Religious differences with significant other?

[Digital Shadow]

I just stumbled upon this forum yesterday and have found it fascinating. I've been looking through threads almost every moment of my free time ever since.

I am agnostic for the most part, probably closer to athiest than most agnostics. I really don't believe that any of the religions have it "right" or are even close for that matter, but I don't rule out the possibility of a creator of the universe seeding the initial conditions and/or defining the rules. My parents never had any strong religious beliefs and I was never indoctrinated into any particular religion. I did however get a strong scientific background from my dad who is a microbiologist.

My wife was raised as part of a certain christian denomination that will remain nameless and the church plays a significant role in her life. We have talked about religion and philosophy many times but neither of us actively try to convert the other person to their way of thinking, we just agree to disagree on some things and try to keep an open mind. I go to church with her most of the time because it is interesting to me to see what other people believe and how they express it. I've actually been suprised at how accepting they are (I grew up in the Bible belt but don't live there anymore.) However; no matter how much I learn about her religion, I can't get past the feeling that the bible is just an interesting set of fairy tales like any other work of mythology and I can't really find any evidence to the contrary.

My wife and many people of her church claim that God guides them to the truth and that is how they KNOW that the church is true. But I have never felt any such guidance and I find it far more likely that the guidance they get is either a remnant of their upbringing or a manifestation of their deep desire for such guidance.

We've only been married for a year, don't have any kids and aren't planning on it for a long time. When/if we do have kids though, I don't think I want them to go to sunday school. I believe that religion should be a personal choice, not something to be forced on children too young to fully understand the concepts. Children will believe whatever you tell them, what is the point of programming your kid to blindly believe something? If it really is the truth, you can present the evidence and your child can decide for themselves when they're old enough and can make an informed decision.

I was just wondering if any other people here have dealt with similar situations with their significant others?

[Blondin]

Hi DS and welcome.

Your attitude re: kids & religion sounds very sensible to me. You didn't say so but are you anticipating or is there a difference of opinion on this matter with your wife (if that's not to bold a question)?

[Digital Shadow]

I don't necessarily anticipate a difference of opinion but I fear one so I haven't really brought it up to her yet. Plus I think we both have secret hopes that the other will come around to our way of thinking before kids happen.

[Big Les]

I can't imagine it being an issue in my case, even though my partner is a "weak" (i.e. non-practicing) Wiccan, and I am a strong atheist, but if we had children both of us would try our hardest to let them decide which path to follow, either one of ours, or something else. It's the only fair approach to take I think.

[Digital Shadow]

The only reason there may be a problem is that after we have children, I'm sure the people of the church will be very unhappy with my wife for not indoctrinating our child into their way of thinking. I fear that I am accepted at the church because they think that I'll eventually convert, but I would be seen as a negative influence if I'm interfering with our child's religious beliefs.

Not that it's any of their business, but the church is very "community oriented" and therefore quite nosy and annoying at times and being shunned in the community wouldn't be very fun for either of us.

[sthomson]

I was raised in a pretty common religious framework as a kid - although my family didn't start attending church until I was 10 or so, my father would talk about God and Jesus and all that stuff. For awhile, I was pretty super-religious, although now I would consider myself an agnostic. On the other hand, my fiance is a pretty firm atheist, although he allows for the possibility of some sort of "higher power" that is impossible to detect with any tools available to us.

Before you have kids, I think you should consider what your response will be if your children ask to go to Sunday school. Or, they could ask, "Why do those kids get to go to SS while I don't?" Or will you not let your kids go to church at all? It's something to think about. You must remember that church also serves a huge social function, and can exert conscious and unconscious social pressure. I think it's definitely something you and your wife should discuss openly and honestly before thinking about having kids.

[Chupacabras]

Welcome to the forum!

As I have stated in the past, my wife is a roman catholic and I am the most damned of all heretics. We respect each other and our kids' decisions too. Our 15 y/o declares himself an atheist and the 9 y/o is a believer. We both parents are fine with them, although my wife blames it all on Carl Sagan!

A few months ago, we went to the church to ask our younger boy baptized and he was rejected because of his age. My wife stopped going to church because of that, but she's still a believer. Once in a while, when I am in despair, she kindly suggests praying as a remedy, but I only see it as her honest, loving, indefatigable disposition to help.

So far, our differences have never interfered in our more intimate relationship, and perhaps that's the trick to staying together.

