My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others’ religious holidays?
My Christian children are fascinated with the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, which begins this year at sundown on Wednesday.
My 9-year-old has loved Hanukkah since she was itty bitty. I think it stemmed from the “Elmo’s World Happy Holidays” DVD that explained the traditions of Christmas, Hanuakkah and Kwanza.
She would sing the dreidel song ad nauseam. She was obsessed with the menorahs. She would cobble together her own with candle sticks around the house. She could even tell you the special name for the shamash (attendant) candle.
Two years in Vacation Bible School they studied Jewish traditions made dreidels, menorahs and ate Passover foods. (I know different holiday but still Jewish.)
Last year my mom gave Rose the American Girl Rebecca Rubin Hanukkah set with a menorah with tiny little fake candles. Rose loves it. (This year she’s getting Rebecca from Mimi.)
My 3-year-old came in last night wishing us a very hearty Happy Hanuakkah. It took me a while to figure out that Rose showed her the Elmo DVD upstairs.
I have no problems with my kids learning about any other religion’s holidays. I guess I wouldn’t want them celebrating a religious holiday that was contrary to our religious beliefs. I don’t feel that Hanukkah is contrary to what our religion teaches.
Growing up I had a Jayne friend whose family seemed to have a Christmas tree each year. She always picked out excellent presents. We also have a Jewish friend who hosts his company’s annual Christmas party at his house.
Do your kids like another religion’s holiday in particular? Do they talk about or try to celebrate it at home? Do you let your kids celebrate Christmas since so many people are celebrating even if it’s not your religion’s holiday?
- By Theresa Walsh Giarrusso, Momania
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
88 comments Add your comment
My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others … | Mike Spieles on Parenting Today
November 30th, 2010
12:58 am
[...] More here: My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others … [...]
penguinmom
November 30th, 2010
12:59 am
Hanukkah happened before Jesus was born so the story was part of his tradition also. Our church often celebrates Passover with a Seder (my husband makes an excellent banana cake for the Seder.)
I wouldn’t have a problem with celebrating Hanukkah with our kids. They’ve always been a little interested and we have talked about the story behind it. The dreidel song is really catchy – gets stuck in your head a little too easily. :-)
Tweets that mention My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others' religious holidays? | Momania: A Blog for Busy Moms -- Topsy.com
November 30th, 2010
1:12 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AJCMOMania and Alice Abernathy, ajcparenting. ajcparenting said: AJC's Momania blog: My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others’ religious holidays? http://bit.ly/h4rHl3 [...]
My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others’ religious holidays? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
November 30th, 2010
2:56 am
[...] My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others' religious holidays?Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)My Christian children are fascinated with the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, which begins this year at sundown on Wednesday. My 9-year-old has loved Hanukkah …and more » [...]
Victor Svolto, Jr.
November 30th, 2010
5:01 am
The Oil represents the Holy Spirit, who leads and comforts us as long as we need Him, until Jesus comes back.
RealTime - Questions: "Do you have the sign of the four?"
November 30th, 2010
6:31 am
[...] Motorcycle Accident Claims The WGOM • 13.1 miles, give or take Guide to Buying a New printer My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others' religious holidays? | Momania: A Blog for… Sprint rolls out 4G WiMax in Los Angeles, Miami, four other cities Four Simple Tips on How to Find [...]
Steve Meckleburg
November 30th, 2010
6:48 am
I do not let my Jewish children observe and celebrate non-Jewish rituals. I prefer clarity about who and what we are. They are allowed to study other religions, but only as mythology.
deidre_NC
November 30th, 2010
7:09 am
there is nothing wrong with a christian celebrating jewish traditions-after all jesus did.
mom2alex&max
November 30th, 2010
7:20 am
No, my children have no interest in it. It’s not our religion. They know about it, but that’s all.
And PS, I love Steve’s comment about “mythology”. Nice going.
Larry
November 30th, 2010
7:33 am
Steve must have forgotten that half of the Chrisitan “mythology” is his Bible. However, in principle, I agree with him. The media and the government have long sought to marginalize Christianity. Beginning young and “harmlessly” is the best way to complete indoctrination. I seriously doubt that Theresa Walsh Giarrusso’s kids will be Christians when they are adults. I fault her mothering skills unless religion is as meaningless to her as it seems to be.
1sus
November 30th, 2010
7:37 am
My son’s kindergarten class learns about all sorts of holidays as they have a very varied school makeup. I was in the class yesterday when a mother came to explain Diwali. She had a craft for the kids, read a story, showed pictures of he holiday being celebrated i India, brought samples of food for the children, clothing that her son in class would wear for the holiday. They loved it! In fact, when my son loved the Dal she served and she mentioned it was a good protein source as it is made from lentils, I remarked that I need to find a place to buy it! He’s not a big meat eater and I’m always looking for protein sources. I like my children to be exposed to other cultures and holidays. We can certainly talk about what holidays WE celebrate and WHY, but it’s a big world out there with a lot of people who don’t necesarily live like we do. I’m happy to have my kids learn about them all.
deidre_NC
November 30th, 2010
7:40 am
in my opinion, learning about other religions is a way of making sure you believe what you feel is the right one for you.
mom of 3
November 30th, 2010
8:07 am
There is a difference in learning about other religions and traditions and then having your own religious traditions that you hope to teach your children and have them follow. We are a Christian family and respect all others traditions especially during their religious times. Respect for each other is what all religions teach and that is something I think we forget. Muslim terrorists are no more muslims than fanatics in any other religion. I am a Southern Baptist but submitting to my husband just isn’t gonna happen nor do I believe that a woman can be a minister. I don’t think anyone agrees with every aspect of the religion they have. All religions have them. Let’s celebrate and respect the religions of the world and hold our own beliefs close. There is room for us all.
