Quote:
Originally Posted by LEMONZEST
Hi Ben,
I am in a similar position as you. My son is turning 2 and me and my wife are having some of these discussions.
Curious. Does your family go to church? If so what denomination is it? Also what denomination is the school based on?
I think if you and your wife are both on the same page about raising kids which are critical thinkers then you are in good shape.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigben241
Neither my wife or I attend church the way we did as young people. In our 5 years together we've gone maybe 3 times, and it was just tagging along with her parents. Our son hasn't been baptized though we've discussed it. The church I grew up around was Lutheran but it was a pretty mild and passive church. Her's was more strict as her grandparents, specifically her grandfather, was the pastor or was at least very involved otherwise. Not quite sure the exact focus or denomination though. My son does spend a great deal of time with the grandparents and has attended church with them on a few more occasions. Thankfully they do have the respect for us regardless of their views to ask our permission when taking him anywhere, particularly church.
The school my son attends just identifies as 'Bradshaw Christian School', and it has a junior high and high school affiliation at another nearby location. Other than the name it doesn't come off as overly religious in my experience being there. I can't speak to the higher grades, however. I did have a friend that attended it throughout K-12 and said he wishes he could've avoided it but his mother was an administrator and insisted he go. He gave a stern warning of the higher grades when they really begin to start shoving it down your throat, but I suppose that could have more to do with the individuals than the institution.
My wife seems a bit more influenced by the outside voices than me, but in private conversations and when speaking bluntly about our children, we do take it very seriously and have equally shared opinions on how we want to go about raising them, so that's definitely a positive.
Well I think YOU AND YOUR WIFE'S opinions and believes should be the only 2 that make these decisions, and the only 2 that matter.
And you and your wife have made a big mistake by not making these decisions, before!! having children, and frankly shame on you 2 for not doing so.
Your or your wife's family should not have any say in these matters, and should respect any decision you 2 make in these matters, not saying they can't express their opinions/beliefs, but no more then that.
And putting/leaving your child on a school that in your words "shove religion down your throat" would be a very wrong decision since neither one of you is a devoted and church going Christian.
But does not mean you can't put him in a school that has Christian values, but lets the children/parents the choice how deep/much you want to practice his/yours beliefs, but does teach religion, so your child has a idea what religion means/is, since a child still has no real choice/idea if he wants to be religious until the age of at least 15/16 years old imo or comprehends what it means in regards to his life[style].
And I myself are not religious at all or being raised as such, but I do belief that every child should be teached about or learned that religion exists, and since often there are, depending where or how big a city you live in little schools that not have Christian or Catholic or whatever other religion in their name, many of them do not impose/teach about religion very intensely, other then having a class that teaches religion [being the Catholic or Christian or whatever other religion beliefs] and the Catholic or Christian being the biggest percentage of them, and seeing your wife does want too have your son/children some level of Christianity beliefs being learned and you don't seem too oppose some level of religion being learned to your son so long it is not to much forced and in moderation, I think depending where you live, there must be a school for him that both you and your wife can live with.
I wish you and your wife all the wisdom you need to make the right decision, where you both are happy with.