[Digital Shadow]

I was raised in a pretty common religious framework as a kid - although my family didn't start attending church until I was 10 or so, my father would talk about God and Jesus and all that stuff. For awhile, I was pretty super-religious, although now I would consider myself an agnostic. On the other hand, my fiance is a pretty firm atheist, although he allows for the possibility of some sort of "higher power" that is impossible to detect with any tools available to us.

Before you have kids, I think you should consider what your response will be if your children ask to go to Sunday school. Or, they could ask, "Why do those kids get to go to SS while I don't?" Or will you not let your kids go to church at all? It's something to think about. You must remember that church also serves a huge social function, and can exert conscious and unconscious social pressure. I think it's definitely something you and your wife should discuss openly and honestly before thinking about having kids.

Thanks for the insight, I hadn't really thought about if my kids actually asked to go. I think maybe a minimum age before allowing them to go to church with us if they choose might be appropriate. I don't know, the whole prospect seems scary at the moment.

[Blondin]

I would think one good rule to agree on (whether your wife's church likes it or not) is that no subject is out of bounds. Children should be allowed to question anything and everything and they deserve honest answers.

[Meadmaker]

Shadow,

My advice is talk about it and decide on a course of action if you think there is any possibility that you will have kids, unless you are willing not only to let her try and pass on her beliefs, but to support her in her efforts, at least passively.

And since you are young, healthy, of opposite sex, and engaging in sex, I believe that there is a chance, small though it may be, that you will have kids.


A few months ago, we went to the church to ask our younger boy baptized and he was rejected because of his age.

There's something amiss about this story. That doesn't sound particularly Catholic to me. For one thing, you don't need a priest to do a baptism. If she wants to have the boy baptized, she can do it herself. For the other 6 sacraments, you need a priest. Baptism can be done by anyone. (They may have also relaxed the "annointing of the sick" sacramental requirements. I think I read something about that, but that was after my days in the church, so I didn't pay much attention.)

I can't imagine a priest refusing to baptize anyone. If they are of an age where they can make a free choice to be baptized or not, and that includes a 9 year old, they would ask the consent of the person to be baptized, but if that consent is given, then no problem.

But, I haven't been inside the church for the last 20 years, and there have been a lot of changes since then. It's always possible they do things differently these days.

[bokonon]

I'm an atheist, wife's very religious, as is her family. My parents and siblings are religious, but not "very religious." I went to church with my wife and the kids when they were young, and let her send them to Sunday school. I'm not very outspoken about my lack of belief around the house, just the occasional joke, smirk, blasphemy, rolling of the eyes...

Our eldest is now 18, and has a MySpace page which lists religion as agnostic. Don't know what the youngest believes or doesn't believe. I'm not too worried about their religious beliefs; frankly, their fascination with "Ghost hunter" shows on the TV is more of a concern. I am outspoken about that, but maybe not completely successful. Maybe they're just more "true" skeptics than I am -- willing to question, where I've pretty much dismissed it all already. But they're young yet, and I'm confident that reason will prevail in the long run.

My wife tolerates my lack of belief, just as I tolerate her belief. I don't expect to convert her, and she's gotten to the point where she can joke about my being an "evil atheist" to her religious friends. I usually stay home when they go to church now (about once a month), but will occasionally join them for a special event. It's just not a big deal for either of us. I know she'll be there for me no matter what, and she knows I'll be there for her no matter what. I don't know what she thinks will happen after we die, or if she thinks about it. Maybe she thinks she'll be able to sneak me in the back door, or maybe she thinks she'll be in heaven with Pierce Brosnan instead of me.

I attended Sunday school when I was young, and it didn't destroy my ability to think critically. I don't think it's harmed my kids either. I can't guarantee that what works for us will work for you, but I wouldn't worry that one hour a week is going to "indoctrinate" anyone to the point that the 6.95 days a week you have to instill your own set of values will be for naught. If that's what it takes to keep the peace in the family, I'd say let them go. Think of it as an exchange student kind of thing, except they're going to church instead of going to France.

[Chupacabras]

... For one thing, you don't need a priest to do a baptism.

Oh, but that's what people do around here. Parents and godfathers must go to a lecture in order to get a pass, and then have to attend to the mass on Sunday, 'cause the baptism is right afterwards, so you better show up. And guess what: if later in life my boy wants to marry at the church, he has to produce a... Ta-dah! - a certificate of baptism!


