Hi I do not believe in teaching religion. Though I hold spiritual / religious beliefs quite deeply I do not attempt to transmit these to my child. If she sees me praying and expresses interest I am happy to share and involve her but I do not expect her to do or believe anything particular - it is up to her to find her path, and agnosticism / atheism are compatible with other forms of belief / disbelief. We haven't talked specifically about God, whether there is / is not one / many (to me very insignificant distinctions).
Of course others do talk about God.
I think I am in a similar predicament as an unschooler who has to deal with the fact that one is surrounded by a culture of schooling and expectation that children go to school so that one who doesn't feels that one "doesn't" go to school. Of course children who don't have a garden aren't made to feel that they "don't" garden. Or eat pomegranate, do yoga, whatever.
But somehow school has achieved this status where the population is divided btw those who do and those who don't. So one needs to have a name for what one does, call it homeschooling or unschooling or SOMETHING where as what you wanted to be doing was just whatever you were doing - cooking, gardening, reading, etc.
I now wonder if there is something similar I have to deal with regarding religion. Conventionally there is a name for the spectrum of religious tradition that influences me most and which is associated with my socio-cultural-ethnic background, but I have little or no use for the label.
Now the question arises since the rest of the world is not free of labels.
Especially with Christmas everywhere my dd (6yo) has taken interest in trees, ornaments, advent counter, etc. I feel that I ought to offer some resources for her to understand more about what Christmas is. I can explain to some extent myself, but I was wondering if there were any books you might know of that discuss the life and work of Jesus Christ and other influential people of the time without a religious thrust. Also any books that discuss the Christmas festival as it relates to and builds upon non Christian festivals that preceded or co-evolved with it. While you are at it I would be interested in any books about this period in history and how the various kinds of religious beliefs evolved.
Of course others do talk about God.
I think I am in a similar predicament as an unschooler who has to deal with the fact that one is surrounded by a culture of schooling and expectation that children go to school so that one who doesn't feels that one "doesn't" go to school. Of course children who don't have a garden aren't made to feel that they "don't" garden. Or eat pomegranate, do yoga, whatever.
But somehow school has achieved this status where the population is divided btw those who do and those who don't. So one needs to have a name for what one does, call it homeschooling or unschooling or SOMETHING where as what you wanted to be doing was just whatever you were doing - cooking, gardening, reading, etc.
I now wonder if there is something similar I have to deal with regarding religion. Conventionally there is a name for the spectrum of religious tradition that influences me most and which is associated with my socio-cultural-ethnic background, but I have little or no use for the label.
Now the question arises since the rest of the world is not free of labels.
Especially with Christmas everywhere my dd (6yo) has taken interest in trees, ornaments, advent counter, etc. I feel that I ought to offer some resources for her to understand more about what Christmas is. I can explain to some extent myself, but I was wondering if there were any books you might know of that discuss the life and work of Jesus Christ and other influential people of the time without a religious thrust. Also any books that discuss the Christmas festival as it relates to and builds upon non Christian festivals that preceded or co-evolved with it. While you are at it I would be interested in any books about this period in history and how the various kinds of religious beliefs evolved.
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