Two words: “Say something.” I can't tell you how many college students who grew up in interfaith households have told me that their parents kept mum on religion because they didn’t want to “impose” their beliefs on their kids.
This is ridiculous—not unlike abstaining from reading to your children on the grounds that they should be able to choose their own language when they grow up.
If you don’t talk with your children about religion, they will assume it doesn’t mean anything to you or (worse) that it doesn’t mean anything to anybody. So just say something. Tell them what Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Diwali means to you. Tell them how you think God fits into that holiday. If you are confused about this--and who isn't?--fess up to your confusion.
In my home, daylight savings time is when you change the batteries in the smoke detector. If, like many Democrats I know, you find talking about religion an equally tedious chore, then why not think of the holidays as that time of the year when you sit down with your kids, read something from scripture, and have a chat about God? It's not as painful as it sounds.
Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook


