Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
The big question now is, "Where do I go from here?"
I wish I knew for sure.
I do know this: It is no longer about me.
While I completed the RCIA course in preparation for my own Catholic Confirmation, I often thought about how my experience with the Church was different from that of many "cradle Catholics." By entering the Church as an adult, I had time to internalize the Catechism and to appreciate the representations of the symbols and traditions. I'm not sure that I would have had the same kinds of feelings about the Church had I been indoctrinated (or "brainwashed," in the Mr.'s language) from childhood. During the process of becoming Catholic, I was thankful for the religious upbringing of my youth. Because of the lessons I learned in that fundamental Baptist church, my knowledge of the Bible and of the Christian faith as a whole is pretty advanced. I knew that I would draw on that knowledge later in life if I ever had a child, because in the Catholic Church, some things just aren't explained on a child's level very regularly or very clearly. In other words, if I were to raise my child as a Catholic, I planned to supplement his religious training with my stores of Born Again insight.
In other words, I've never been convinced that Catholicism is the best way to bring a up child to know God.
I still don't know what the best way is, but I'm working on what may be the best way for Alex and the Mr. and me. First of all, Al goes to a church daycare where Bible verses and songs about God are staples. That's a start. As soon as he begins to get over his "stranger danger," I think we will start attending services at the church that houses his daycare--their schedule is arranged so that the adults can attend worship services while the children attend Sunday School. I hope the Mr. will join us, but if he doesn't, I will still go with Alex and I'll make sure that he has the chance to hear the Word and to know God.
It's my responsibility. I do know that much.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
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3 comments:
Thank you for the story!!!!!! My dad's family is Catholic and while his parents weren't as devout when I knew them, and my dad seems to have had some serious question of faith like the Mr. sometime in his 20s and never went back, his extended family is very devout. One of his cousins married a Jewish woman, and they decided to raise their children Jewish. Dad's aunt and uncle fully supported that, but "just in case", his aunt took their newborn in the bathroom and did (as she explained to me) and "emergency baptism" because "what if something happened to him, then he couldn't get into heaven?" And right about that time I started to question the validity of this Catholic God that wouldn't let a little baby into heaven? It was a bit absurd (and not a little offensive).
But while I am not baptized, we had Evan christened in the Methodist church, mainly because it meant more to my mother-in-law that we do it than it did to me that we didn't. And we were married at the same church for the same reason. So I feel a bit hypocritical about religion as a whole.
Thanks for sharing this story. I find it so interesting to read stuff like this.
I guess I just assumed it would "end" with you and your family having it all figured out. But really, something like this is a life long journey. At least that's the way I see it.
I don't know how to say this without sounding dumb. But I often forget how fortunate I am that Ken and I were raised in the same church and that our church fits us both so well. Marriage, in my opinion, is hard enough without other issues to get in the way.
That being said, I think it's great that you and the Mr. both believe in the importance of religion in your lives and that you both come from a strong religion background.
My own personal belief is that Jesus just wants us to be good people, do what's right, be happy, and follow the Golden Rule. I really do believe that the technicalities will work themselves out in Heaven. I mean, Jesus wouldn't be Jesus if he couldn't get it all worked out in the long run.
Ditto to the above: THANK YOU.
I've been massively torn about Catholicism (in which I was raised). I'm grateful for having been raised Catholic, but am ambivalent about the Church now, and DEEPLY ambivalent about being ambivalent.
But, but... I do want E to know faith. To know God. So I'll overcome. Somehow.
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