Posted by rayww on October 3, 2005, at 14:59:39
In reply to religious?, posted by rainbowbrite on October 2, 2005, at 20:46:12
Babies and little children have much more capacity to learn than do adults. Some parents think they should not mention religion to their children until they are adult enough to make a conscious choice. Others think they should teach chilren to pray when they are very young, and help them to develop their own relationship with God.
"Train up a child when he is young and when he is old he will not depart from it" holds very true. I taught my children while they were in the womb, and as soon as they were born I spoke to them in spirit, where I was sure they could feel it. When I looked them into the eyes and told them I loved them I also told them their Heavenly Father loved them. They have always known God loves them. I have always known God loves me. If you call that religious, then we're religious.
When you pray with your child make sure they know you are really talking to God, get into the feeling with your child. Teach them the emotions as you teach them prayer. It provides such a solid foundation for their faith, and if they start out that way, it will stick with them. The spirit can testify to a child as much as it can testify to you or I. Speak softly around children, look at them lovingly, touch them gently, and mention god. They'll make their own connections.
Whether or not you call this being "born" religious, your own belief will still develop over time. And as far as it having to do with an illness, I think you're talking about something entirely different, unless you mean does illness force you to turn to God for help.
People can belong to religion without being religious. If a person is religious they will have private religious behavior; they will pray, they will read scripture, they will be kind, etc.
I don't think I am more religious now than I was when younger. I know more, but I have sinned more, I have seen more, and it's not all religious. Sin has a way of separating us from God until we repent, though God stays with us and helps us along the way. Dena explained it very well. (way to go Dena!)
poster:rayww
thread:562127
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20050811/msgs/562362.html