(February 16, 2016 at 6:37 pm)TrueChristian Wrote: This is an interesting philosophical quesition. Atheists/secularists pride themselves on being tolerant/openminded. This question may challenge that presumption.
Let's say you and your atheist spouse/signficant other raise a child. One day, when he/she is about 10-12 (or whatever age I guess) one day he/she comes to you and says "Mom/Dad, I know what I want to be. I want to be a Catholic priest/monk/nun. Im really sure it's what I want. Well?"
In some crazy hypothetical future, if your child expressed an interest in taking Catholic holy orders.. how would you respond?
Would you affirm atheist jr.'s calling, or try to talk them out of it, for their own prosperity/safety?
The issue isn't labels, the issue is knowing what you get into before a marriage. Humans stupidly jump into them thinking "love" is all there is to make it work. My x divorced me, not because I was wrong, or she was wrong, but because we were not on the same page. Now, while I know religion is total bullshit, I'd say if two people can manage it with different labels, much like partners can have different political parties. I love my mom, but she votes republican and I am a democrat, so it isn't impossible. But when it comes to raising kids, you better have a conversation before you bring a kid into the world.
I would not disown my own kid, if I had one, if they found a religion. But sure, I would try to argue why they are wrong, but as long as they were not asshole dicks like right wingers of any religion, I'd still love them. I did have to cut off a relationship with my older brother who is uber fundy, not because he believed, but because he emotionally sucked the life out of me and everything, including mundane things like playing a game of pool, was life and death to him.
Point being, your "other" on any topic has the right to be themselves, your kids also. But jumping in blindly because of hormones without discussing money and future and anything, can set you up for disappointment. You are marrying a human, not a product, or political party, and your kids are not clay to forcibly mold, but only individuals to guide.
