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Old 03-01-2006, 06:38 AM   #16 (permalink)
little_tippler
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I went to a catholic school from age 4 till I was 18 and have always been an atheist, or perhaps an agnostic. Still undecided. Right now tending towards atheism more.

At home my parents never talked about religion to me, and even having gone to a catholic school, where from the ages of 4-10 I had daily prayers (morning, lunch and afternoon) and also religion class, where basically I learned about the Bible, I never felt religion was for me. Ironically, I was one of the best students in religion class. I had some fairly devout friends who I had conversations about religion with at age 10 and I never changed my mind anyway.

For me, I would never put my child in a religious class of any kind before she was of an age where I think she would be capable of fully understanding what is being taught and is able to apply some critical judgement to what is being said instead of just being indoctrinated so to speak.

That being said, my mom put me in this catholic school because the teaching there in general was of a very high standard, and wasn't at all worried about the religious aspect of it. I guess it wasn't an issue. I could be who I wanted to. Also, at home if I had any questions or issues, I knew I could always find a frank reply in her.

If you're confused about your own beliefs, I think you may end up confusing your daughter, especially as she is at an important formative age where she will be questioning things. Maybe you should sit her down and ask her what she really thinks of religion and God. Perhaps she does "feel" catholic, and just doesn't like her teacher. Give her a chance to tell you. I know at age 9 I was a lot more mature than people gave me credit for. If she still says she wants to quit that class, let her. Is it that important to you? Let her be who she has to be.
__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.


Fernando Pessoa, 1918
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