Well, where do I start?
I guess anyone who has read this blog before will know that I'm not a Christian. So what's the title about? What's up for pondering?
A story for you:
Once upon a time, in a land far far away (Suffolk), there was a little girl, who was brought up as a Christian...
...when I was a little girl, this was great, as it meant that when people and animals died, we just had to be patient and wait until our turn to die when we would see them all again. It also meant that life wasn't pointless or hopeless as at the end of it - there was Heaven.
However, as I got older, I began to ask questions that no-one seemed able to answer. Christianity didn't make sense to me. It didn't 'fit', it was like wearing someone elses shoes.
But the message was, that those who weren't Christian, were evil and wicked and would go to Hell.
So at the tender age of 13, I decided I was destined for Hell.
Then in that way that only teenage girls can - I brought Hell to Earth! I made several people very unhappy (oh what an understatement that is), I manipulated, lied and cheated. I cared very little. I was horrid. Much too horrid to explain, and just as horrid to myself as much as everyone else. It was a bleak black time.
I suppose things got better when I started my nurse training. It was a "vocation" after all - maybe in some way, I felt I was back on the right path. I met Rich, and we got married in the local church. Time passed and I had my eldest 2 children, they were both Christened.
We even used to take them to Church at Christmas. but I was spending time thinking about what I really believed, and it really wasn't Christian.
Then I started working for Age Concern, running a small day centre in the church hall for people suffering from dementia. Part of our remit was to orientate these people to the time of year etc and every opportunity was used to do so. So in Autumn we stuck leaves on a tree picture, at Xmas we had a Christmas Tree...and one Halloween, I made the mistake of putting up a picture of a witch. A large picture of a witch on a broomstick, all coloured in with sweet papers.
Well, the vicar apparently "went mental" when he attended the hall for a church meeting. He leapt up onto the worktops and ripped the picture off the wall and into several pieces.
At least that's what those who were there told me. I continue to deny it had anything to do with the heart attack he suffered later that week.
The next time the vicar and I met, a few months later - I apologised for upsetting him. In return, he handed me a large pile of leaflets about The Evil Origins of Halloween, which talked about its Pagan past.
So, being one of the privileged few who had access to the Internet in 1995, I looked up Paganism.
And yes, he was right - I am a Pagan, my beliefs are absolutely in line with the beliefs of the Druid Tradition.
I have been Proud to call myself a Pagan ever since.
Now, LA is 3. She has only been exposed to Pagan beliefs, except for when cbeebies sneak a little religion in. Children see Paganism so easily, it's basic.
But, as she won't be going to school - she will miss the exposure to Christianity. I can cover the subject as it arises, but its hardly the same as experiencing it. So I wonder if I should take her to Church at Christmas, however despite my pondering sessions - I can't decide.
Christianity never did me any good, but I can see the good it does for others. As much as I may dislike it, society does sit on a cushion of Christianity (which itself sits on a bed of Paganism..), and much of what occurs in the world is based on religions.
Its not that I won't teach her about other religions - its the experience I'm wondering about...and try as I might, I can't decide how best to make it end happily ever after.
5 comments:
You have my sympathies as another home edding pagan mum who just isn't quite sure whether to take the children to church or not. I can see reasons why to do it and also why not to do it.
Wouldn't that be hypocrisy if you did go? And aren't you confusing ethnicity with belief? I am white and English but that doesnt make me Christian and I wouldnt take my children to church at xmas either. I'm still English. I'm not Christian. Who benefits by living half truths and lives based on meaninglessness? Who benefits from the charade by going?
it's a difficult one becuase in some ways the christmas message is completely subsumed in the commercialism that will be all around you, so giving her the background to what ppl think they are talking about by visiting church (which can be done in a respectful manner without joining in with the belief) may be a valid way to go.
qalballah, surely it's only hypocrisy if you pretend to the beliefs? I'm not being hypocritical when I go as a guest to my friends church, which we've done several times - I explain that they believe and that I don't and I don't think they view me that way. I do think letting the children have that experience of visiting a church in session as it were is a valid learning experience for them, and we've had many discussions around churches, beliefs and religions both before and after.
LA may be a bit small for that type of visit yet, although I don't know her, so I don't know what type of discussions you could have with her around it yet.
qalballah - no I'm definately not mixing up ethnicity and belief.
I'm white, british and non christian too...but it was only the non christian bit I was referring to. If I had the opportunity to take her to a mosque or temple for a particular festival, I'd jump at the opportunity!! It's just that Christianity is the only other religion available to me...and I was specifically talking about the Christian festival of Christmas!
Do you celebrate at all at Christmas?
I think perhaps you totally misunderstood my post. There is no half truths, as nothing presented as truth - but as possibles. And how can learning about other peoples religionus beliefs ever be meaningless?
Ha! I wonder how the vicar would feel if he knew he was instrumental in getting you to realise you're a Pagan **wicked grin**.
As a Pagan myself, I would say yes, take LA to perhaps a carol service, which is usually quite fun for kids (and adults!). As others have said, I'd jump at the chance to experience the festivals of other faiths, so why not Christianity? Just visiting church for something like a carol service isn't making any kind of commitment to that faith. Although I've made it plain that I'm not Christian (though I've never uttered the P word due to evangelical neighbours), I get invited to the local church Harvest Supper each year and really enjoy going along. I see it as more of a community thing. No one's ever tried to convert me and it's great fun.
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