I can't imagine a priest refusing to baptize anyone.

Quite honestly, it was the church ladies running the show at the storefront (assigning dates and so). My wife couldn't believe it either. I told my wife that Jeebuz was 30, and so. But she already had made a decision. She is uncomfortable until today, but I told her that she was on her own for this one.

Perhaps, when I run into a non-gay priest on my photo adventures, I will ask him, if only for her peace of mind.

[JoeEllison]

I'll be honest... I could never, ever put myself in that position. My wife is a rational woman, very weakly agnostic. Otherwise, we'd not be married. Period. I don't have any respect for theism, and it would be impossible for me to be married to someone with any sort of formal religious faith.

[bokonon]

And I'd never marry a smoker. To each his own...

[Abe_the_Man]

Shadow,
I can't imagine a priest refusing to baptize anyone. If they are of an age where they can make a free choice to be baptized or not, and that includes a 9 year old, they would ask the consent of the person to be baptized, but if that consent is given, then no problem.


I really think it depends. My brother and sister in law (not technically because they are my girlfriends family but we are almost married!)are trying to have their new baby baptized and are having a hell of a time (pun intended). She is Catholic but missed out on one of the sacraments (not sure which) and he is not Catholic and not baptized. In order for my nephew to be baptized they need to attend Catacism (spelling?) classes for several months. My brother in law needs to be baptized and given all of the sacraments to make him officially catholic and my sister in law needs to have all of her sacraments up to date. Also they need to attend mass every week for 6 months to show they are good practicing catholics. THEN they will baptize my nephew. Also for my girlfriend who has all the sacraments done can't be named godmother unless she attends mass for 6 months. Luckily my sister in law just fills out an extra donation card with her name on it when they go so she won't have too!! And they won't let me be named his god-father since i'm not catholic, though they will name me as his sponsor (same as a godfather with all the responsibilities but not approved by the church). Which is a shame because I really wanted to have him call me Godfather all the time. Oh well I'll just have him call me Don Corleone instead :D.

It seems like they are making the parents do a lot of work to baptize the child. You'd think they'd jump at the chance for a new member no matter his parents.

[Darth Rotor]

Not that it's any of their business, but the church is very "community oriented" and therefore quite nosy and annoying at times and being shunned in the community wouldn't be very fun for either of us.
Hi:

Don't be weak, be strong, and deal with them all from a position of self confidence. Do not let anyone bully you on this. You are part of the community, and if they won't accept your sincere contribution, whatever that is, it is their problem to deal with it, not yours.

I married a Catholic. Part of the deal to greasing the skids for that evolution was to answer thusly to the Priest with whom we dealt, pre marriage:

He: "Do you intend to raise the Children as Catholic?"

Me: "Do I have to convert?"

He: "No."

Me: "OK, one brand name is as good as another, and my wife so desires, I'm fine with that."

He: "Do you intend to convert?"

Me: "I'll take a good hard look, and if it's right for me, yes, if not, no."

(As it worked out, the answer became "no" for a variety of reasons.)

Kids still do the Catholic thing. Wife happy, me happy that wife is happy, kids get to experience a common thing, make a set of friends throught that common ordeal.

As time goes on, I get to discuss with them why I am not Catholic. I point out why I am an American first, and the Pope is not recognized by me as any kind of authority, no matter how holy and devout he is. (Stuff like this really pisses off my mother in law, which only encourages me.)

I caught no small amount of crap from folks in various parishes, which now and again bothered my wife, but since I knew the Bible better than she, and both Christian history and Catholic doctrine better than she (I tend to look things up, I am ever curious), I found that when the kids had questions after Sunday school or CCD, I had the answers, she didn't. So, when she brought it up with me, it was too easy: "Knowledge talks, and whining walks. Their education is as important as indoctrination, if not more so."

We figure out how to make all of that conflict work. No, it's not simple, but it can work if you both work at making it work.

Before you and your beloved have kids, try and find as much common ground as you can, to avoid the friction I descrbed above, or, be ready to stand up for yourself from a position of competence: know the Bible, and know the doctrine of the church you belong to.

Also: you two need to talk more, and come to a joint consensus, before you have kids. The potential for significantly damaging friction abounds. One thing this world does not need is one more marriage on the rocks.

ETA:

A word about sacrifice. Any marriage involves sacrifice, which means that now and again, it isn't all about me, it's all about we. You have to face that not all choices are easy, or comfortable.