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
8:07 am
I can’t say that I’m surprised by the close-mindedness already displayed by some of the posters. It is the inevitable result of faith. The entire idea of a winter holiday was started thousands of years before any of the current religions snatched it up and made it holy, but I’m sure posters such as the above are not concerned with history.
In any case, my children, who have been raised without religion and always will be, thoroughly enjoy the festivities of all faiths and the concept of a winter celebration. It is a fun and family-oriented time of year–no matter what you believe or don’t believe.
MomOf2Girls
November 30th, 2010
8:10 am
First of all, I want to correct something @Victor said. The oil is NOT any kind of “spirit”. The oil represents the sacred oil used to light the eternal flame in the holy Temple. When the Temple was destroyed, there was only enough oil to last 1 day, and it takes 8 days to produce enough to sustain the flame. The miracle of Chanukah was that the oil lasted 8 days, permitting the flame to continue burning. This is why Chanukah is 8 days. (The other miracle of Chanukah is that the small group of Jewish fighters were able to defeat the large, well organized Greek army.)
Now that that’s out of the way, the subject at hand. We do not even remotely observe any religious holidays but our own. I find odd that anyone would even want to. Learning about them I understand, but not actual observance.
Lou Hastings
November 30th, 2010
8:14 am
Victor,
The Oil has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. The Chanukkah story celebrates the Macabee’s ability to stave off the Roman assault for 8 days. Part of the miracle of Chanukkah is the fact that 1 days worth of oil lasted for 8 days. Chaukkah is not a Biblical story or Holiday. It is based more in tradition than religion. My children are surrounded by Christmas. We enjoy the lights and this time of the year. As a Jewish family, what we try to do with our kids is to seperate the Holiday of Christmas from the religious aspects. I have no problem with my kids enjoying the season, I just perfer that they enjoy the trees, lights and the festive nature as opposed to celebrating Jesus’ birth.
First time poster
November 30th, 2010
8:18 am
I’m with V on this one. In my experience, religion for the most part is a divider, not something that brings different people together. However, I would never disparage someone’s beliefs, provided of course that their beliefs weren’t hurting others. To each their own and all that.
PW
November 30th, 2010
8:19 am
What I love about some christians is their amazing inability, despite their christianess, to follow the greatest command from the Lord, “…to love one another as I have so loved you”.
I love learning about other religions and have passed that on to my daughter and grandson. We incorporate other traditions into our own Christian traditions and openly acknowledge that we are honoring those who may believe differently than we do but are still deserving of respect.
WHEN YOU LEARN ABOUT AND UNDERSTAND OTHER RELIGIONS YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO GROW UP AND BECOME AN UNYIELDING AND INTOLERANT HATER OF OTHERS AND THEN YOU TEACH THAT TO YOUR CHILDREN.
In the end, no matter what or in whom we believe, we all return to the earth as dust. Love and respect others even if it’s not what you believe.
mom of 3
November 30th, 2010
8:20 am
OOPS – meant I don’t see why a woman can’t be a minister.
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2010
8:21 am
It’s early and we already have snarky?
When I was student teaching in 3rd grade, over 25 years ago in public school, the class was introduced to Hanukkah by a Jewish teacher. We made latkes and learned of the traditions. I have some wonderful Jewish clients and I have worked with them on several occasions. In their honor, I wrote a Hanukkah song for them. They were thrilled and it is on one of my Cd’s. My own children have sung Hanukkah songs with me.
I am wondering if the public school today would still introduce Hanukkah and also Christmas as religious holidays? I do know that holidays are allowed in schools or eliminated altogether based on the pressure from the parents in the district. Some areas are much more flexible while other areas have ditched all holiday celebrations, to avoid the hassle. Sometimes the minority is the most vocal and the choice that is made may not reflect the majority’s opinion. catlady…your thoughts?
@ Wayne…I called my daughter and mentioned Dominick…she laughed and sang to me on the phone as her friends at college have been having fun with it. I am delighted that she can still enjoy singing and fun! We have a lot of that in our house.
Scrooge
November 30th, 2010
8:24 am
We celebrate Festivus!
Cynthia M
November 30th, 2010
8:24 am
To V for Vendetta – how sad. I hope and pray your children find Christ in spite of how you raised them. I really enjoy reading and knowing about many of the Jewish traditions. As someone stated earlier, it is, after all, part of the Lord’s heritage. We are christians, but have longed anjoyed having a Menorrah as part of our holiday decor. You cannot ignore the Bible. The Jews ARE God’s chosen people who will return one day to full acceptance of His whole word and Jesus as Messiah.
Photius
November 30th, 2010
8:25 am
No, we do not allow our son to celebrate non-Orthodox religious celebrations. Some people are religious, some are not – fine with me. Too many people who proclaim to have a certain faith really know very little about their own beliefs. We conducted a survey in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and 20% of the congregation thought that receiving Communion was the symbolic partaking of the body and blood of Christ – incredible. Being Orthodox and living in the South surrounded mostly by Methodists and Baptists brought many challenges to our son from peers and other parents simply out of ignorance. We teach him about other religions however he has been instructed very well and thoroughly in the 2,000 year tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church and is well founded in his beliefs. If Theresa raises her children in the Catholic Church and she follows Church tradition those children will be very well founded as well. For me as a parent who is religious, my duty is to raise my son in the Orthodox Church and make sure he understands everything about it; education of other faiths is a bonus and great but we are an Orthodox family. As you will know a solid Jewish or Catholic home when you enter, when you arrive in my home it is very clear via the Icons, votive candles, Holy Palm behind the Cross on the wall and Icons of all the Saints our home is founded in the traditions of the original Church, the Holy Orthodox Church.
