(August 27, 2015 at 6:37 pm)Tartarus Sauce Wrote:(August 27, 2015 at 3:30 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Ah, gotcha. Without getting into too much detail, I've experienced personal things that make me strongly believe in my faith. Let me ask you this, how confident are you that you are a man? Is it possible that you could be wrong about that?No I wouldn't take it that far either, this is over semantics at this point. You don't have to necessarily tell your children "you might be wrong," since once they reach the age where they no longer view you as the all-knowing guru of everything, they'll understand that it's your beliefs they've been taught, and that while you may be convinced of their veracity, they don't necessarily have to be. You already stated it was your wish they eventually do their own soul searching.
If you take it far enough, yes, I guess anything is possible. But for it to be likely enough that you'd tell someone "I believe I'm a man, but I could be wrong" is taking it a bit too far beyond reason. Likewise, I believe I would be taking it beyond reason if I told my children God is real (or whatever) and then said "but I could be wrong." Because of my level of confidence that He is, it wouldn't make much sense to say I could be wrong, even though "anything" is possible, technically.
Which is why before they reach that age and are still highly impressionable, it's important you DON'T say phrases like "there's no possible way I'm wrong" about your beliefs. That's not going to induce them to soul-search later, it adds an extra stamp of authority on things they'll already be inclined to take your word for. I'd recommend just teaching them about your beliefs without any declarations on certainty, I don't think it'll be a problem since kids tend not to question the authenticity of stories and ideas presented to them until they are a bit older. If and when they do start questioning your authority though, you'd have to consider how you'd answer.
Yeah, I agree with all this.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
