Slender Agenda
Member
- Aug 26, 2014
- 57
- 45
One of the most offensive things ever said to me, was a comment made by a young woman some two weekends ago, where in which she insinuated that I will not be a good mother because I do not have any values or beliefs to teach my children.
I had finally mustered enough energy to go to church with my family the weekend after Christmas. I assure you, it had nothing to do with it being Christmas as I really have no energy and cannot find myself bothered by holidays of any sort. But for the first time in a longtime, I was on vacation and I was not traveling, I had nothing to lose by accompanying my family.
As was expected, questions about my lack of attendance arose and I found myself having to explain (defend rather) the fact that I do not believe in organized religion but I believe in a higher power(s) that made and watches over all things. At which point I was bombarded with a whole bunch of questions that in my opinion attempted to show me how wrong I was about my beliefs.
What offended me was when this young woman asked, "What will you teachyour children?". To assume that values and morals can only be gained and/or learned from religion is a far fetched fallacy based on the fact that we are an African society who had values and morals before religion came and this did not make our ancestors any less moral, it did not make them or their children anymore evil than their counter parts. In fact, religion was forced upon them.
It is also a fact that religion does not raise good children. Religion does not make good or wise adults. This is a reality. There are parents that are devout Christians, who raised their children in what they thought was the right way only for these children to turn around and be deviants and/or criminals. There are church leaders out there and church members proclaiming the word of God with the same mouth they use to sin.
And yet I am going to be questioned about how I will raise my children because I do not believe in religion. My children will be free. They will learn to love themselves and be selfish with themselves. They will learn the value of the earth and will know all they can about nature, and the stars and the galaxies. I will teach them to be comfortable in their skin, in their sex, and in their sexuality.
I will teach them how to be nice to people. How to treat people with respect. How to listen when someone is speaking and understand the path someone has walked before judging them. Whatever else they choose to be outside of that, I can only love them unconditionally for that.
I had finally mustered enough energy to go to church with my family the weekend after Christmas. I assure you, it had nothing to do with it being Christmas as I really have no energy and cannot find myself bothered by holidays of any sort. But for the first time in a longtime, I was on vacation and I was not traveling, I had nothing to lose by accompanying my family.
As was expected, questions about my lack of attendance arose and I found myself having to explain (defend rather) the fact that I do not believe in organized religion but I believe in a higher power(s) that made and watches over all things. At which point I was bombarded with a whole bunch of questions that in my opinion attempted to show me how wrong I was about my beliefs.
What offended me was when this young woman asked, "What will you teachyour children?". To assume that values and morals can only be gained and/or learned from religion is a far fetched fallacy based on the fact that we are an African society who had values and morals before religion came and this did not make our ancestors any less moral, it did not make them or their children anymore evil than their counter parts. In fact, religion was forced upon them.
It is also a fact that religion does not raise good children. Religion does not make good or wise adults. This is a reality. There are parents that are devout Christians, who raised their children in what they thought was the right way only for these children to turn around and be deviants and/or criminals. There are church leaders out there and church members proclaiming the word of God with the same mouth they use to sin.
And yet I am going to be questioned about how I will raise my children because I do not believe in religion. My children will be free. They will learn to love themselves and be selfish with themselves. They will learn the value of the earth and will know all they can about nature, and the stars and the galaxies. I will teach them to be comfortable in their skin, in their sex, and in their sexuality.
I will teach them how to be nice to people. How to treat people with respect. How to listen when someone is speaking and understand the path someone has walked before judging them. Whatever else they choose to be outside of that, I can only love them unconditionally for that.