RJ
November 30th, 2010
8:26 am
As a Christian, I have no problem with my children learning about other religions, especially since we have family members of a different faith. However, they will not be celebrating any of their holidays. We respect all faiths in our house, but we are Christians and will only participate in what we deem are Christian practices. @V is right regarding the history of Christmas. All of the customs of Christmas pre-date the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a combination of many traditions. However, what is most important to me is that the “reason” we celebrate Christmas is to give praise to the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Today, that message seems to be lost as I see more and more non-believers celebrating Christmas!
I have family members that are Muslim. There are several Muslim holidays throughout the year that they celebrate. We respect their holidays and they respect ours, but we don’t celebrate together.
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2010
8:38 am
@ PW…this is what I call
BUFFET CHRISTIANITY
when you eat at a buffet, you take the food that you like ( perhaps a lot) and ignore the other selections ( or wrinkle up your nose at it when you walk by)
Sometimes Christians are emphatic about the scriptures they like ( being diligent and often obnoxious) and ignore the others or simply “forget”. It is sad but true. I, for one, cannot be 100% with all the things mentioned in the scripture but I simply try each day and often fail. That is what forgiveness is for, to me,
I Thessalonians 5:12 Be at peace among yourselves…
Sometimes this is very hard to do.
In addition to Christianity, our family has tried to practice tolerance towards other’s ideas. This is not always easy to do when you KNOW ( based on solid experience) that something another person is doing could be dangerous or even wrong. Example: our dog jumped out of my daughter’s lap ( while sitting in our yard) to chase a stray dog when a neighbor drove down the street and plowed right over her. Since we lost her, we find it hard to witness other dogs who are left to wander our neighborhood at will.
deidre_NC
November 30th, 2010
8:40 am
@MJG—did you really think we could have a discussion related in anyway to religion and people not get snarky? lol..as soon as i saw the topic i knew what was coming…happy holidays to you woman…and to everyone else.
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
8:41 am
Cynthia M,
My kids are just fine without religion, or Christ for that matter. They are happy and wonderful, kind and caring, and respectful and tolerant. Too bad they’re going to hell, huh? Oh well. At least we’ll all stick together.
Scrooge
November 30th, 2010
8:47 am
Most of you need to be boiled in your own fig pudding and sent to workhouses, with that being said, pick a religion that your happy with, have faith, do good, and treat others as you wish to be treated. Yes all of our holidays are based off pagan holidays, so what. Our books of faith were written by men, to which we hope were guided by God. Can you critize any religion and pick out its weakness, sure. Is one religion right and all the others wrong? Please.
Well enough of this, I have to go make sure my workers are working and not bloging. Good day to you and yours
Photius
November 30th, 2010
8:50 am
@V for Vendetta – I totally agree with your point. I have seen many excellent families and children raised with no religion and they are great people. Free Will applies to all. We are a religious family however the main point we teach is that religion is for you and God. The best way to spread one’s faith is via their works, not their mouth.
ABC
November 30th, 2010
8:51 am
Jesus was a Jew after all, so there should be no problem here.
gpkbsin
November 30th, 2010
8:52 am
wow, the first few posters amaze me. my kids are being raised without religion by me. my mil has a different agenda.. raising them hindu. even if we want to shut out xmas, we can’t because of all the schools celebrating only that. we get a letter each year about sharing the holidays we celebrate every year.. the letter comes out in december. ummm… diwali is usually in late october and early november.
So, at our house, the festivities start in october and go on till end of december.
V.. I like your going to hell comment.. I say that about myself all the time cause I get comments like that when I say I don’t believe in religion ;)
Name (required)
November 30th, 2010
8:52 am
So what exactly happens to the cavemen, the ancient Egyptians, etc. when they died? Jesus hadn’t even been born yet, so they weren’t even around to worship him. Are they doomed to the Christian idea of “Hell” simply because they were born too early? Seems unfair, but nobody ever has a good explanation for it.
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2010
8:56 am
Hey Scrooge…do keep an eye on your employees…no one has to keep an eye on me as any time spent on this blog is my own time…I work for myself. Good Day to you to!
ABC
November 30th, 2010
8:57 am
And to Cynthia M who is spewing hatred toward @V, not everyone raises their children to believe in Christ. That is a personal choice that should not be forced on anyone. You don’t have to believe in Christ as the son of God and lord and savior or whatever to be a good person and live a good life. I personally believe Jesus was a good man, but that is all. I don’t think he ever set out to found a new religion. When you see how so-called Christians (or Muslims or any other group) act toward other humans, you can see how far they have strayed from the original message of peace and love toward others that Jesus taught.
Photius
November 30th, 2010
9:06 am
Belive it or not, in the Orthodox and Catholic faiths, you can go to heaven even if you are not a believer in Christ! Certain Protestant faiths draw the line in the sand, some Protestant one’s like the Anglican Church also adhere that one can gain admission into heaven even if they do not believe in Christ. Surprise – surprise – surprise – learn something new every day.
GA Mom
November 30th, 2010
9:12 am
Reporting in from the Pagans…..no organized religion in my house. We celebrate nature, the changing of the seasons, and we are OPEN to learning of other “customs”. We are not close-minded in my home.
Once again, it amazes me that people are still sucked into this organized religion and are so closed-minded, they cannot accept other peoples faith. That’s not very christian.
I believe if you live a good clean life, are kind to others, and have respect for those different that yourself, you will be happy. I do not push my “beliefs” on to anyone. Live and let live!!!!!
Happy Holidays everyone, regardless of how you chose to celebrate!!!!!!!
Jennifer
November 30th, 2010
9:13 am
The key is respecting other people and being allowed to believe what each of us choose. Bringing up the subject of religion doesn’t always have to turn into a spitting contest. My family is thankful for what we believe in and being able to go to a church that we enjoy so much. My kids and I live a life doing what we believe is right and try to keep religion an upbeat and happy part of our lives. We’re currently raising money for the Salvation Army selling light-hearted and funky bumper stickers that let people know you believe while keeping it light, if you’d like to help it would go a long way. http://www.EightyEightPercent.com
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
9:41 am
Jennifer,
I agree completely, and, if everyone believed and acted as you do, we wouldn’t have such bigoted and hateful rhetoric coming from either side. Kudos to you for being kind-hearted and putting your money where your mouth is.