How important is "we" to you, and to her, and how important is "me." To either of you. When "me" is more important than "we" you are on dangerous ground. Yes, it's a two way street, and with enough work and communication, one can find the middle ground, but it is not always easy, nor is it always painless.

It is, in my experience, always worth the effort.

DR

[bluess]

We have a Christian, Hindu and agnostic home. Blue2 will be educated in the various religions which she has contact with (which also means Judaism, Islam and Buddhism). Since Mr.Blue is Christian, that part is mostly up to him. However, both my mom and I believe that anyone raised in Western society needs to understand the basic story in order to understand literature, so we'll probably chime in. I'll probably be stuck getting all the other info to her, since I've a more rounded (self-imposed) religious education.

Mr.Blue and I both agree that it is every person's responsibility to choose their own way, and that Blue2 will have to do the thinking for herself. We've already said this to her and will continue to answer questions as they pop up.

I will only be distressed if she goes for some whack-job fundamentalist version of a religion.

[T'ai Chi]

It is not too big of a deal in my experience.

[pchams]

It is not too big of a deal in my experience.

It can be.
I was raised as a child in a christian church. By the time of confirmation, I was certain that the bible held no truths outside of some 'Golden Rule' type common sense ethics.
I decided that I would not force my children to go to church, and allow them to become more sure of their own thinking before they had to make a choice about religion.
Since my wife suffered from a serious addiction, I ended up taking my daughter to live with me alone.
I had a good friend who I paid for daycare while I worked. She was such a nice girl, and treated the children in her care so nicely, that I even allowed her to take my daughter to the Peoples' church with her once in a while.
What could be wrong with such a loving religion, right?

I had to eventually remove my daughter from that care, as she grew increasingly depressed and even fearful of something I knew not what.
She finally admitted to me that her caregiver, my friend, had daily told her that she must ignore what I had to say, as I was not a christian, and if she ignored the advice, she would burn in hell.

An anecdote, I know, but in my life, the most despicable people I have met, take their actions in the name of their god.

If there was one good thing that has come from this awful behavior is that my daughter now addresses peoples claims more critically.
Thank Randi for that.

[T'ai Chi]

That's like 'religious difference with caregiver who is not significant other'.

[PAC]

My mother was Methodist and my father Catholic. I was raised in both churches until about 8 or 9 and then went the Catholic direction but continued some contact at the Methodist Church. I had the opportuntiy to see both and found interesting differences. Most of these important differences were in the tone, and approach.

I married a Catholic in a Catholic Church wedding (long after I ceased to believe) just to keep the familes on both sides happy. We raised our children as Catholics. We felt that they should have the experience and background
then let them fly on their own.

Mixing Christian beliefs in a marriage is probably a lot easier than mixing
significantly different religions. In my experience the greatest problems seem to be in marriages with one very religious and one with little or no religious
beliefs. Most of the couples I know who are in this situation either divorced or one gave in to the other. Usually the non religious one gave in and played along. I hope you are able to find a better resolution to your differences.

[qayak]

It seems like they are making the parents do a lot of work to baptize the child. You'd think they'd jump at the chance for a new member no matter his parents.

Just get them to tell the priest that the anglican church down the road will baptize the boy so they are all going to convert to anglican so, "Thanks very much for all the nice sermons, sorry we won't be seeing you anymore."

[pchams]

That's like 'religious difference with caregiver who is not significant other'.

Granted. Though it suffices to show how religionists may feel they must proselytize to children, who aren't sufficienty developed to make crucial decisions in their lives, and how those same caregivers feel they must give this 'crucial' information to pliable individuals.
The same argument may be made for deluded spouses, imams, or next door neighbours.

[Meadmaker]

I'm an atheist, wife's very religious, as is her family. My parents and siblings are religious, but not "very religious." I went to church with my wife and the kids when they were young, and let her send them to Sunday school. I'm not very outspoken about my lack of belief around the house, just the occasional joke, smirk, blasphemy, rolling of the eyes...

Our eldest is now 18, and has a MySpace page which lists religion as agnostic. Don't know what the youngest believes or doesn't believe. I'm not too worried about their religious beliefs; frankly, their fascination with "Ghost hunter" shows on the TV is more of a concern. I am outspoken about that, but maybe not completely successful. Maybe they're just more "true" skeptics than I am -- willing to question, where I've pretty much dismissed it all already. But they're young yet, and I'm confident that reason will prevail in the long run.

