove or disprove an entity. So why activity "teach" someone that there ISN'T when you can't prove that there isn't?
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Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
To Frog I would say, I can trace ALL of my childhood phobias, fears, nightmares etc to a "belief" in the supernatural (god , angels, devils, demons, what have you) that my parents and their blessed "religion" implanted in my mind. I didnt really have any peace of mind until I finally left all that bogeyman nonsense behind me and abandoned all belief in the supernatural. I never adopted the term "atheist" because I think it implies a "negation" of something, when of course you cant "negate" something that did not exist in the first place (i.e. subtract zero from zero). But I digress. I think children are sophisticated enough to draw their own conclusions about the reality of existence and I propose that children being taught to accept as reality things for which there is not a shred of logical evidence are only being set up for a really big crash when the inevitable reality of life touches them. Your son sounds like a very bright, intelligent and logical little boy.
I understand what you mean...but then you have the side of fear of death. A fear of "this is it". He's scared shit at times of us, him and others dying. He gets a comfort knowing that he may very well get a chance to "move on". For me, I'd rather be in fear of the "bogeyman" and have faith that someone or something out there has more power to protect me than to live out of fear that I'm not protected in any way. I have faith when I get in my car that I will be protected from my Higher Powers. And if I didn't have that faith, I'd be scared and panicy that this might be the last time I drive because of getting in an accident.
Why invent a male deity and then by a leap of imagination and faith act as if he were real? The next thing is that you need other people, close to you, to believe as well. If enough people join you the god becomes more of a reality. Talking to him helps keep him alive - of course he will never reply. Everyone needs some illusions to get through life but the god one just doesn’t work for so many people nowadays. If you must inflict such trickery on your son, why not get him to believe in someone nice? Father Christmas will only bother him once a year to bring him presents. He will not judge or threaten him. And he even has a comfortable lap to sit on.
Well, first off, I don't believe in god as most do. I believe in a Higher Power...or energy-for lack of better words. And that this/they/he/she/it's energy can be tapped into, because I have had things happen to me, my family, one "by chance" to many. Especially the times I've "prayed" and those "prayers" are answered. Why not believe in that "magic" of life? Why close it down because you can't see "Them"? I think it makes life more interesting and fun to have a bit of "illusion" if it may really end up being that. I enjoy having that "child-like" mind and enjoy the connection I feel with my Higher Powers. And I want my children to be able to experience that to.
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Are children better off believing in some form of faith?
by FreedomFrog inas you know, my husband dave (aka almostatheist) is atheist.
my son came up to me last night and declared that he "doesn't" believe in any kind of higher power.
being eclectic pagan...this bothered me because i know for me, if i didn't have any kind of "faith", i'd be crushed.
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FreedomFrog
Hehehe, trying to start a "debate" here honey? Ok, I can handle this.
If you don't have "faith" what helps you over come your fears? When I "pray" sometimes that forces me to look at other options. When I believe I have a Higher force out there helping me, I feel more confident...more powerful. Where do you get that "power". That motivation to go on? And no one can disprove a Higher Power. And there are so many "coincidences" of prayers being "answered" that I find it hard to believe that there isn't something more.
("arguing" on-line with my baby...this is gonna be interesting...rofl)
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For slugga and diamondblue1974 (and whomever else is interested)
by Wolfgirl inmy answer would have gotten lost after 4 pages of actual on-topic discussion.
slugga: is that a real wolf pup?
and the puma, aren't its claws dangerous?.
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FreedomFrog
Thank you for clarifying...shes an absolute beauty...not sure whether I would have the balls to handle her though....I think I will stick to my little domestic tabby; shes vicious enough!
Maybe it's because I own large parrots that can attack you in the face and have held huge birds that their beaks are half the size of a basket balls....I don't have fears like most people when it comes to animal. And maybe it's because I like to live "dangerously"..but I would have and would LOVE a chance to hold a wonderful animal like that. It gives a sense of "power" when you can hold these powerful animals. I've held raptors of all kinds of sizes, alligators about 4 feet nose to tip of tail, beavers, badgers (which they can be quite nasty) and everyone of them gave me a sense of awe. But if I had a chance, that would be one thing I'd love to do before I die, is to hold and "pet" one of those magnificent cats. WOW.
Thanks for sharing this Wolfgirl. Not many people get to experience what you got to. You are so lucky.