11/13/02

The Spiritual Chicks^SM Speak Out!
Do I need to send my kids to church?

No, but you can if you want to. Even parents who aren't thrilled with religious dogma and haven't been to services in years can still be confused about whether to provide their kids with traditional religious training. It's only natural to want to expose children to religion for its ethical and spiritual value, but churches, synagogues and mosques aren't the only places where kids can learn these things. Exposing a child to the One Life Principle-the idea that there is a single underlying power in the universe, but its expression takes many forms-and demonstrating the power of the this principle in your own life, is a pretty great way to inculcate a sense of personal responsibility, compassion, empathy and love for all sentient beings in your kids.

Religion is fabulous when you really know what it means, but unfortunately it's not always that attractive on the surface. Mainstream Western religion whether it's Christianity, Judaism or Islam, provides strict rules and regulations and promises terrible punishments for those who do not comply. The concepts of sin, hell, infidel, heretic, and the idea that somehow each of these religions is comprised of God's "chosen people" do not encourage a sense of universal community. The One Life Principle, on the other hand, teaches simply and exactly that we're all spiritual because we're all Spirit and what you put into the world you get out of the world. From this perspective, cause and effect is not a punishment. It's natural law. Kids who learn what this means may not be so quick to pick on other kids, take drugs or steal. In fact, they may develop courage, faith, love and a steely determination to follow their own hearts. A few may even become living examples of what our greatest religious leaders taught and change the world. Hallelujah.