Comments on: Do You Celebrate? http://www.agnosticmom.com/2005/12/22/do-you-celebrate/ Raising a Healthy Family Without Religion. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:46:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Neil Rochelle http://www.agnosticmom.com/2005/12/22/do-you-celebrate/#comment-95652 Neil Rochelle Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:08:27 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=38#comment-95652 I know this is an old post but I came across it at the right time. I am Jewish and proud of my religion. It is a very big part of who I am. My wife is also Jewish and we are raising my son who is 16 and a daughter we adopted. She is 5. For the past 6 years my son has become less and less interested in practicing our religion. As he matures, he is better able to communicate his ideas and thoughts on the subject of g-d. He does believe in g-d. He also says his beliefs are a combination of Christianity,Judaism, Buddhism and Hindu. He is completely turned off my "organized religion". This has been a lot for me to accept but I too remember 'coming into my own' and know that it is important for him to explore. I would be more upset if he didn't believe in any g-d as I feel spirituality is an essential virtue in today's world. Our dilemma as a family is appropriate for your post. How do we 'celebrate' the holiday season and not exclude my son? What activity or gift could we exchange that would not be secular for him, thus offending him? We also have a younger sibling to consider. One that is excited to be learning about religion and all the traditions that come along with it. It is very difficult to say, Josh isn't Jewish, but we are. Any insights would be welcome. I will not be offended as I've read several of your posts and understand your beliefs. I love my son very much. I want to support him. I just don't know how and frankly, even when asked, he doesn't know how we can support him or how he can "fit" in a social circle that is secular. I know this is an old post but I came across it at the right time. I am Jewish and proud of my religion. It is a very big part of who I am. My wife is also Jewish and we are raising my son who is 16 and a daughter we adopted. She is 5. For the past 6 years my son has become less and less interested in practicing our religion. As he matures, he is better able to communicate his ideas and thoughts on the subject of g-d.

He does believe in g-d. He also says his beliefs are a combination of Christianity,Judaism, Buddhism and Hindu. He is completely turned off my “organized religion”. This has been a lot for me to accept but I too remember ‘coming into my own’ and know that it is important for him to explore. I would be more upset if he didn’t believe in any g-d as I feel spirituality is an essential virtue in today’s world.

Our dilemma as a family is appropriate for your post. How do we ‘celebrate’ the holiday season and not exclude my son? What activity or gift could we exchange that would not be secular for him, thus offending him? We also have a younger sibling to consider. One that is excited to be learning about religion and all the traditions that come along with it. It is very difficult to say, Josh isn’t Jewish, but we are.

Any insights would be welcome. I will not be offended as I’ve read several of your posts and understand your beliefs. I love my son very much. I want to support him. I just don’t know how and frankly, even when asked, he doesn’t know how we can support him or how he can “fit” in a social circle that is secular.

]]> By: H. http://www.agnosticmom.com/2005/12/22/do-you-celebrate/#comment-46458 H. Tue, 15 May 2007 14:50:33 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=38#comment-46458 Hi there, I know this is an older article but wanted to comment anyhow. My husband and I are atheists; however, I am also a big believer in the importance of ritual in our lives and the life of our son. We've also chosen to celebrate Christmas and Easter in a more secular way, drawing more from the pagan symbolism of light returning to the world, and new, fresh beginnings. I am trying to come up with rituals to "replace" the church aspect ... for Easter, we plant seeds to symbolize new life and a fresh start, and for Christmas, we will take on a volunteer activity as a family, to do our part to bring some "light to the world". I love your blog! Hi there, I know this is an older article but wanted to comment anyhow. My husband and I are atheists; however, I am also a big believer in the importance of ritual in our lives and the life of our son. We’ve also chosen to celebrate Christmas and Easter in a more secular way, drawing more from the pagan symbolism of light returning to the world, and new, fresh beginnings.

I am trying to come up with rituals to “replace” the church aspect … for Easter, we plant seeds to symbolize new life and a fresh start, and for Christmas, we will take on a volunteer activity as a family, to do our part to bring some “light to the world”.

I love your blog!

]]> By: Tina http://www.agnosticmom.com/2005/12/22/do-you-celebrate/#comment-1685 Tina Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:07:52 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=38#comment-1685 Thanks! I stumbled upon this site and feel so fortunate to have found it. I need to seek some support from like-minded individuals since I've been becoming more sure of myself in my own beliefs. I just had an interesting discussion with my brother-in-law last night and he is a Lutheran pastor. He was actually pretty accepting and supportive. Anyway, I think I will be a frequent visitor. I'm so impressed with the knowledge and intelligence of the many moms that blog on here. It's very comforting and interesting to read!! Thanks! I stumbled upon this site and feel so fortunate to have found it. I need to seek some support from like-minded individuals since I’ve been becoming more sure of myself in my own beliefs. I just had an interesting discussion with my brother-in-law last night and he is a Lutheran pastor. He was actually pretty accepting and supportive. Anyway, I think I will be a frequent visitor. I’m so impressed with the knowledge and intelligence of the many moms that blog on here. It’s very comforting and interesting to read!!

]]> By: Noell http://www.agnosticmom.com/2005/12/22/do-you-celebrate/#comment-1668 Noell Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:23:20 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=38#comment-1668 Tina, welcome to my blog! I love it when new readers pipe up for the first time. I completely agree with your assessment of the Christian holidays. There are enough secular traditions to them that they don't have to have anything to do with the supernatural whatsoever. Tina, welcome to my blog! I love it when new readers pipe up for the first time.

I completely agree with your assessment of the Christian holidays. There are enough secular traditions to them that they don’t have to have anything to do with the supernatural whatsoever.

]]> By: Tina http://www.agnosticmom.com/2005/12/22/do-you-celebrate/#comment-1667 Tina Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:23:37 +0000 http://www.agnosticmom.com/?p=38#comment-1667 I am an agnostic mom that was raised to be open minded and accepting to all possibilities married to an agnostic man that was raised as a strict Lutheran. We have decided and feel good about raising our children as agnostics with the option of deciding for themselves as to what feel right for them. We also celebrate the holidays that Christian families celebrate but take the focus off of the involvement of religion. I think of Christmas and Easter as holidays to celebrate life in general and the families and friends that we are so fortunate to have with us. I also think it's a chance to celebrate the next season coming up. My mother in law is very unsupportive of our beliefs and how we choose to raise our kids but we have remained tolerant and have kept our mouths shut. It's very difficult!! It is so nice to reach out and express our feelings on this subject when I live among some very tunnel-visioned and closed minded people. UGH!!:) I am an agnostic mom that was raised to be open minded and accepting to all possibilities married to an agnostic man that was raised as a strict Lutheran. We have decided and feel good about raising our children as agnostics with the option of deciding for themselves as to what feel right for them. We also celebrate the holidays that Christian families celebrate but take the focus off of the involvement of religion. I think of Christmas and Easter as holidays to celebrate life in general and the families and friends that we are so fortunate to have with us. I also think it’s a chance to celebrate the next season coming up. My mother in law is very unsupportive of our beliefs and how we choose to raise our kids but we have remained tolerant and have kept our mouths shut. It’s very difficult!! It is so nice to reach out and express our feelings on this subject when I live among some very tunnel-visioned and closed minded people. UGH!!:)

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