So I'm posting this in both the pagan forum and the parenting forum, because I don't know which would be better. I am the mother of two young boys, and a Pagan. I was wondering how all of you teach your children about your religion, and do you bring them up to worship your gods and goddesses or do you let them choose?
Do not press kids into any kind of religion. Religion is already bad enough as it were. Give your kids the knowledge and education that will enable them to make their own choices.
I am an Athiest, and don't necessarily push that on my 5 year old daughter at all. I was raised Catholic and my family has taught her about religion/taken her to church. I don't think it would be harmful to introduce your religious beliefs to your children, just don't push it. Forcing religion can make them run from it. With my daughter, I focus on teaching her morals instead, because that is what is important to me. I teach her to treat others kindly, that we are all humans and to not judge, that its okay to believe in any religion you want, that race, sexuality, and sexual identity DO NOT MATTER (It's all about who you are on the inside). I believe instilling these values will have more of an impact on her than a religion. I have told her if she ever wants to go to church that all she has to do is ask and I will take her. I also told her she never has to go, that it is her decision. If you want to introduce paganism, I would start first with teaching them the values that pagans believe in and go from there.
Nevermind There was a delay (The first post I refreshed the page accidentally as I was typing it out)
I would let them see what you believe. Obviously they don't have to agree with you. But it's fair that you as a parent would expose your children to your religion. Otherwise, what are you ashamed of? Are you afraid your children will be teased? If that is the case then you need to prepare them for ridicule, just as every parent of every religion has to do.