My wife tolerates my lack of belief, just as I tolerate her belief. I don't expect to convert her, and she's gotten to the point where she can joke about my being an "evil atheist" to her religious friends. I usually stay home when they go to church now (about once a month), but will occasionally join them for a special event. It's just not a big deal for either of us. I know she'll be there for me no matter what, and she knows I'll be there for her no matter what. I don't know what she thinks will happen after we die, or if she thinks about it. Maybe she thinks she'll be able to sneak me in the back door, or maybe she thinks she'll be in heaven with Pierce Brosnan instead of me.

I attended Sunday school when I was young, and it didn't destroy my ability to think critically. I don't think it's harmed my kids either. I can't guarantee that what works for us will work for you, but I wouldn't worry that one hour a week is going to "indoctrinate" anyone to the point that the 6.95 days a week you have to instill your own set of values will be for naught. If that's what it takes to keep the peace in the family, I'd say let them go. Think of it as an exchange student kind of thing, except they're going to church instead of going to France.

My experience is very similar. My kid is only 9, and he is more thoroughly indoctrinated because he attends a religious school, not just Sunday school.

But he already expresses disbelief at the "official" line presented at school.

[T'ai Chi]

Though it suffices to show how religionists may feel they must proselytize to children, who aren't sufficienty developed to make crucial decisions in their lives,


Yet you said


..that I even allowed her to take my daughter to the Peoples' church with her once in a while.


I'm curious. Did you think a sharing of the religion was *not* going to happen at a church?

[pchams]

Good for him, Meadmaker. I hope he continues to question what is carefully planned to indoctrinate him.
One day, he may convince you that something you held as faith, is fact.
We shall see, if we allow our children to think on their own without indoctrination.

[Meadmaker]

I really think it depends. My brother and sister in law (not technically because they are my girlfriends family but we are almost married!)are trying to have their new baby baptized and are having a hell of a time (pun intended)...

That makes sense to me. When being baptized, you are supposed to take an oath to "reject Satan and all his works", and some other stuff that basically means, "be a good Christian and a good Catholic." Since infants can't take oaths, it is sworn on his behalf by the parents, who promise to raise the kid in such a way that the kid will keep the oath. The godparents' role is to promise to keep up the good work if the parents are unable or unwilling to do so. Therefore, it makes sense to verify that the people taking the oath are actually taking a sincere oath instead of just hoping for a photo op at the church.

What I can't understand is the difficulty in baptizing a 9 year old. He can take the oath himself. What's the issue?

[Meadmaker]

Good for him, Meadmaker. I hope he continues to question what is carefully planned to indoctrinate him.
One day, he may convince you that something you held as faith, is fact.
We shall see, if we allow our children to think on their own without indoctrination.


I'm not sure I understand. I'm with you on the first two sentences. I don't understand the third. As for the fourth, they will think on their own whether or not we allow it. Mind control only goes so far.

[pchams]

Yet you said



I'm curious. Did you think a sharing of the religion was *not* going to happen at a church?

Realistically, at the time, I didn't consider the religion. Just the people. there was an air of caring which turned out to be not what I considered fair to a developing mind.
The love was there superficially, but if you didn't join the club, there was visciousness.
I've met many superficial people in life.

[pchams]

Mind control only goes so far.

One would hope. I'm not convinced.
Children are the most susceptible.
Let's find some eveidence, since this is a skeptical forum......be right back :)

[pchams]

I'm having a hard time to quickly find references to my assertion that children should be allowed to develop, before making religious choices.
I'll withdraw it until I can do some more research.
Carry on with the indoctrination ;)

[Hokulele]

I am fairly lucky in that this wasn't an issue with my husband and myself. Both of us are atheists (he is even more outspoken than I), and the closest thing to friction we experience is dealing with his mother (devout Polish Catholic, *sigh*).

Where I can offer some advice is in how I was raised. My mother was born in Kamakura, Japan, and raised as a Buddhist. My father was born in western Massachusetts and raised as a Protestant. My mother attended church services and my brother and I attended Sunday school, mostly to humor my father I think, until my brother and I were old enough to make our own decisions. However, she never actively endorsed anything we were told and would openly answer any questions we had regarding, well, pretty much anything. In fact, I never really understood the depths of her beliefs until I took a trip with her back to Japan to visit family and friends, and do some sight-seeing. I ended coming home with a purse full of Omamori (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omamori).