Photius,
Same to you. It makes me happy to know there are religious folks in the world who are interested in being kind towards others and not discriminating against them because of their beliefs, culture, or sexual preferences. I hope your holiday is very merry. :-)
JATL
November 30th, 2010
9:59 am
Wow -reading these comments makes me happier than ever to be a Unitarian Universalist! I have no idea why it should be problematic for anyone to learn about different religions and their celebrations. Celebrate and teach whatever religion YOU are to YOUR kids. Let them know those are your beliefs, but that in this wide world there are many different beliefs than yours. So what if your child is fascinated with Jewish custom (or Buddhism, Hinduism, whatever). Religious study is quite interesting and it doesn’t mean you’re doing your personal beliefs any injustice. My children are quite young, but the oldest does know about Hannukah and the youngest will probably decorate his first dreidel this year at our neighborhood holiday fair. Last year during their Sunday school classes, our Jewish congregants split up and went into the classes to tell the story of Hanukkah. The man who came to my oldest son’s class brought little dreidels for all the kids, taught them the song, etc. Interesting and fun! My son asked about it this year, so I just explained that we aren’t Jewish, but it’s a holiday Jewish people celebrate and pointed out some of our Jewish friends who celebrate it. At our house we celebrate Christmas and mark the winter solstice.
Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, or Pagan, this season is about waiting, hoping and celebrating the light -the light of hope – that is expressed in the story of Jesus’ birth; the miracle of lights at Hanukkah or the winter solstice and the turning toward longer days and more light that will eventually bring about new growth and another spring. The other duality of the season is the promise of miracle and generosity -the generosity of God to send his son in a miraculous birth; the miracle of the lamp burning with very low oil for 8 days; and the natural miracle that when all is dead and cold, once again we know the Earth and Goddess will be generous in her bounty.Believe what you want, but there’s no harm in knowing, respecting or enjoying any of these philosophies and celebrations.
JATL
November 30th, 2010
10:14 am
@Jennifer -thanks for the refreshing post!
@V for Vendetta -it drives me crazy that so many “believers” cannot see the forest for the trees! Because of their close-mindedness and judgmental behavior (two VERY anti-Christian acts) -they turn so many off of any kind of religion. It never fails -they cannot comment or speak to anyone they know to be non-religious, atheist or agnostic without insinuating that you’re hell-bound or you’ve done some huge disservice to your children. Most of the people I observe acting in the most Christ-like manner these days actually aren’t Christians at all or any religion for that matter. They’re just kind-hearted and OPEN MINDED people! Happy Holidays -whatever you observe. Heck -even if it’s only a break to spend some time with your family -hope you enjoy it!
JATL
November 30th, 2010
10:15 am
TWG -my first post (and one I REALLY wanted posted) is gone! Guess I’m back in the spam queue. Interesting that it will now post as many other things as I enter…
mom2alex&max
November 30th, 2010
10:18 am
To Name (required): actually, the Bible doesn’t say anywhere that those that don’t accept Jesus will be doomed to eternal damnation. It says very clearly: all who believe in him will have eternal life.
It DOES NOT say that if you don’t believe you will go to hell. It is not up to us to judge. We DO NOT KNOW what God does to those who don’t believe in him. And I wish Christians would stop telling people they will go to hell if they don’t accept Jesus. Saving your own behind is not a good reason to accept Christ’s teachings.
JATL
November 30th, 2010
10:32 am
Here’s a holiday challenge to all of the super-religious Christians:
How about TRULY embodying what the miracle of Jesus’ birth is supposed to herald? Quit believing in HELL! You can see from many comments how you drive so many away with the constant blathering on about damnation. JESUS certainly didn’t talk about hell. Jesus is supposedly God’s promise to us that we can have ever-lasting life and that hope and love exist in the world -and that God is a god of hope and love. I’ve always viewed the birth of Jesus as God’s love letter to humanity -in fact as God’s APOLOGY for any wrathfulness toward humanity. Now that God doesn’t sound like one who would damn people to a hell of any sort. I’ve always found the concept of hell to be incredibly anti-Christian. Perhaps hell is only the shutting of your heart while you’re here on earth -ever thought about that? The more closed and shut your heart and mind are -the more personal hell you will probably experience. There is no greater hell than turning from love and being lonely. Yes, bad things happen to good people. Part of the natural world is negative energy and there would be no good without it, but to not only think it continues after death but to actually want certain people to be mired in the negative energy of hell for all eternity? Sounds like an evil thought to me.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
10:43 am
My atheist/agnostic kid LOVES CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
10:44 am
Oh…he’s six.
Cammi317
November 30th, 2010
11:08 am
I was raised Muslim, as I am raising my daughter. Her father and his family are Christians as are many of my relatives. Growing up, my parents encouraged myself and my siblings to learn about other religions. When we were visiting non-Muslim relatives we would often go to church with them. We also participated in school holiday festivities, back when public schools were allowed to have Christmas celebrations. I sometimes enjoy listening to holiday music and gospel music. It’s not so much the literal words, but the faith and spirit behind the words. I find it very uplifting. I raise my daughter the same way. From my perspective, it gave me a much better understanding of our similarities and our differences, particularly on the issue of Jesus Christ. Muslims believe he is a Prophet of G’d, born to the Virgin Mary, and Christians believe he is the Son of G’d. It seems that a lot of people fear that their children will flee from their beliefs if they are allowed to learn about others. Albeit, I have some issues with certain aspects of all organized religions, I believe being allowed to learn about and participate with others has only strengthened my own faith. I see the same thing happening with my daughter. Knowledge is Power…
JATL
November 30th, 2010
11:17 am
@MJG -TWG emailed and asked that you message her. She’s having trouble accessing her email to retrieve the info needed to pass on my email to you!
