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mamaslearning
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| Posted: March 18 2011 at 1:38pm | IP Logged
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My daughter is growing up  and reaching a new phase of understanding. She's now seven, and is beginning to see beyond her little world.
My question is how to discuss other religions/lack of belief with her? I don't even know how to phrase what I'm really asking. It's more of a, how do you explain that somebody does not believe in God? I could go the "I don't know" route, but what about the Greeks? Why were there so many Gods? Trying to explain philosophical ideas (they were searching for God, he didn't reveal himself yet, and all the other theories) at this point seems too much (and I don't even have my thoughts wrapped around some of these issues yet). Maybe a "some people just believe different things" approach is all that's needed at this age?
If you understand my disjointed thoughts, I'd love to hear your ideas. 
(I tried searching the site, but couldn't come up with something along these lines. If you know of a past converstaion about this, please post the link. Thanks!)
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Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
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VanessaVH
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| Posted: March 18 2011 at 2:07pm | IP Logged
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Have you read from the Catholic Treasure Box books? There is a continuing story in the back that follows a Guardian Angel of a little boy from a pagan African tribe. The stories are really easy to understand and have prompted similar conversations with my 5 yo son.
I usually just describe it when it comes up in books as
"We believe in the One True God, these people didn't/don't know any better and they believe in false gods. Lets pray that they learn about Jesus."
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florasita
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| Posted: March 18 2011 at 11:09pm | IP Logged
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7 yrs is still so young ! you know the one good thing about disbelief is that without it ther would be no conversion 
There are many children's books in the library explaining the concepts of other religions in terms children can understand .I'd start there .our hs group is full of all types of families and people from other religions surround us in our nieghbourhoods and even within our own family .Even catholics suffer from disbelief ,lack of faith at times . I think at times we go through it to experience a greater conversion .The one thing I think is the hardest for us as parents is to not respond with fear . You know what I love , is that the greek Gods are actually myth . Our Jesus is real ! The Greeks made up stories of the manisfestation of thier gods & godesses but Jesus our God was here for real He is our living proof ! He is not made up .You can also explain some of the samenesses so our children do not fear others of different religions like how all peoples have the concept of a creator and creation stories etc. most also have the concept of an after life a place of darkness and a place of light . If we approach things with fear we do pass that fear on to our children ! God asks us to be cautious & prudent but never fearful
Maybe you have a thinker , a theologian on your hands
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guitarnan
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| Posted: March 18 2011 at 11:17pm | IP Logged
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At this tender age, perhaps it is easier to start with the ancients (Greeks, Egyptians, Romans) and say that they were trying to explain the natural world and unexplained events by creating their own belief system. Even elementary school age children are able to see that the ancient pagan gods were not, well, like God. They argued and lied and played tricks...the one, true God does not do this. The contrast is clear. (Of course, you have to pick and choose myths and legends, so that they are age-appropriate, but this is a simple way to show that different groups of people have created pantheons and belief systems throughout history. You can then simply state, "Of course, some people today don't believe in the one, true God, either; they believe in an ancient group of gods and goddesses (e. g. Hinduism) or in a cycle of death and rebirth (e. g. Buddhism) - etc." Keep it simple. Answer honestly. It will all work out.
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LucyP
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| Posted: March 21 2011 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
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Well, what we do with our 3 and 7yo is talk about how the Church is like a jigsaw with all the pieces showing us a picture of God, but that as individuals we sometimes don't see it all properly but all the pieces are there. We say how other Christians have a couple of pieces missing out of their puzzles, and other religions have more pieces missing and sometimes pieces in the wrong places or pieces from other puzzles because it is like they don't have the box lid to help them, but they are still trying to get the same picture of God that we want. And then we say people who don't believe in God at all can still have some of the pieces (which would be that they can be good, loving, kind etc) but they can never get the picture right because they throw away the pieces that would help them get the picture of God.
I probably haven't explained it very well and as with all analogies it isn't 100% but it makes sense to our kids and also helps them, at this black and white thinking stage, to stay compassionate, tolerant and loving towards people with different beliefs.
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 10:16am | IP Logged
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Thanks! These really helps me as I figure out how to approach these questions. I love the puzzle analogy, and it would be easy to understand at a young age.
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Lara
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 3:57pm | IP Logged
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We are big on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in our home - and the central story is of course the Good Shepherd.
So we review the parable - "what did Jesus say?" That he knows ALL His sheep by name - that He calls them, that He loves them, that He cares for them....
That they hear His voice and they follow Him.
Ah! But then He goes on to say:
(I am partially paraphrasing)
"There are other sheep that are not part of this flock; but I will call them too - and there will be one flock and one shepherd."
So.... our discussions (my son is about to turn 7 and we've been discussing the "differences" since he was 3) have centered around the following ideas:
that Jesus calls all people to Him
that not everyone hears him clearly
.... because there are many distractions in this world
that sometimes we are the ones to help clear the cobwebs so they can hear
that we must be gentle and loving and respectful at all times - these *are* Jesus' sheep after all!
that some people have been fooled by the voice of "strangers" because of the various distractions of this world.
ETC.
The parable is so deep and answers this question SO well on so many levels. I can foresee where our conversations will go, but we've already had such rich discussions!
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: March 23 2011 at 3:59pm | IP Logged
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Oh! And I second Nancy's and LucyP's responses as well.
We're just getting into the discussions of other religions specifically - and the whole idea of inventing these various religions and belief systems to explain the hows and whys of the world - but God sent Divine Revelation to provide a Truth we could not have come to on our own.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Explaining other beliefs
