05-09-2005, 09:31 PM
Mrs. Goose's question How much of what you believe now is what you were taught or influenced to believe as a child? Was this by your parents, teachers or other adults in your life? I know as a child my father took my brother, sister and I to a Southern Baptist church (yes, SOUTHERN!) He would drop us off for Sunday school, then return and sit in the Sunday Sermon. This was a half a day process! My step-mother would not attend this church as she was not Baptist. Being the youngest I typically drew on the Sunday hand-out and slept during the sermon. Did I develop my faith at this age? I'd have to say no, but was influenced by it? As we moved from Georgia to Texas, my step-mother insisted she would take us to a Church of Christ. To my recollection, we only went to the Church of Christ 2 times. After that, all church goings stopped. Now.... my next door neighbors were RC and I was good friends with them....so now I start attending the RC Church occassionally (more out of boredom and my friend being forced to go before she could do anything else!) I found this really interesting, enlightening and interactive.
Now you ask yourselves....so what religion are you now?? Very good question....is it based upon religion or faith? I don't claim to be any religion even though when asked "I do believe in God". You may ask yourself - what has made me believe in God...another good question...
There has to be a beginning regardless of whether you believe in God or Creation. Right now our children go to a Baptist Church because that is where their father takes them. This pisses Mr. Goose off as he thinks that they are brainwashed and indoctrinates them into one way of thinking. I have explained to our oldest daughter that she has a mind of her own and to remember she can choose to accept what the preacher preaches at her or she can have an open mind to explore other ways of thinking. If down the road she chooses another faith, then so be it. I'm not going to be the one that tells her one way or another. I think this is what is missing in our younger generation. Their parents teach them and force them to believe what they want them to believe instead of being free thinkers.
This can all be extended to various things within our lives, not just Church, faith and religion. Be it reciting the Pledge of Alleigance or singing the National Anthem. They are all based on what has always been and, therefore, most people believe to be the right way. Whether right or wrong.
I believe that is part of what is wrong in our society today. Everyone trying to make everyone else believe what they believe rather than them thinking in their own way. I believe if you don't like something you don't have to listen to it, watch it or believe it. That is what we all have brains for and, hopefully, use to form our own opinions.
Mrs. Goose
Now you ask yourselves....so what religion are you now?? Very good question....is it based upon religion or faith? I don't claim to be any religion even though when asked "I do believe in God". You may ask yourself - what has made me believe in God...another good question...
There has to be a beginning regardless of whether you believe in God or Creation. Right now our children go to a Baptist Church because that is where their father takes them. This pisses Mr. Goose off as he thinks that they are brainwashed and indoctrinates them into one way of thinking. I have explained to our oldest daughter that she has a mind of her own and to remember she can choose to accept what the preacher preaches at her or she can have an open mind to explore other ways of thinking. If down the road she chooses another faith, then so be it. I'm not going to be the one that tells her one way or another. I think this is what is missing in our younger generation. Their parents teach them and force them to believe what they want them to believe instead of being free thinkers.
This can all be extended to various things within our lives, not just Church, faith and religion. Be it reciting the Pledge of Alleigance or singing the National Anthem. They are all based on what has always been and, therefore, most people believe to be the right way. Whether right or wrong.
I believe that is part of what is wrong in our society today. Everyone trying to make everyone else believe what they believe rather than them thinking in their own way. I believe if you don't like something you don't have to listen to it, watch it or believe it. That is what we all have brains for and, hopefully, use to form our own opinions.
Mrs. Goose