DB
November 30th, 2010
11:43 am
I think there’s a difference between learning, appreciating and respecting another faith’s traditions, and actually “celebrating” those traditions. As a Christian, I do not “celebrate” Hanukkah. As a Christian, I do not observe Ramadan. As a Christian, I do not observe Beltane. As a Christian, I do not observe Yom Kippur.
I think an empty observance of the forms of a holiday without a true appreciation and belief of the tradition and meaning behind the observance borders on disrespect. Hanukkah is actually a fairly minor observance among orthodox Jews, and I think it’s a little sad that it’s been overinflated by marketing in order to gain some warped sense of “equal time” with the Christmas gift-giving tradition. (Heck, even Christmas is pretty overdone, when you get right down to it :-) )
“Going through the motions” of celebrating another faith’s holidays is an empty gesture, devoid of meaning, and while it is well-meant, it seems to me to belittle that religion’s faith-based tradition. I am all for knowledge and learning about other’s traditions and meanings – in fact, I actively encourage it, because I am a firm believer in greater understanding. But as far as actively participating in them — no, sorry, I draw the line there. Life is too short to fake it.
Kate
November 30th, 2010
11:55 am
@Name (required) – As someone who was raised agnostic, I never thought I’d be the one to give an explanation to your question, but the answer, as I was taught after I started going to church as an adult, is that knowing Jesus and choosing to reject him is a sin, but simply having no knowledge of Jesus is not. Choosing to be an atheist does not necessarily mean you’re going to hell either. My particular religion teaches that no one (and I mean NO ONE) is beyond redemption.
@V for Vendetta – I have a degree in history, and before my current incarnation as a full-time mommy, I had a career in historical research. I can assure you that history is very important to me and plays a role in all my thought processes, including the one that lead me to becoming a Christian. You should try studying the Bible sometime, that sucker is filled with history!
As for Hanukkah, my kids think it’s really cool, too. They have a toy dreidel, and my son also made one in school last year. We may be Christian, but our church tries to incorporate many Jewish traditions into our holiday celebration and teaches everyone about all the Jewish holidays. Judaism is a beautiful religion filled with many wonderful traditions. Plus, they have awesome weddings!
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2010
12:29 pm
DB…good point…we do not celebrate other religious holidays here but we have taken time to learn about them and appreciate the history involved. I have never put up a Menorah but have enjoyed seeing other homes that display them. I have played the Dreidel game with my kids and had fun!
This is just me speaking…in schools, we see more and more children whose families do not ever attend church and that is ***absolutely their choice***. While some parents can and will do a wonderful job of instilling morals without any religious upbringing…this is not always the case. I am calling a spade a spade here and if you believe in sin, as I do, you can explain evil and why it is wrong to do certain things.
Oh yes, there are many Christians who have sinned ( myself included) but hopefully our moral compass will direct us back to the path we need to be on.
On the flip side, there are church children who are toots too!
I have personally observed that kindness, charity, obedience, respect, courtesy and other things one might learn in Sunday School have continued to disappear from both children and adults.
While it may not be popular, OBEDIENCE is something we all have to do or face the consequences of a speeding ticket, late fine on a bill, or even jail. Would that all parents could explain this to their children earlier than later. No it is not fun to be obedient but it is sometimes necessary. Even adults can be punished!
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
12:33 pm
Kate,
I’ve read much of the Bible, and I make it a point to read nearly every article, essay, or text suggested to me by religious folks. To do otherwise would be a bit hypocritical, wouldn’t you say? I don’t doubt that history is important to you. What I do doubt is that one needs religion or faith to enhance any part of one’s life. My life is great whether or not I believe in Jesus, god, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. They all affect me about the same, which is to say not at all.
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
12:39 pm
MJG,
The morals and obedience of which you speak can be derived from logic and reason. One does not need any sort of faith or belief in a higher power to be moral or just. Introducing faith as an arbiter of morals is flawed because it inevitably leads to a “My faith is right; yours isn’t” argument. Many of the “lessons” found in religious texts can be traced back through human history to times much earlier than those of Judeo-Christian religion.
I would say morals and justice have declined as a result of socialism–i.e., our lack of independence. When you don’t hold people responsible for their actions, this is the inevitable result.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
12:56 pm
@MJG….”While some parents can and will do a wonderful job of instilling morals without any religious upbringing…this is not always the case”….I’m sure the point of the rest of your post was that there are plenty of parents who have accepted a saviour into their hearts that have done an absolutely terrible job instilling morals to their children as well…even though you didn’t state it as succinctly.
I would submit to you that religious beliefs have very little to do with how well parents do in living moral lives and teaching that to their children. If the only reason one follows and teaches a “moral” path is out of fear of what might happen to them in the afterlife, I believe their path is flawed to begin with.
The point is that one lives a moral life and teaches their children to lead moral lives because they believe in those morals, ethics, and values, regardless of their religious affiliations, or lack thereof. I would also submit that those who fail and succeed at that goal are of equal numbers….regardless of religious affilition, or lack thereof.
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2010
1:07 pm
@ tiger…yes there are plenty of professed Christians who have children that are difficult. I thought I mentioned this with the church children who are toots.
I disagree with this:
“I would submit to you that religious beliefs have very little to do with how well parents do in living moral lives and teaching that to their children.’
Perhaps I am the only one here on this blog who disagrees. I respect your right to have a different opinion. My opinions are based on my experiences and I have certainly not experienced everything.
