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ivybendorf · 03-29-2008, 09:42 AM

Ok, this is gonna be a big one for me, but I have to see what others think. I am a deeply religious and spiritual person. I have had my faith tested and lost and regained over the years, but here I am 10 yrs later, just as faithful as anyone. But I am not Christian, as my parents are. They do not attend church or pray, by their own admission, but they do believe. They raised my brothers and I with no religious influence whatsoever.

Now, every Easter and Christmas, my parents insist on having my children over. They have read them Bible stories every night they have spend at their house, and they ask me not to speak of my religion in their (my parent's) presence. They saturate my children in their faith, but refuse to have anything to do with mine. Mind you, I am raising my children in a religious home, so they know of my faith, but my parents resolutely will not have it mentioned. I don't anyway, its not a major issue in day to day life with my parents, but still....

Here is where I have issues. The other day I asked them to attend a special service for my son similar to a baptism, and they refused. They have also refused to attend my wedding next December. They allow my brother to pressure me to convert in their presence, and admit they would not allow me to do the same if I was rude enough to try it. They will attend my brother's children's baptisms, but not my children's.

They reason that they do not approve of my religion. Does this seem rational to you? Does a parent have the right of 'approval' over a grown child's faith?

And for the record, my parents and I are not speaking.

03-29-2008, 09:42 AM
ivybendorf PF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 195 Rep Power: 265 Reputation: 5972 Children: The Girl Child - 3, The Boy Child - 1	Should religion be an issue? Ok, this is gonna be a big one for me, but I have to see what others think. I am a deeply religious and spiritual person. I have had my faith tested and lost and regained over the years, but here I am 10 yrs later, just as faithful as anyone. But I am not Christian, as my parents are. They do not attend church or pray, by their own admission, but they do believe. They raised my brothers and I with no religious influence whatsoever. Now, every Easter and Christmas, my parents insist on having my children over. They have read them Bible stories every night they have spend at their house, and they ask me not to speak of my religion in their (my parent's) presence. They saturate my children in their faith, but refuse to have anything to do with mine. Mind you, I am raising my children in a religious home, so they know of my faith, but my parents resolutely will not have it mentioned. I don't anyway, its not a major issue in day to day life with my parents, but still.... Here is where I have issues. The other day I asked them to attend a special service for my son similar to a baptism, and they refused. They have also refused to attend my wedding next December. They allow my brother to pressure me to convert in their presence, and admit they would not allow me to do the same if I was rude enough to try it. They will attend my brother's children's baptisms, but not my children's. They reason that they do not approve of my religion. Does this seem rational to you? Does a parent have the right of 'approval' over a grown child's faith? And for the record, my parents and I are not speaking.