What Religion Do I Say We Are?

Well, what DO YOU believe in? That is your answer. You dont have to have a label..... but when it boils down to it you probably do have a label once you decide where your "faith" lies. It should be easy to answer after that ;)

edit.....
This is a very good, thought provoking question, and I'm sure that is why the teacher is doing this project... it's about "learning" and these topics need to be brought up in the home so the PARENTS can teach their children and not the school.

wow....this is really weighing on you!

Answer from your heart. & don't get hung up on feeling that you need to overexplain your life choices to your child. He's 7, he needs some kind of answer.....but not a drama!

I think what concerns me is that you equate designating a chosen religion ...with security, trust, & knowing what you're doing!! Wow....relax!

&, NO, I don't think it's wrong for this to be a school project. What's the big deal, Moms? This project ties in beautifully with our upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!!! Religious choices is how the Pilgrims ended up here!! Peace to All.....

I am jewish and my husband is christain and my kids are jewish and christian. Everyone said that wasn't possible, but why not? There is an old testament and a new testament. It is leanear. They do not cancel each other out. They do not contradict each other. They tell a story of what happened first and what happened next. So, we celebrate every thing and we chare what it means culturally and traditionally with our children.

I don't know what your 2 religions are, but I don't think there are any that cancel each other out. They all believe there is some sort of spirituality beyond this world that guides us. And they are all stories to explain those things. Share stories from both sides with your son and celebrate him wholly.

Honesty! If you are not practicing why list anything at all? I think it would be more confusing to profess faith where you have none. Explain to your son why you chose/did not choose to practice. i.e. family upbringing...you and his father viewed things differently etc...

I suppose you dont have a "religion"... I"m not comfortable with that term anyway. Religion means you do the same thing religiously whether you want to or not (I religiously clean my toilet bowl every three days). The word "religion" has nothing to do with your belief system or where you put your faith in the unknown. If you arent into God, what are you into... who do you pray to when you need that feeling of warmth, love and security that you are not alone in this world? If you believe in God do you believe in God from the Christian bible or a god from another source? If you believe in God from the Christian bible then you would consider yourself a non-practicing Christian..... and Christianity is NOT a religion but a 'relationship' with God.

You can say, Non-denomenational, if need be.

My dad was raised Mormon and my mom was raised Catholic. I learned about both religions (or some "Christians" call "cults"). Either way, I am tolerant of every religion....and I figure the only "person" who should be judging is God. One of my best friends is an atheist, and while I don't agree with her, I don't have to.

I identified myself as a Catholic, as that's where we mostly went to church and I went to a private Catholic school for a few years. Maybe just use your husband's religion, if that's what your son is most familiar?

How about "I don't think you're legally allowed to ask me this" ?

Be honest. IF you do identify with a religion and you want to start practicing, talk to your son about it and start attending services. If not, tell your son how you were raised, what your beliefs are now and why you don't go to services. Have him record those feelings. I guarantee, you are NOT the only family who doesn't adhere to a religion! Explain these things to him with authority. Are you an atheist or agnostic? If so, tell him why. It's perfectly okay to tell kids that you aren't certain about some things and you're not really sure what you believe if that's the case.

***Just a note -this isn't an inappropriate question from school. As long as religion is taught as a historical or cultural practice -or in later years, the Bible as literature and not as a religious text -it's perfectly appropriate and needed. Many children are never taught anything about any religion -ever. Part of understanding our world, our society, other cultures -even our laws is understanding how religion has shaped them. I'm NOT religious and have many problems with many religions, but I believe we all need a very deep educational understanding of them.

If you are looking for some type of church home or belief system to attend or become involved in with your son, I highly urge you to check out Unitarian Universalism. We love it, and they have a wide umbrella of beliefs. Basically we are people who see the road to spiritual peace as a lifetime journey where our beliefs and ideas have room to constantly evolve. There is a strong current of social justice for all and there is no discrimination. We incorporate and discuss many different religious practices and how they can relate to our lives. Have a look!

I agree-this calls for a general answer: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.
If you really are "none" just write "none."

I like all of the answers you've been given. My guess is that the question for the culture project is to discuss traditions and ceremonies of different religions and ethnicities. Either answer it generally (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc.) or leave it blank and answer the rest of the questions that you feel comfortable with. Honestly, it is none of anyone's business except your family's. You can tell your son that as far as the project goes, you can fill in those questions after he brings it home if he chooses to keep it as a keepsake.

Of course, you should continually have the conversation with your son about your religion and his fathers on the level you feel most comfortable. Right now, you can talk about what traditions and ceremonies your family practices based on each one (especially if they are different).

I feel it inappropriate to have to "announce" your religion and personal beliefs for a school project. You can easily write a note to accompany the project and state that you helped your son answer all of the questions you felt comfortable answering. Edit: I just read Sue's response. It isn't a big deal unless you are in this type of situation where everyone else seems to have a clear cut label of their religion and are comfortable talking about it. It is very stressful to someone who either doesn't believe in the "popular" religions or who isn't "practicing" their religion. There are a lot of judgemental people in regards to religion....hence the Pilgrims coming to America (and many, many other people looking for freedom of religion). There is still a lot of pressure in our land of religious freedom to "declare" and label your religious beliefs.