Photius
November 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
By focusing more on Church activities and the Birth of Christ, we are instructed to turn off the world and focus more on the meaning of Christmas. Limit your television use, computer, movies, football, shopping and focus yourself on the celebration of Christ. For our family, this is the only way we can tolerate the horrible consumerism side to American Christmas. We attend more Church services, we read as a family the stories in the Gospels, we read more from the Saints, we pray more as a family, as we as adults fast for 40 days prior to December 25th. No meat or dairy is consumed unless specified for a certain occasion. The principle is to sacrifice, to go without, to turn off the outside world, to reflect upon ourselves and our relation with Christ, to repent and to attempt to grow closer to Christ. For us, it reveals what is truly important for ourselves as a family – not falling prey into being consumers, finding joy in gadgets and materialism, putting on weight over eating…. In our house the celebration of Christmas is wonderful.
Kate
November 30th, 2010
1:11 pm
@V and all other atheists and agnostics out there, I am in no way condemning your lack of faith. As an agnostic kid growing up in a small southern town, I was the recipient of a lot of nasty comments growing up from both bible thumping kids and adults, so I would never do the same to anyone else. However, there does seem to be an underlying current among many atheists that in order to be a Christian, you must be inherently stupid. I guess I can’t blame them, since I used to believe the same thing myself, but it was through my study of history that proved that wasn’t true. Some of the greatest thinkers in human history have been devout Christians. Of course you can be an amazing person without the benefit of any religion, but it is also entirely possible to be an intelligent, independent thinker and a Christian at the same time.
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
1:15 pm
MJG,
I would disagree with your disagree. I would also contend that many parents spread their narrow-minded and bigoted viewpoints via their faiths to their children–who are indoctrinated into a belief system without ever having a choice. I find that to be reprehensible and immoral. I would be willing to bet that a statistical survey would find no difference between religious and non-religious parents in terms of their children’s behavior, morals, or obedience.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
1:17 pm
@MJG…I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that your “church children who are toots” comment was addressing the issue, albeit I believe it read as putting the onus on the children themselves to keep the teachings of the church with them, thus assigning no real responsibility on the religious parents to make sure the kids take to heart those teachings.
That, to me, was in stark contrast to the statement about parents without religious beliefs having a tougher time instilling their children with moral character. It read almost as if the church acts as a surrogate or extension of the parent, and without it, we parents who are without the moral guidance of the church have just put ourselves in a position of making parenting that much more difficult.
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
1:18 pm
Kate,
And I apologize if I implied that people of faith are inherently stupid. My own sister is a devout Christian. We have incredibly passionate and informed debates all the time. (All in good fun, of course.) You are absolutely correct in your assertion that one can be an independent thinker and still believe in a higher power; however, there is an unfortunate number of believers who sacrifice logic and reason on the altar of faith and use their faith as a weapon of condemnation.
Come on Son
November 30th, 2010
1:29 pm
Well at the end of the day (death) we will all find out who is right and who was wrong.
I always have found it interesting that non-Christian faiths and traditions are always acceptable in the public and public schools but Christianity is treated as an outcast. School freely educate our children on Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and other religious traditions but you may get your certification yanked if you mention Jesus Christ. We no longer have Christmas trees but “holiday trees” and Halloween has become the biggest celebrated “holiday” in schools, ironic is it not?
Schools bend over backwards to make accomodations for Jewish and Muslim students to celebrate their holy days at school or give lee way if they do not want to attend school. Yet try getting that same level of accomodation for Good Friday and your child gets treated like it is any other absense.
I am a Christian and I have no shame in that, but I do not call other faiths “mythology” but explain that is not what we believe and other people believe other traditions. In every group of believers there are a few extremist who do not represent the masses.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
1:34 pm
@Photius…you sound very Opus Dei-ish….and NOT in the psycho Da Vinci Code kind of way.
Come on Son
November 30th, 2010
1:43 pm
I would also contend that many parents spread their narrow-minded and bigoted viewpoints via their faiths to their children–who are indoctrinated into a belief system without ever having a choice.
Really, so people without faith can not be narrow minded and bigoted? Not saying you bigoted but your views seems to have influenced your children’s choice not to join a community of faith. The majority of people are the result of the environment they grew up in and are either going to accept it or rebel against it.
Just because a child has two gay parents does not mean that child will be homosexual, but that child will likely have liberal views on the gay lifestyle. This same debate can be turned to would you let your child have a sleepover at a friends house with gay parents? Hey if that is what they want to do at their home, have at it, but it does not make me a bigot because I disagree and do not want my child exposed to that first hand. They can be friends, play, etc. but I do not want them seeing at bed time two grown adults of the same sex going into the same bedroom.
It is different when it is a child versus a teenager who has some form of life experiences; that is our jobs as parents.
????
November 30th, 2010
1:44 pm
I bet some of the people up here would actually vote for Sarah Palin to be President. Before you start your Obama bashing, take a look at this:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112905453.html?hpid=topnews
Hint, the bailouts actually worked.
JD
November 30th, 2010
2:04 pm
All I can say is I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and we should all love one another as family regardless of our religious beliefs. I find it sad when I see, or read in this case where sides are taken and insults start flying regarding religion. Can’t we all just be friends and celebrate our beliefs within our own realm of life? None of you will get brownie points for your behavior in the afterlife believe it or not. We should not judge each other….we should love each other.
First time poster
November 30th, 2010
2:05 pm
@ come on son, my experience in the public schools in GA has been the exact opposite in regards to Christianity. Nary a word said about other faiths, but things like finding a bible stories book on the shelf in my daughter’s 2nd grade classroom, the Christian Atheletes group in middle school (I’ve actually seen them praying on school grounds before school starts), I could go on but won’t. Are you perhaps from a different area of the country? Could be the difference, but here in the South you can’t toss a rock without hitting a Christian, in school or otherwise. I also find it interesting, at least in me experience, that most people assume you’re some sort of Christian. As I said, to each their own.
