just a thought about equality, and how much we value it

[cerridwen]

Now, by all means I don't want anyone to think that I'm racist or homophobic or anything... I just want to create some conversation and exchange of ideas in this forum, so all opinions will be valued and not bashed, please.

Many religions or beliefs have very specific opinions or rules about sexuality, sex and race, and the roles they play in their specific communities. Now I would like to think that Wicca is more open to acceptance, but how would you approach this idea to your coven or family (children specifically)?

More specifically, how would you answer the following questions...
1. How would you feel if you raised children in Wicca but they converted to a different religion? Would there be a religion you wouldn't want them to convert to?
2. How would you react if your children/coven members were/became gay?
3. How would you feel about your children marrying another race or another religion, and decided to practice their own faith but raise their own children in their spouse's faith?

[cptbri]

1. How would you feel if you raised children in Wicca but they converted to a different religion? Would there be a religion you wouldn't want them to convert to?
2. How would you react if your children/coven members were/became gay?
3. How would you feel about your children marrying another race or another religion, and decided to practice their own faith but raise their own children in their spouse's faith?

1. I am currently on a spritual quest myself but have been leaning toward Wicca as my main belief system. I believe that everyone has a right to their belief system so if my child decided to change from the religion in which we raise her to another religion, I would not have an issue with that. I would respect her choice and expect her to respect ours. As long as the mutual respect exists, I don't see any reason she couldn't choose any religion.

2. I am bi so I have no problem with anyone be straight, bi, or gay.

3. Again, I respect everyone's belief and would have no problem with anyone converting and practicing what they believe. As long as they respect my beliefs in return.

[velvet]

1. How would you feel if you raised children in Wicca but they converted to a different religion? Would there be a religion you wouldn't want them to convert to?

I'm not really wiccan but I guess this goes for every walk of life.. so.. if my future kid would have a different religion than me.. it would be difficult if he/she started preaching it (like some born again christians do sometimes).. but I think that as long as my kid would still respect other, be openminded etc.. than I guess that I would be okay with it. I'm vegan, but if my kid would eat a lot of meat.. well.. that's it's own choice..


2. How would you react if your children/coven members were/became gay?
No problem at all.. can't even think of a reason in which case I would have a problem with it.. no.. I just don't.. I just hope they find a nice partner that I could get along with.. that's more important than the sexe.

3. How would you feel about your children marrying another race or another religion, and decided to practice their own faith but raise their own children in their spouse's faith?
I think it's wrong to deny one parents religion, no matter what religion. If you marry someone of another culture or religion, then in my opinion, your kids should be raised learning about both so they can make their own choice when they are old enough for it. Preferably, they should learn about as many religions/cultures etc as possible, to get a better understanding of things in general.. what they do with it is their own choice. One thing I really oppose to however, are things like circumsision (sp?).. I could never agree with chopping my kids foreskin off, even if my husband was a muslim or whatever. That's just personal :)

[RyvreWillow]

1. How would you feel if you raised children in Wicca but they converted to a different religion? Would there be a religion you wouldn't want them to convert to?

We are raising our children as Wiccans, Druids, and Christians; i was brought up Baptist, my husband Catholic; there are elements from both that we highly value, though we don't agree with alot of others. We would love to add elements from other religions as well, but we lack the knowledge and resources to do so. Our goal is to give them the means to explore their own spirituality with as few limits as possible; whatever they choose, so long as it is a positive religion and not, say, a cult lead by a megalomaniac with a god-complex, we're totally cool with it.

2. How would you react if your children/coven members were/became gay?



No problem with that one at all; i don't see homosexuality as a negative thing.


3. How would you feel about your children marrying another race or another religion, and decided to practice their own faith but raise their own children in their spouse's faith?

Race is no problem either; humankind started as one race, and though it won't happen in our lifetime, we'll be one race again. Just look at a biracial child--there is nothing more beautiful or inspiring.

Now for the religious issue: i have nothing against other religions, but i would have problems seeing my child's faith ignored; my grandchildren should at least be taught both ways so they may make an informed decision later in life.

[Sage-Phoenix]

1. How would you feel if you raised children in Wicca but they converted to a different religion? Would there be a religion you wouldn't want them to convert to?

I was baptised Christian but never took that up. Still really annoys me though, it wasn't my parents place to choose a religion for me (I was a baby, with no say at all). Spirituality is between you and the divine. So I wouldn't butt in.
Any other religion is fair game, just as good/bad as each other. What really matters is whether they are a good person, and no harm comes to them (or anyone else).

2. How would you react if your children/coven members were/became gay?

Might be suprised at first, but otherwise just totally accept and understand. Sexuality isn't really a choice, more of an insitinct I suppose. Not point fighting nature (unless you want to loose).
Never really understood the negativity about homosexuality.

3. How would you feel about your children marrying another race or another religion, and decided to practice their own faith but raise their own children in their spouse's faith?

If they were well suited and in love then that's the important thing. No problem with diffrent races, we're all the same really. So that's fine.
It might seem a bit odd to raise a child with values you don't necessarily have. But they would have good reason. As long as there was respect and equality I'd have no issues with it.

[know1nozme]

1. How would you feel if you raised children in Wicca but they converted to a different religion? Would there be a religion you wouldn't want them to convert to?

Everyone has the right to thier own beliefs. I would have a problem if my child were to convert just to please someone else, but if it was a spiritual world-view that they actually identified with, then I would have no problems. I would hope that any child I raised would be wise enough to avoid fundamentalism of any sort.

2. How would you react if your children/coven members were/became gay?

My own mother is gay. She has no problems with my being straight, why would I have problems with a child of mine being gay?

3. How would you feel about your children marrying another race or another religion, and decided to practice their own faith but raise their own children in their spouse's faith?

Eventually, the child would, no doubt, find thier own spiritual world-view. It matters not what religion they were raised in. I certainly didn't stick with the religion I was raised in, nor did my wife, nor most of our friends. That is the way of things. Eventually, one discovers that they have a religion of their own and it is unique. It might closely resemble another (perhaps enough to be called by the same name) but truthfully, no two people have the same world-view. Each one is as unique as the life which "created" it.