ZWICK 4 PREZ;1791627 wrote:I grew up Catholic. Went to Catholic schools my whole life. Never cared for church really, but I went because it was just what you did. I think I always wanted to believe, but never really did. It seemed like my parents believed and I should to... but for years now I haven't. last 4-5 years I've barely gone to church.. really have half assed it. I take the kids every now and then because I feel like I should and feel bad for not taking them... but lately I just feel like a hypocrite taking them. I don't believe in God anymore.. like I said.. I probably haven't in a long time.. but now it just feels ridiculous to me.
Anyone go thru this?
I have extreme guilt because I feel I should be letting my kids experience it for their selves.. I dunno..
From my experiences growing up, I'd say that if church isn't your thing, the best thing to do is simply give them the opportunity to go if they have an interest in it, but not to try forcing them into it. That was kind of annoying to me as a middle-school age kid.
Right now, my mom is big into her church, but not so much when I was young (didn't really get into it until around when my dad passed away a bit over a decade ago). Back when I was a small child, I remember going to Sunday school with friends a few times and doing vacation bible school or whatever that thing's called in the summer with friends and it was fun. When I got to middle school, my parents decided I had to do confirmation class because it was "good" to be a member of a church. I had no real interest at that time, but had to do it. After that was done, at least I had the choice of whether I wanted to keep going and I didn't. I just remembered it sucked and just ate up time in which I had other things I wanted to do because I had to go to confirmation class, I had to go to church, I had to go to Sunday night youth activities, and so on. After that, I went back to that church once for their high school graduate recognition Sunday and, when I was married, I went to a different church with my wife at that time a few times, but never got into it.
Maybe I never would have gotten into it anyway, but on the other hand, the fact I was forced to go for a period when I had no interest could have soured me on the whole thing to the degree I have no interest in even considering it. For that reason, I wouldn't have them go unless it's something they personally have an interest in, especially considering how many activities there are for parents to get their kids involved with. Better to let them find the ones that suit them instead of shoehorning them into one primarily because of some vague sense of obligation.
