When different traditions mesh (Extended discussion)

[ForeverandAlways]

Do you think a pagan home of mixed traditions can raise children with an effective religous structure?

Say a Kemetic and someone who practices Asatru get married/hand-fasted/ect. and have a little one on the way. Could they be able to run a single standard of belief structure or would the child be bounced back and forth between one belief to the next, depending on who the child is with? If you found yourself in this kind of situation where you were a [blank] and your life partner of choice was an [option] how would you handle this? Or if you don't have a partner to put this in perspective how would you think a couple would go about this? Or on the flip-side do you find that it would be impossible to do such or thing?

((This is my first topic, sorry if its been done before, I'm new here. Hope to here lots of wonderful responses.))  

[TeaDidikai]

Welcome welcome!

Here's the good news with the example provided.

Neither are closed traditions within their texts. That means the partner can opt in if they so choose.

As long as the individuals know their boundaries and are able to be respectful to their partner- it should work out fine.

Other traditions that have conflicting mandates and prohibitions might have a harder time. ~shrugs~  

[Starlock]

Hate to put this out there, but I just have to.

We could almost ask the question: can ANY Neopagan parents can raise their children with an effective religious structure? There are no churches. No governing bodies. No unifying doctrines. Mostly just a bunch of scattered practitioners doing whatever in various parts across the globe. Doesn't sound too structured at all, at least when compared to more organized alternatives available. All they would have is an internal structure provided by the family; no community support unless the family was involved in a local circle or something.

In the end it's the parent's decision though. Some parents will choose to have the child raised in one of the two faiths and that's something they have to work out together. Others will leave the book entirely open and do nothing at all. Others still might educate their child in the world's religions and give them the possibility of choosing one completely different from their own.  

[TeaDidikai]

Starlock

We could almost ask the question: can ANY Neopagan parents can raise their children with an effective religious structure? There are no churches.

Quick! Someone send a letter to the ATC! They aren't a church!

Quote:

No governing bodies. No unifying doctrines. Mostly just a bunch of scattered practitioners doing whatever in various parts across the globe.

For neo-paganism in general- yes. But surely you aren't suggesting that all pagans everywhere fail at having religious communities.

Actually, the woman who puts SummerStar together was commenting last time that it was wonderful watching some of the children grow up attending the festival.  

[Starlock]

TeaDidikai

Starlock

No governing bodies. No unifying doctrines. Mostly just a bunch of scattered practitioners doing whatever in various parts across the globe.

For neo-paganism in general- yes. But surely you aren't suggesting that all pagans everywhere fail at having religious communities.

Actually, the woman who puts SummerStar together was commenting last time that it was wonderful watching some of the children grow up attending the festival.

There are religious communities out there, definately. Seems that by and large they're pretty scattered and that solitaire practices make up the overwhelming majority according to surveys by people like Berger. There are some good communties out there, but if the parents aren't part of one, what implications does that have for the religious structure (or lack thereof) they grow up with? I know some multireligious households have decided to raise the child in the faith with the most external structure in their local area so they have that sense of broader community outside the family unit. Connecting with a larger base of people is one of the important functions of religious groups, though it isn't the only one considered.  

[TeaDidikai]

Starlock

Seems that by and large they're pretty scattered and that solitaire practices make up the overwhelming majority according to surveys by people like Berger.

Couldn't have anything to do with the quality of the sample.

Quote:

There are some good communties out there, but if the parents aren't part of one, what implications does that have for the religious structure (or lack thereof) they grow up with?

Well, let's ask Christian Parents who are able to raise their child in Christ without going to Church, shall we?  

[patch99329]

Starlock

We could almost ask the question: can ANY Neopagan parents can raise their children with an effective religious structure? There are no churches. No governing bodies. No unifying doctrines. Mostly just a bunch of scattered practitioners doing whatever in various parts across the globe.

I have structure in my practice. I don't just do things on a whim, and I practice a set tradition.
Contested.  

[Neko_Bast]

all religious practices have structure. It may be a comunity structure, or just a home structure, it depends on the people practicing. As Tea said, some christions don't go to church and still raise their children in their relgion. It stands to reason that pagans could do the same with their kids.

It will be itneresting when I have kids.....I'm very witchy and my fiance is leaning tword gnostic. (sp?) (hes not sure yet, he says hes just pagan) Thankfully we agree on most things.  

[Secret Of The Moon]

I think it'd be wiser to let the child(ren) pick their own path, let the read up o whatever... I think this should be the option of ALL children whose parents belong to a religion, or claim to have none.  

[Neko_Bast]

Poetic_Nightmare

I think it'd be wiser to let the child(ren) pick their own path, let the read up o whatever... I think this should be the option of ALL children whose parents belong to a religion, or claim to have none.

As humans we have a need to teach our children what we know and believe. I was raised by an atheist. Growing up my mother taught me that magic, the gods, and the supernatureal don't exist. lol....clearly I didn't believe her. ^-^ I will teach mine what I believe, but I will not force it on them. They will have a choce of what they want to believe and what path they will take.  

[Starlock]

patch99329

Starlock

We could almost ask the question: can ANY Neopagan parents can raise their children with an effective religious structure? There are no churches. No governing bodies. No unifying doctrines. Mostly just a bunch of scattered practitioners doing whatever in various parts across the globe.

I have structure in my practice. I don't just do things on a whim, and I practice a set tradition.
Contested.

I wasn't intending to imply Neopagans has *no* structure, moreso that Neopaganism as a movement on the whole has no unifying structure and generally lacks the strong, established communities of more organized faiths. I was speaking more of the broader community level than the individual or familial level; sorry for the confusion.  

[Ethermus Prime]

I imagine in my house hold our faiths would be practiced in private, and would be taught to our children as their interested brought them to it. If my daughter were to say to me "Why does mommy do X" I would say to her "Go ask mommy, she will tell you all about it.

If they get to that awkward stage where they ask "which one is true?"; My answer would be simple...."Which one do you think is true?"  

[TeaDidikai]

Ethermus Prime

If they get to that awkward stage where they ask "which one is true?"; My answer would be simple...."Which one do you think is true?"

I would personally be more inclined to ask "Why does one have to be false?"  

[Ethermus Prime]

TeaDidikai

Ethermus Prime

If they get to that awkward stage where they ask "which one is true?"; My answer would be simple...."Which one do you think is true?"

I would personally be more inclined to ask "Why does one have to be false?"

That's the second one. But Long diatribes of mine are best left ad-libbed.  

[TeaDidikai]

Ethermus Prime

TeaDidikai

Ethermus Prime

If they get to that awkward stage where they ask "which one is true?"; My answer would be simple...."Which one do you think is true?"

I would personally be more inclined to ask "Why does one have to be false?"

That's the second one. But Long diatribes of mine are best left ad-libbed.

Ah. I'll remember that. wink