Remember the rainbow? That was a sign of a covenant (promise) that God made with humankind to show that He would never again inundate the earth. Everytime it rains, God renews His promise that He won't make it rain -that- hard.
At least that's what they taught in my CCD classes and early Catholic school.
Rosalie
(proud veteran of K-4 Catholic grade school and 5-12th grade CCD classes)
(hey weren't you going to e-write me? contact info at my url)
Struggling with this very issue in our home. It's not easy, but I am hoping my hubs and I can help them through this with out confusing them even more than they already are. It's a tough subject to teach.
I grew up Catholic also, switched to Luteran and am back at the local Catholic church. For my children I decided that they could decide where to become confirmed. My oldest is about to enter confirmation classes and I told her she didn't have to go, that she could choose where to be confirmed and to what church. She replied with "I think I'll just go through the Catholic church" - huh. Oh well.
Well, at least the kiddo's father is now going to Methodist church. Baptists are pretty radical, ya know. Methodists, on the other hand..we all know Methodists are OK, because PK is one.
But seriously I know exactly what you mean. We joined a church several years ago, mostly because of our kids. For the very reason you wrote about.
For me, it is a constant struggle, because even our church comes pretty close to being evangalistic in a way that creeps me out. I suppose I am somewhat of a heathen, when I really stop and think about it.
But I do embrace the overall spirituality and that God exists. The devil is in the details, isn't it? You should get one of those kid's bibles - we have one and it helps greatly.
Wow, that's tough. I can say that I was taught about God as a child and it was incredibly comforting to me to know there was a place I'd go when I died and a higher power to pray to when I was afraid. I can't imagine not having that. I would have probably had far more neuroses!
I know what you mean, L. My son does have a concept of an afterlife and we're working on the praying thing. Of course, when he tells me he "can't wait to get to heaven" so he can play all day, I feel a bit nervous...
I guess I was raised with the bearded old guy, but for some reason I've always felt like he was a pretty benevolent old guy, and Jesus was just like a really cool and funky buddy.
Oh. Hold on. I just now realize that I totally personified my deities as my grandfather and my hippie cousin with the long hair and beard. Cause he *looked* like those pictures of Jesus. Yay for growing up in the 60s/70s!
We do go to the Methodist church/Sunday school, but what I try to emphasize with the kids is the whole Namaste concept--that God is in each of us, in all living things, and that our souls are all little parts of God, and that's why they go on forever. And so in a way, we're all part of each other, too, and that's why it's important to be kind to all living things. Do they get this? Uh...no idea. I hope so.
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