One more further thought, since they had the child while they were over there, they should move back to the USA, raise their child here, and then when the child is old enough allow him/her to decide if they want to live in a Muslim country?
By the way I already know the next argument you are about to say, so you might as well say it.
I'm converting again.
by reneeisorym 125 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Junction-Guy
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UU Now
Here is another point, Parents with children shouldnt force their kids to go to muslim countries, christian or not. Parents are free to make martyrs of themselves, but dont drag the kids into it.
Who in their right mind would want their children to be raised in Bagdad or Tehran?You do know that there's more to the Muslim world than Baghdad and Tehran, don't you?
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Junction-Guy
Yes of course, let's not forget Sudan
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R.Crusoe
I imagine it's very difficult to get a perspective on the Muslim world without being involved in it or knowing someone very closely who is a keen Muslim and will explain the lifestyle etc openly to you.
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reneeisorym
Junction-Guy, you used a little reasoning that wasn't very sound. It's ok because we all do it from time to time. I can't tell you how many times I've painted myself in a corner. Just remember that we are in search of truth, not to win an argument.
The answer to the reason we teach our children Christianity is because we firmly believe it to be true. It has nothing to do with the final consequences. You can't have "faith" if you don't genuinely believe it.
For example, imagine if the Mormons consequences sounded better if they were right and worse if they were wrong. They get to be gods one day and their hell was described as worse than the Baptists. So you figure that it would be better to be a Mormon because you don't want to go to the Mormon hell. (I hope this makes sense!) Thing is, you don't make this decision based on consequences for each religion. You examine the Bible and Book of Mormon and decide which is true. You follow the Bible because of it's history instead of the book of Mormon. I do truely believe that God gives us the gift of faith and it is not near as much choice as we want to believe. But I was trying to reason on a human level and not one of theology.
Back to the subject of our modivation for following Christ, I will never expect my children to serve out of fear. I will never disown them and fear of hell is a horrible reason to follow Christ. The reason any of us who are Christians profess faith is because we genuinely love God. I left behind a life of fear a long time ago. The only fear I have is more of a feeling of respect than fear.
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Junction-Guy
Sorry Renee, Im just at my wits end dealing with some of these Atheists. Perhaps if they could channel more of their activism against the Watchtower, instead of the Republican party or even the fundy religions, then maybe I will hush up.
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*summer*
Goodness...hard to believe this thread is still alive and kicking. And I thought choosing a religion fell under "freedom of choice"
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serotonin_wraith
Renee,
My children will not have a choice but it is not because of me. It is up to God to choose them.
In that case, why don't you refrain from teaching them Christianity is true, and let God reach out to them in his own way? If that's what you believe happens, of course.
For example, imagine if the Mormons consequences sounded better if they were right and worse if they were wrong. They get to be gods one day and their hell was described as worse than the Baptists. So you figure that it would be better to be a Mormon because you don't want to go to the Mormon hell. (I hope this makes sense!) Thing is, you don't make this decision based on consequences for each religion. You examine the Bible and Book of Mormon and decide which is true. You follow the Bible because of it's history instead of the book of Mormon. I do truely believe that God gives us the gift of faith and it is not near as much choice as we want to believe. But I was trying to reason on a human level and not one of theology.
The thing is, children of Mormon parents usually choose to follow Mormonism over other religions. To them, it makes perfect sense for the book of mormon to be true. For you, it makes sense that it isn't. Doesn't it seem to be less about studying it (or any other religion), and more about who your parents are? It looks that way to me.
Junction-Guy,
No, the child need not be raised a Muslim, in fact since the parent went over there to christianize the country, they need to still raise their children as christians. If they are going to convert other people to their beliefs, why must they be willing to sacrifice their own childs salvation.
Okay, so you're stripping out your 'fitting in with the country' argument and making up new rules. That's all I wanted to know.
...get the heck back home before their child is converted to Islam.
Sweet Jesus, now the real attitude comes out! No wonder you want American children raised as Christians, one reason is you can't seem to stand Islam! Ironically, if your parents happened to be Muslim, chances are you would actually be a Muslim now! Imagine that! The very thing you don't seem to like now could have been exactly what you turned out to be, had you been born elsewhere! How horrible it would have been to have been indoctrinated from birth in a religion not of your choosing. How I wish the penny would drop.
Here is another point, Parents with children shouldnt force their kids to go to muslim countries, christian or not. Parents are free to make martyrs of themselves, but dont drag the kids into it.
Well the scenario had the child born there, not taken there. Plenty of Christians live in predominently Muslim areas.
One more further thought, since they had the child while they were over there, they should move back to the USA, raise their child here, and then when the child is old enough allow him/her to decide if they want to live in a Muslim country?
So now the child should be raised in a certain religion because of its genes?
Im just at my wits end dealing with some of these Atheists
You could read some of Jesus' words and find the patience deep within yourself to cope with some honest concerns about the forming minds of children which you mistakenly seem to perceive as scathing attacks on your personal relationship with God, or you could stop looking at my posts if I bother you so much.
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reneeisorym
I'll allow you to examine the differences between the evidence supporting the Bible vs. the evidence supporting the book of Mormon yourself. No need to even get into that conversation.
In that case, why don't you refrain from teaching them Christianity is true, and let God reach out to them in his own way? If that's what you believe happens, of course.
To do that would be denying the means God has used to reach people. He has used Christians to minster to people for centuries. God's "own way" is through other Christians. (Rom 10:14)
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Junction-Guy
Serotonin Wraith, If I had been raised Muslim, I probably would be on EX-Muslim boards slamming Islam, but since I was raised JW, I choose the X-JW boards.