How to Raise a Child With Multi- Religious Parents
In today's society, it isn't as stress to marry of your own religion, at least as it once was. Although, many Catholic parents want their children to marry Catholic, and Jewish parents want their children to marry Jewish.
It's just not always the case. You can't help who you fall in love with, whether it's someone of the same practiced religion or another.
But, what do you do when you decide to have kids? How do you raise them? Jewish? Catholic? Christian? Hindu? Or whatever religion you may practice?
You may keep your religious beliefs and your partner may keep his, but do you want your children to practice your beliefs or your spouses?
Religious Practices
Because different religions practice different diets, traditions, and hold different beliefs towards God, it can be hard to decide how your family will run and how you will raise children.
Do you convert to Judaism? Do you make your spouse convert to Catholicism? Or do you just choose another religion to practice?
The holidays are different. The practices are different.
The basic beliefs of Judaism are that there is one and only single, omniscient transcendent God who created the universe and governs it. According to Jewish beliefs, God established a covenant with the Israelites and revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. Traditionally, the study and practice of Judaism includes the observance and study of God's laws, the Torah.
The basic beliefs of Christianity are that there is on God who created the universe. He is the father of Jesus Christ. The religious believes are centered around the teachings of Jesus as he was presented in the New Testament.
Raising a Family
There are pretty much only two options when you and your spouse practice different religions.
- One of you choose to convert to the other religion.
- You make compromises and find ways to practice the more important elements of both religions.
No matter what religions you and you partner are there is always room to convert or to make compromises. So, it's up to you and your spouse to decide how to raise your family.
In many cases, if you or your spouse is going to convert, the conversion is done prior to marriage, which means that you and your spouse will both practice the same religion, and so you will raise your children in the religion.
When you convert to a different religion, you will need to contact people in that community and the rabbi, priest, father or the highest position in the church to find out the "rules" and steps of how to convert over.
Otherwise, couples make compromises. I find more couples make compromises in regards to practicing religion versus convert.
Making Compromises
When making compromises towards raising your children in a practiced religion, you may consider some of the following compromises.
- Practice both Hanukah and Christmas.
- Practice Easter, as it is an important Christian holiday.
- Consider making trips to the Synagogue, Confessions, and equivalent of church for the religion.
- For religions that offer Saturday church sessions, you may consider going Saturday church, but then Sunday church, as well.
As for diets, the Jewish diet is a little more constrained, so when raising children, you may consider a limited Jewish diet until they are older and can choose what they want to eat.
As, I am not fluent, by any means, in the practices of the different religions, you and your spouse will need to get together and make your own compromises.
Try to include the major holidays in both religions.
If you have any other suggestions, please add them below.
