Quote:
Originally Posted by slinky
You as a adult Billcat had the choice.
Yet I am finding the amount of trips to the mosques are getting more and more!!!!! WHY?? that isn't my childrens religion
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Bad assumption, slinky. I have the choice now, true. BUT - when I was younger, I did not have that choice. It was part of my education and, frankly, it was pretty interesting! I also was invited many times to celebrate the Jewish sabbath as the home of friends and attended B'Nai Brith Temple for various holidays and the Bar Mitzvahs of my childhood buddies - and my friends were invited to our celebrations. My parents and my friends' parents thought that knowing about the other guys' religion was a good idea.
Also went to Russian Orthodox Easter services, discussed the Bible with other friends who claim a literal belief, went to midnight Mass with Catholic friends, attended the reconsecraton of a Tibetan temple here in NJ (done by the Dalai Lama), served as best man as wedding ceremonies in both Catholic and Presbyterian ceremonies, helped work on the restoration of the Friends (Quaker) Meeting House, discussed Mormon beliefs with other friends, and learned a lot along the way. As religion plays an important role in society, knowing a bit about it has been useful and interesting. Apart from my fundamentalist Christian friends, never felt that anyone was trying to get me to sign up for their beliefs.
Probably the most important part of that education was that if I expected to receive respect, then I had better be prepared to start the ball rolling by showing respect.
As far as your kids visiting a mosque, I am sure that if it is done properly, they'll learn a lot about the religion of others in their community.
Now a question - if your church is unable to do the Christmas nativity play, why don't you ask your pastor if arrangements can be made the local children to particpate in another parish's celebration? Just had another thought...when I was about five years old, we had a major fire in my church. While our church was being rebuilt, B'nai Brith welcomed us to use their temple for our services. Perhaps there is some other local house of worship which might be willing to let your congregation use their building for the nativity?