(September 11, 2015 at 10:19 am)lkingpinl Wrote: Hey Rob, I will step up to the plate and respond.
First off, having children is somewhat of a paradox. What I mean by this is that people do not NEED to have kids but WANT to have kids. It is a selfish desire to procreate. We are certainly at a point in our society where procreation is not necessary to species survival, in fact some would argue for sterilization in some countries, and indeed some countries do have laws to limit number of children, etc. So all in all people have children out of a personal desire. The reason I say it's a paradox is because of out this selfish desire, becomes selfless love. Those who are parents here wold most likely agree that after you have children, your entire life changes and your decisions/life choices center around your children. Some parents forego their dreams, aspirations, careers, etc all for their kids. It's about sacrifice. That is truly the most loving thing a parent can really do for the kids, is to sacrifice their own desires and put the kids needs first.
I understand your premises, but I think that would only apply to a fanatical form of religion to be honest. I encourage my children to discover what they want, be who they are and I will help them and answer any questions best I know how. I will give them guidelines to follow in my home, teach them respect and care for others, love and protect them like nothing else, and let them be their own person. Belief in God is a one on one personal thing that each person makes for themself. I don't shy away from my belief when the kids ask me and if they choose not to believe, that would not change my love for them one iota.
You say there is so much pain and heartache, but is there not also love, wonder, amazement and joy? Pain and heartache is not all there is. I have experienced plenty of that in my life and very young, but overall life is an amazing joy to live.
While I truly appreciate this post for what it is, my question is this, if you believe that there is a judgement after this life that will determine where you and your family will spend eternity, one destination being paradise and one destination being punishment, why would you not be fanatical about that?
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
