Responding to my post from last night.
@deck16
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post from last night. I guess it would be somewhat fair to call me a bigot, because I do not feel he coach should have been suspended for openly practicing religion, just as we do in classrooms by stating “One nation, under God” when we stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. There were always kids who chose to not recite, and that was their choice, not mine.
I am a parent to 3 children, ages 15, 12, and 5. I have raised them all to lead a Christian life because that is what I was raised as and have chosen. I send them to bible studies, church camps, and religious retreats for all different religions. As my daughters have gotten older, I have encouraged hem to seek out and experience other religions and allow them to decide what is best for them as they are growing. I have also encouraged my children and shown them that everyone believes in what they want to believe, and that they can practice as they please, and should be allowed to without fear of punishment or persecution.
Perhaps I am the minority by believing that everyone has free will and may choose what they want in life. They may choose yo practice or not practice, and I do not judge them for that. If you want to pray yo a mushroom, fine. I hope you find all the happiness in life that you seek from that mushroom. If you pray to Allah, then I hope you find all the happiness in life you seek from Allah. As a Christian, I find all the happiness I seek from God, my Father in Heaven, from Jesus, the Son of the Living God, and The Holy Spirit, my guide. The Triune God is my belief.
My children know that I am encouraging and open with them about others and their religions, just as I am about race, gender and sexual orientation. We are an open family, and love and embrace the broken, the weary, the happy, the sick, the nonbelievers, the believers. I do not shame people for what they are or are not, and I have instilled that on my children. My religion is not the only religion, and I am very aware that Christians make many mistakes. I have my own, but I’m not going to divulge that at this time. I am a sinner, as are you, and you, and you. I’m not going to say that God that I believe in is jut going to give me a free pass through the pearly gates simply because I have confessed my sins. It has to be earned. I also not going to say that its fine to sin because your sins will all be forgiven if you confess and profess your love of God. I don’t teach my children that. I also cannot teach them to live a sinless life. It’s just not going to happen. But what I can teach them is good values, right from wrong, and help them live a life full of love and understanding for others, that they may show others the way. And if others choose to come to them and want to know God and be close to God as my children are because of them, then I have done my job as a Christian parent.