If you do not observe a religion then there is your answer...none. Perhaps your views would fall in with humanism (you "are" human after all)? Google it and see if you would like to claim that particular belief system (I am not sure it is considered a religion per se). Good luck with the seeking.

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Not sure what the two religions were, but Unitarian Universalists are very broad in scope. Good luck!

Hi C., I wish to have an easy answer to give you...
I understand that mothers always shape our background more than fathers...
Usually we (people) know more about our mother's family side than of our father's. Unless we have a paternal grandmother who tell us stories of the past...
You should visit the religion of your own family. Starting yoour quest from there.
Suppose you are baptized catholic but do not practice your Catholic faith...start understand your Baptism and why your parents provided the baptism to you. If you understand your own root you are more capable to do your own quest.
Most of us believe in God as a Creator but we have more that that to know about God. It is possible to get solid and healthy information about this aspect of our need to be connected to who created us.

Your child needs an aswer but you need it as well. I wish to help and guide in your most important search...The most inner happiness we can have in life depends how we accept and understand the grace of God's love for us.
This is a quest that if we are very honest in look for an answer God who is watching over us will provide the answers and the guidance we need and are looking for. And you are looking for "spiritual identity" and not religion. When we understand our spiritual identity we will find the "religion" that is the way we express and live our "spiritual identity".
I pray for you to get it ASAP!!! We all deserve to know God...We love who we know and what we know.

We don't observe, either, but my husband and I are from different religious backgrounds, also. Your son can discuss both yours and your late husband's religions for the culture project and no one needs to know whether you practice or not. I believe in God but not in any organized religion for those of you who are asking C.,"What do you believe in?" I believe in being a good person. Going to church, temple, or mosque one day a week doesn't make you a godly person if you don't act and live with integrity the other 6 days a week.

I'd say think carefully of how you feel about religion (having already stated that neither you nor your late husband practiced your different religions). If you feel you want to continue, at least in your mind, in your own religion, and considering the fact that it is you who will be rearing your children, you might just state your own religion in the blank. If there is a place for "none", and if you do not feel at all religious, you could check that blank. Just keep in mind, most parents put their own religion, however loosely attached they are to it, and in this case, you are now the only (living) parent. Also remember, this is not "set in stone" for your child. I changed religious denominations three times in my life(all in the same faith, Christian). Some people convert totally out of their originally stated beliefs, of course, so don't worry that you might be indelibly fixing your child in a religion by checking a box! The child will make the decision at the right time when he is sure of what he believes in. Basically then, just teach right and wrong and kindness and fairness to your little one(s) and give them lots of love without too much spoiling :-), and they will grow up just fine, whatever blank you check off!

for starters, what do you believe in? there's A LOT out there...wiccan, buddism, christianity, list goes on and on

I don't think it's a good question. It puts people on the spot. You don't have to follow a place of worship to discover what denomination you are. I would leave that answer blank or have your son to write "don't follow one" on his sheet. I don't think the teacher will give him a problem.

Kids sense a lot more than we say. I think, "I don't know," is a good answer when it is honest, because he knows that deep down inside anyway. Do you mean by different religions Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Bahai? Or different Christian churches - Catholic, Orthodox, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal? If it's a mix of the latter, then just have him write "Christian". If it was a mixture of two religions, it is okay to write "Muslim and Christian background". Then, I'd start going where you were brought up, or if there is a family you admire, ask them where they go.

Well, what religion DO you observe? This question isn't asking about your denomination or even your beliefs - it's really just asking what holidays you celebrate. So if you observe the traditions of Christmas, Easter, etc., then the answer is Christian. If you observe Hanukkah, then the answer is Jewish.

And in this mulit-cultural world, I wouldn't hesitate to list ALL the religions you observe rather than just choosing one. I'm sure you won't be the only one.

Is this in a public school? I'm kind of surprised they are doing a project on religion.

I think only you can answer this. You didn't give us any information about what two different religions you and your husband were so we don't have much information to go off of.

Dear C., I guess I would start with the religion (if any) your family practiced. If your deceased husband is his father, you may want to tell him about his religion. I do think it is important to give your son a base. He may some day decide on his own to follow or not. I personally am a religion teacher and think it is a good idea to practice something. When times are tough we all need something to lean on..... If none of these apply then start to research some religions. Maybe you will find one that suits you and your son. Grandma Mary

I think the questionaire was to figure out how to observe different "this time of year' celebrations. You could answer honestly and say you observe 2 different ones. I know families that have a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah bush. Stockings, Santa Claus, menorahs and dreidels. Personally I think thats kind of nice. It shows cultural diversity and acceptance.

If you believe in the God of the Bible, who's only begotten Son died on the cross as atonement for our sins and rose again three days later....and that we are saved (through faith) by repenting of our sins and accepting Christ's gift of eternal life....I'd say it's safe to consider yourself Christians. That's a pretty broad term nowadays, but I doubt they were looking for anything too specific.

We can't answer this for you since you didn't say what two different religions you and your husband were nor what you don't feel like you know what you "are" right now.

If both were a form of Christianity (like Methodist and Presbyterian), then say Christianity. If they were opposing religions (like Catholic and Wiccan) then you most likely lean more towards one than the other (especially since your husband is deceased it is probably whatever your religion is) and should say non-practicing but whatever your answer is.

Agnostic, Humanism, No religion but just spiritual. You don't have to have a religion!