To cut to the chase, as of today, I have read the Bible at least three times all the way through, the Qu'ran once, and several other religious texts (Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, I will read anything placed in front of me). I am an admitted atheist, and my brother is a Discordian.

I guess the moral of my story is that you can raise a child any way you think best, and still have no guarantees regarding outcome. As long as you are open and honest about both of your beliefs, your children have as likely a chance to grow up to be Discordians as anything. :)

[pchams]

Thank you Hokulele.
I guess the point I feel is important, is that you ndon't indocrinate children, and should let them make their own decisions.
This is a much misunderstood point about atheists, that they don't allow religion.
However, this is far from the fact in most parents I know.
They allow their children to make their own choices.
Although this may seem cognitivly dissonant, it really isn't.
When the child asks the question, one is able to answer honestly.
An atheist may even be proactive in positing their ignorance, but not necessaily adamant with anyone, including prodigy.

[drzeus99]

I just thought about this. If I were single and were to get married in the near future,
I almost certainly wouldn't marry anyone who wasn't an atheist. I'm a "strong" atheist,
as strong as they come (I eats me spinach). I just couldn't see myself "now" marrying someone was believed in god, but more specifically, believed in a traditional religion.

That's kind of amusing to me because I've been married for 21 years to someone who
"does" believe in god (she's a roman catholic), but thankfully, isn't very religious at all.
She'll do X-Mas/Easter (and I think some holy days of obligation). Nothing more.
(thank dog). And even though she considers herself to be a Roman Catholic, she doesn't
believe in half the junk they spew (which I think is great, and it's leading her down the right path of not believing everything your told). Oh...I've become SUCH an atheist that
I haven't even went to Church with her (and our daughter) on those few days a year
she does go because it almost physically repulses me (and I'm bored sheetless too).
Probably been about 10 years now I haven't even set foot on any church property
for any of those masses.


Anyhoo, I was fairly young when I got married (23), and my wife was 19. Even though I
was already an atheist (and full skeptic), I wasn't a strong atheist. I didn't give it much
thought actually. I was raised as some form of Protestant, but my family wasn't religious.
Strangely, I went to Catholic schools all my life (except for 2 years of grades 7 & 8).
It wasn't for the religious education, but rather my mother thought I'd be around a
better "class" of kids, get a better education, and not be around those "public school"
kids who sold and did drugs...lol.

We have one daughter, who's 17. My wife just automatically assumed that our daughter
would be baptized and go through all the routines required of RC's (first communion,
confession, confirmation, etc). I wasn't thrilled about it, but I went along with it.
I figured as a critical thinking, intelligent person, the 99.9999% of the time that wasn't
anything religious, would give me adequate time to instill common sense, logic, critical
thinking and skepticism in her. I don't think my daughter ever said anything religious
in the house (she seemed to think of those religious classes as just another class to
take, akin with social studies, and didn't really pay that much attention to it all).

So, the religious classes and all the pagentry didn't seem to have much effect on her.
Even when my wife and daughter do those few church things a year, neither of them
really want to do it, and they'd rather stay home, but they do it anyway. (I guess my
wife's philosophy is my CYA than anything else, and it's passed down to my daughter.

Rather to cause any arguments in this whole process, I just paid no due to it, figuring
it wasn't worth the hassle as well as knowing that making a deal out of something
can lead to making it a more valid issue, and potentially cause the other person to
become firmer in their beliefs.

But like I said in my opening paragraph. If I were single today, knowing what I know,
feeling as strongly as I feel....I certainly would prefer someone who's an atheist.

Just my feelings.

[drzeus99]

Just get them to tell the priest that the anglican church down the road will baptize the boy so they are all going to convert to anglican so, "Thanks very much for all the nice sermons, sorry we won't be seeing you anymore."

LOL. Exactly.

Don't wanna have that potential "wallet" walking away from the congregation!

[wolfgirl]

I don't have any statistics or research at my fingertips right now, but it seems fairly obvious that the vast majority of people all over the world end up in the religion in which they were raised. This in and of itself seems to provide evidence that we are easily indoctrinated into believing stuff if it's presented to us as fact from early childhood.

For this reason, I would always be very, very uncomfortable allowing my children to go to church, Sunday School, etc. Yes, they can choose for themselves, but I think it would just make it that much harder for them to see clearly if a particular religion is thrust upon them all their lives.