feedback for "Choosing His Religion"
-
My husband and I are dealing with many of the same issues. My husband is a former Catholic and doesn't object to raising our son Jewish. However my Catholic mother in law does have issues with it. And while some people have urged us to just do both, I have come the conclusion that it is just too hard. What do you say to your son when he asks you why the Jews killed Jesus? I can't expect him to understand and balance those issues as a child, but I am worried about the conflict it will create within the family.
posted by : spartic99 on 4/23/2007 at 12:26 PM Flag For Abuse
-
i wouldn't be surprised if people in major cities begin observing a samping of major religious holidays in major cities in 50 years or 100 years. Growing up many Jewish friends of mine observed christmas either because one parent was christian, or because it simply seemed appealing. Christmas is a pagan ritual at the end of the day, a co-opted version of the winter solstice celebration. I like the idea of taking the best rituals from the most common religions and absorbing them into our family. my wife and were both raised as christians (she catholic, me episcopalian, as if that matters any more) but neither of us are observant. our son has not been baptized, which is disappointing to my father. I believe that the major religions are all in decline, but i also think that there are beautiful rituals and wise teaching that should be salavaged from them.
posted by : Papaganoose on 4/29/2007 at 12:30 PM Flag For Abuse
-
This is a terrific article. We have also faced this dilemma in our house. Thankfully there not a lot of pressure from either side to choose. We've decided to baptize our son in a non-denominational Christian ceremony and he will share both the Christian and the Jewish holidays with our families.
I may be incorrect, but have been told that my son couldn't be Jewish because I'm not a Jew. My husband isn't the slightest bit religious, but I feel a certain amount of guilt by not honoring the religion of his grandparents who survived the Holocaust.
I've asked if there is any other Jewish ceremony that we could combine with the Christian ceremony, but have been told "no". It's really too bad that churches have to be so "exclusive". I think both families will be happy as long as our son is raised with proper moral values and appreciates the importance of family.
posted by : agincourt63 on 9/10/2007 at 6:41 PM Flag For Abuse
-
don't feel the guilt. your son is not jewish and has nothing to do with the jewish holidays. your husband made his choice when decided to have kids with you
posted by : noname on 12/15/2008 at 3:18 PM Flag For Abuse
-
There are many people who are dealing with the very same issue! I have used www.interfaithfamily.com for some guidance and resources. They have some wonderful suggestions on how to deal with this type of thing.
posted by : heddahjo on 6/24/2009 at 4:57 PM Flag For Abuse