Come on Son
November 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
First time poster,
Bible story books and the actual Bible are two different things. Without seeing the books I can not give a accurate comment but stories like David and Goliath and the Good Samaritan have become part of our society’s story lexicon.
I would guess you are speaking of FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Prayer is allowed in schools for everyone, is Muslim students want to adhere to praying 5 times a day, the school must accomodate them. Public schools can not force a prayer time on its students.
Now I agree that in the South people at least assume you attend a church not necessarily that you are a Christian or even a member of a church. However that has changed a lot with more people moving from the mid west and north.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
@Come on Son….would you yell “EARMUFFS” and demand that your child cover their ears if the child with gay parents just said to your child “my parents sleep in the same bed at night”?
I guess I’m just confused with what trauma you are sparing you child from by ensuring that he/she doesn’t witness with his/her own eyes a homosexual couple retiring to their bedroom together and closing the door behind them.
Would you prohibit your child from spending the night at the house of another child’s whose parents were unmarried yet living together? Or, depending on the strictness of your religious beliefs, a couple who were on their second (or more) marriages who had not formally annulled their marriages in accordance to their faith or whose faith did not recognize divorce.
Or how about sending your child to a home where you had knowledge that the woman of the house had an abortion at some point in her life?
I guess I just find it interesting that you picked that particular example to make the case that you are not a bigot or hold bigoted views.
BlondeHoney
November 30th, 2010
2:22 pm
@First Time Poster, I agree with you; my views are closer to V’s however my next door neighbors (who are my dearest friends) are devout christians who believe all should believe as they do. The wife teaches 7th grade math in a public middle school, and the husband proudly told me this morning he is going to “witness” to the 7th & 8th graders Friday morning. Now we all know he is NOT going to “witness” judaism, hindu, or any other religion other than christianity, and we also know there is not a snowball’s chance that any other religion would get the same opportunity. I asked him, “not during school hours, right?” because i do not want MY tax dollars supporting christianity in public schools unless the schools are willing to open it up to ALL religions. He was like “aww c;mon” and then admitted it would be before school hours. I’m not keen on using public facilities at all for this sort of thing; isn’t that what your CHURCH is for?
First time poster
November 30th, 2010
2:42 pm
@ son, personally I don’t see a difference between the stories and the actual bible itself, afterall it’s teaching the same thing, right? My piont was I haven’t seen any discrimintation agains Christianity in public schools, at least where I live. In my view, having an organization like FCA is seen as “ok” but we all know what happened when students wanted to start a gay and lesbian support group at some small school in North GA – a big no go, and that wasn’t even promoting a religion. Go figure.
Come on Son
November 30th, 2010
2:43 pm
@TigerOcho
Just because other people “do wrong” does not mean we have to expose our children to it. My right as a parent to MY CHILD, is determine based on my years of raising them, when I believe is the appropriate time to expose them to the ways of this world. So if I do not want my under 10 year old child to see to people of the same sex “retiring to the same room” that is my right, but I am still going to explain homosexuality to them because they see it everytime we go downtown for an event or a game.
BTW, if we have unmarried guest visiting they will sleep in seperate rooms otherwise they can PAY for a hotel, we don’t charge guests. Our jobs as parents is to raise children to have some sort of moral standard that they can reference. When they become adults they can make their own educated choices and if they want to do opposite of what they have been taught, they would not be able to say, “I did not know”.
If you want to decrease the chances of your child drinking and smoking, don’t drink and smoke around them. You sound like a person who serves alcohol for the parents at a CHILD’s birthday party. A family gathering is one thing, a child’s party is another.
No one is perfect and heavens knows I am not, but is it really necessary to have our children repeat our mistakes when we can teach them from our own life experiences?
We have become a society of let me live how I want to live but believe it or not our actions or inactions has an effect on others.
FCM
November 30th, 2010
2:50 pm
Youngest found a book on the subject last year (picture book) in the class library. Became fascinated with the holiday. We put the menorah up this weekend in addition to decking the halls, the house, the deck in our religious faith (Christian) tradition and secular fun (Santa).
????
November 30th, 2010
3:03 pm
@FCM, what, no Kwanza?
I wonder
November 30th, 2010
3:06 pm
I have seen several people of the Christian faith including the writer of this blog say they they integrate Hanukkah in their holiday. This is interesting since so many people paint Christians as “narrow minded”. However, I wonder how many Jewish or Muslim families will celebrate elements of Christmas during their major faith holidays?
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
3:14 pm
@Come on Son…i actually agree with most of what you say. For the exact reasons you mention, I would NEVER allow my son to become and altar boy…and like you, I’ll explain to him why.
MomOf2Girls
November 30th, 2010
3:32 pm
@I wonder – it has nothing to do with being narrow minded. I don’t observe any other religions holidays because they’re not part of my religion. Why should I observe something that isn’t part of my belief?
JATL
November 30th, 2010
4:02 pm
@Come on Son -I forgot -the two BIGGEST sins are drinking a beer at a kid’s birthday party (as my almost completely non-drinking mother once said-if you’re EVER going to drink or need a drink -a small child’s birthday party is the place to do it!) and two people loving one another and showing a positive loving relationship -if they just happen to be the same gender. I’m sure it’s fine for little Johnny to go to the friend’s house whose parents have divorced and remarried 6 times between them or whose dad is screwing is secretary on the side -because it’s all heterosexual. I’m unsure of why it’s okay to take your kid to a ballgame where he sees gay couples but it’s not okay for him to visit the home of a gay couple? Odd.
And here’s a tip from a former Southern Baptist -the BIGGEST booze-hounds I’ve ever known came from homes just like yours. Parents were SO anti-alcohol or else they “hid” the drinking and having a drink or two was never part of a normal life experience, so the kids went nuts when they got away and got their hands on it. Half of my youth group wound up in rehab.
