Do you think tax agencies like the IRS should stop levying bank accounts and seizing businesses that failed to pay the taxes they collected from their employees and customers during the Christmas holiday but have no other similar period around other religious holidays?
This has been an interesting discussion. I think one group that hasn’t been very well represented, and has gotten something of a bad rap here, are people who take the beliefs of their religion seriously, and believe that they are true. Some people like that might in fact want to convert you–and they might approach their effort to do so stupidly, as sadly, many do. But there are plenty of people with strong religious beliefs that are a bit more thoughtful about how to interact with other people who don’t share those beliefs.
To take this back to the original topic, if you believe that your religion is the truth, then not surprisingly, you think that it’s important that your kids believe it as well. You raise them to believe it, and you teach them that it is the truth. You don’t teach them that all religions are equally true, because you don’t believe that they are. It’s not a matter of “superior” or “inferior”–it’s a matter of true or not true. So if your kids drop away from the religion (including by marrying somebody who doesn’t believe in it), that makes you sad. An analogy might be how you’d feel if your kid married a heavy smoker. You might love the person in many ways, but you’d be unhappy that his smoking habit would affect your kid’s health, and the health of future grandkids.
But as others have noted, how you feel and what you do are two different things. You can continue to hope that your kid (and maybe the spouse, too) will eventually be persuaded to return to the faith. You’re probably not going to encourage this by cutting them off, being negative, refusing to go to events, etc. And if you’re going to try to proselytize them, you’d better find ways of doing it that aren’t annoying.
Jonri not sure where that specific explanation of the tree comes from, but there are lots of scholarly ideas floating. Ritual comes in many degrees and for many purposes.
Some of it is for unity and structure, some for self-preservation. Historically, some “religious” rituals underpinned the formation of early states and authority of leaders.
I’d say the lesser expectation of adherence to laws and rituals (and identity based on choice and reflection, rather than dictates,) is one of the challenges the Unitarian church has long faced. Of course there’s great variation there, too. But no “rules” regarding how and when to observe, attend, tithe, etc.
In contrast, many organized religions don’t leave it to the individual.
I’m sure the neighbor is well intentioned…but why shouldn’t I sit home alone on Christmas? It is not my holiday and I chose not to do any thing to commemorate it. So sitting home on Dec.25 is the same as sitting home alone any old day!
I’m sure Christians, Muslims and Hindus may be sitting home alone on Passover or tush hashanah when Jews are celebrating-- and probably don’t even realize it!
If a Christian family wants to convert you, they won’t invite you to their home for a Christmas dinner; they’ll invite you to the midnight service at church. (Even then, they might not be trying to convert you, especially if their kid is singing in the service.)
^ Usk, it’s just the words she chose. Many people, whatever religion or no, like to invite people to something or other. It can just be their generosity of spirit. And yes, across religious lines. I’m collecting people for Thanksgiving, with zero intention of discussing the Pilgrim religious beliefs. In my circle, many of us are figuring who’s going where. Or who prefers to sit home.
If my 85 years old Jewish friend is at loose ends, we will welcome her. If my Jewish friends knew I was alone and cared to invite me to Seder, I’d be warmed.
Well…to be truthful, the Jews I invite to Christmas Dinner–I’ve actually only done that a couple of times…are the Jews that invite me to Passover, Chanukkah, and Thanksgiving.
None of my Jewish friends celebrate tush hashanah :)!
Is tush hashanah the one where everybody just sits around?
One anecdote: my daughter (who is not Jewish but has Jewish relatives) went to so many bar and bat mitzvahs as a teenager that she actually memorized some of the songs and prayers. At a ceremony for a relative, the rabbi noticed this and came up to her and asked her if she was pre or post bat mitzvah. “Uh, pre…” she said.
Hunt, midnight mass here wouldn’t be it. If they really want you and your soul, they invite you to Bible study or some Bible breakfast or “women’s study” group that’s really about the Bible.
@Consolation --you lost me with that snarky (and tired) “imaginary friends” line. Seriously, I would have thought that beneath you.
You gotta love Autocorrect, lol.
I realize this has been a popular thread, but some of the comments have strayed well into disallowed territory. From the Terms of Service:
A number of posts were well over the “(Blank) are evil, obnoxious, dangerous, etc.” line. Closing the thread. It had a good run.