@I wonder -I actually know a number of non-religious Jews who enjoy putting up a tree or celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas in the secular sense.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
November 30th, 2010
4:40 pm
@Come on Son….BTW..you’re right…I am the “type” of parent who serves alcohol FOR THE PARENTS at a party for my child. You sound like the “type” of person who would judge me for that.
But I guess that’s where we fundamentally differ, whereas you seem like the “type” to determine people “do wrong” based on how they differ from you “doing right”, I look at people actions to see if they act with a kind heart, fairness, and the willingness to accept me and my family without judgment for all my faults…..like providing alcohol at my kids birthday party or having committed the unpardonable act of living with wife of 17 fyears or 2 years before marriage. Like you said, to each their own. Just in case you’re wondering though, even though I know you’d never accept an invitation to my kids birthday party, I’d welcome you with open arms…you seem like a fascinating guy to have a chat with…and there will be a beer available for you if you want it.
V for Vendetta
November 30th, 2010
9:30 pm
Come on son,
I don’t indoctrinate my children into believing anything. I don’t slander religions or faiths in front of them, and, if one of them chose to adopt such a belief system later in life, it would be her choice. I would disagree, but they are free to make their own choices and believe what they want to believe. If there is any benefit to believing in a higher power, Jesus Christ, or the abominable snow man, then surely it will win out over my lack of belief, right? I mean, if Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, et. al. are a superior world view–according to their adherents–the inevitably my children will chose to believe in one (all?) of them rather than in nothing. Something is better than nothing, right? I wonder which one they’ll choose. I mean, they all claim to be right. I suppose I should include Wicca, Paganism, Greek mythology, ancient Egyptian gods, and the Norse gods. Maybe the beliefs of the Native Americans and African bushmen?
I wonder what they’ll choose. Whatever it is, it must be better than nothing, right?
Right?
Free
December 1st, 2010
3:13 am
Спасибо понравилось !
Scholar: Hanukkah More Modest Holiday Outside US – NPR | TravelZrr
December 1st, 2010
3:39 am
[...] Hanukkah parade adds to the December holiday seasonThe StateUSA Today -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Smartmoney.comall 227 news [...]
happy hanukkah | Trendy News
December 1st, 2010
10:11 am
[...] beginning eight-day observance of HanukkahLos Angeles Daily NewsContra Costa Times -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Virginian-Pilotall 335 news [...]
Dec. 1: Happy Hanukkah! – Patch | Assessment for Learning
December 1st, 2010
10:31 am
[...] beginning eight-day observance of HanukkahLos Angeles Daily NewsContra Costa Times -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Virginian-Pilotall 335 news [...]
bunch of yentas
December 1st, 2010
1:13 pm
Oy Vey!
Come on Son
December 2nd, 2010
12:11 pm
JATL,
There is a time and a place for everything. I do not have a problem having kids around alchol at restaurants, family gatherings, cookouts, etc, etc. I personally think a child’s birthday party is about the child and not the adults.
Just because a parent does not drink, smoke, shack, etc in front of the child does not mean their child will not explore on their own. We can not control our kids choices in their friends or their personal decisions later in life, but we can help them make educated choices and understand the consequences.
People drink, shack, smoke, cuss, etc, more power to them, but keep in mind parents are the most influential teachers of their children. They are watching whether you realize or not.
I have friends that have kids that do not allow them to watch pg or pg-13 movies, for me I watch them and decide on an individual basis. My point is the younger the child the more influence parents have over their views.
Come on Son
December 2nd, 2010
12:16 pm
One last note on the gay issue, which found it’s way into this topic.
I agree that gays should have the same legal rights as everyone else. Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, yes, gay marriage, no. Civil unions yes. I believe people should not have to “live in the closet”, become suicidal, live in fear for being who they are. However on the flip side, does anyone know what % of the population is gay? Estimates range from as low as 3% to as high as 10%, which means a small group certainly commands a lot of our legislative attention; which I have an issue with. Proper educational funding, taxes, war, health care, etc need more debate than who can marry who.
Tweets that mention My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others' religious holidays? | Momania: A Blog for Busy Moms -- Topsy.com
December 2nd, 2010
10:44 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Timothy Smith, The Word 09. The Word 09 said: My Christian kids love Hanukkah: Do your kids like others …: … is to give praise to the birth of Jesus Chris… http://bit.ly/eQpq3j [...]
Light
December 3rd, 2010
2:30 pm
Let God will be done thru this blog lightoftheearth.blogspot.com/
Lily
December 3rd, 2010
3:24 pm
I am really happy to hear about so many Christian families teaching their children about CHanukah and the story behind it. We have lots of them :). As a Jewish child growing up in the 50’s, we were not taught anything at all about Judaism in public school, and we were literally forced to sing Christmas carols etc., which was a little uncomfortable when it came to singing “Christ the Lord”> I remember just humming that part so God wouldn’t be upset with me….We were brought up in a very very diverse neighborhood, especially for the 1950’s. When some mean kids would throw apples at us during the Jewish High Holiday days, shouting “you killed Christ!” I used to run inside & ask my mother, ‘who is Christ and why do they think WE killed him?” I believe that the greatest religion of all is the human one…the golden rule….living a good, kind and compassionate life. The rest is all icons, toys, gifts, symbols, etcetc. I love learning about all the religions of the world for that reason…the variety, the passion, the customs, the food, the holidays. Ultimately, we have one thing in common it seems : a curiousity about eternal life and if there is any such thing, an understanding of a ‘higher power’ called God or whomever/whatever we call the higher power, and a very human need to be loved unconditionally. We just need to spread the love around, regardless of different beliefs and customs. So, on that note: Happy EVERYTHING to EVERYONE!