Teaching grandchildren Christian values

I do not like this idea that you have to believe in some mythical being in order to instil good values into your family. Load of tosh,sorry.
I am a non-believer,and my lot have high morals and good understanding of your fellow human beings.

I would not overrule my daughters wishes. Faith is important in our family and I take my DGS to church with my daughters blessing even though she does not attend a church herself.

If she suddenly changed her mind that would be fine - you don't have to talk about your faith to demonstrate it.

Joan, I think you are making an assumption that people who have a faith in the Creator of their lives have not taken a great deal of time to give critical thought and study to one of the most important questions of their lives. Often agonising over the truths which they cannot turn from. I think you do "believers" a disservice in pressuming they have taken an easy path in believing in what you call a "sky friend". Making a decision to become a follower of Jesus is an enormous step of courage. His presence is very real as I said, far from being "made up". Living by a set of ethics is a "good" thing to do and to teach - but I would challenge you to discover where, those ethics we in the western world live by, come from. I think you'll find the root of those ethics are from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
And by the way, He was far from a pacifist.

I don't think anyone assumes that the acquisition of a faith is something that comes with an entirely empty and credible head. Indeed, I would suggest quite the opposite since without knowledge in the first place, you cannot come to an informed decision to disagree about anything. Let alone something as important as faith and religion.

But you still haven't answered my basic question -- are your children happy that you instruct their children in your beliefs?

lucyjordan said 'What i wont do is indoctrinate him and brainwash him into believing that the only truth of our existence is through a god that nobody can prove exists.'

Is it easier then to disprove God by saying were all came from one single cell which then multiplied or a big bang which started the whole thing off? That doesn't make sense to me!
This is a wonderful planet but we are ruining it (us humans!) we think that once we've depleted it of all it's resources we can hop in a spaceship and go and colonize another 'dead' one like the moon which is not fertile!
Thats more difficult to believe than a God who created all the wonders and diversity that we have on planet earth. There is enough food and resources for everyone but it's human greed, envy, lust for more and power that are raping the planet.
I never taught my children about God or anything to do with religion or faith but someone must have been praying for them or something! God was certainly working anyway because they are both Christians without any help from me or their father so we must never under estimate the power of the Almighty and the Holy Spirit! Believe me, I know because it happened to me and in my family.

Pandemonia.....my grandchildren (2 - a boy and a girl), live in Australia. Their parents teach them of Gods love for them and Jesus place in their lives. They would love for my husband and I to teach them too, and until we return home we have to make do by sending books and recording stories for them.

So, if you acknowledge that coming to an informed decision about faith is not taken lightly, perhaps this discussion comes down to the experiential. If, after lengthy study and thought surely the next step is to test this great God of ours. He encourages us to approach Him.....so, approach Him. What is there to lose. If, as you have concluded He does not exist, try Him. Ask Him. I can assure you He WILL answer.

No thank you, Kiwigran. I'm a pagan and proud of it!

Pandemonia ...me too...thank goodness!

Do you realise, even by saying "thank goodness" you are referring to Jesus - you might reject Him, but He'll NEVER reject you.

My two older grandchildren are 10 and 7. They both know about God, Jesus etc and love visiting churches and we have to light a candle for family members no longer with us. None of my grandchildren have been baptized as my younger daughter feels it should be her childrens' decision; her youngest is 15 months. My other daughter has two month old twins.

We live in France with younger daughter, her French partner and three children. In France religion isn't spoken about at school so any religious education is down to family. There are catechism classes held but daughter reckons the children need to decide if they want to learn more.

One of the childrens' favourite places to visit is an abbey near us which is very modern, has amazing architecture and paintings. I think that visiting places is excellent for teaching them about art and culture. We also take them to a world heritage site, an old abbey where they can see where monks slept and they debate as to whether they would be able to live like that.

Our daughter is happy for the children to be exposed to these things as it gives them an insight into religion from a different perspective. When many churches/cathedrals were built the people who built them didn't have the tools we have and the sculputures, paintings and architecture is totally amzing. Discussing such matters with the children is inspiring as they have their views that are very interesting.

Kiwigran...Of course I do. I regularly attended Sunday School throughout my early childhood. Also had the misfortune to be educated in a convent...so I am very familiar with Jesus. I am pleased for you that you have your faith. Long ago, after some serious thought, I chose to live a good life - but not as a member of the Church. Very best wishes

Supernana....It saddens me when I hear stories of a convent education being so brutal, and the harsh discipline which should have no place in teaching young children...let alone the fact they are supposed to represent the face of God. You made the comment - "you are very familiar with Jesus" - please try to separate what was clearly unforgivable treatment from the nuns, leaving you with a distortion of the person of Jesus. I too am no longer a member of any church structure (after many years of church attendance), but like you wanted to live my life as a person of integrity, and by my actions show in some small way the love of Jesus. I have found that "trying to live a good life" in my own strength is virtually impossible, it is only through His strength and leading can anything of value be achieved.
It takes us a lifetime doesn't it to find the peace we all search for. I pray that your search will be fruitful.

Thank you Kiwigran...you really are a good person. I certainly have had a struggle in an attempt to find inner peace but have done so and am very thankful to be sharing it with those I love. Best wishes.

My four children were all brought up in a christian home with christian values, they attended church until they were old enough to make their own decisions and choices. None are church goers now, but I dont think would object to us reading our grandchildren bible stories or sharing the love of Jesus with them. I couldnt imagine my life without my faith, and though I feel I let God down often, I am all too aware he never turns his back on me!

I think it all depends on how they are being brought up and what your children believe-as the grandparent you have to fit in.
When they get to about 8yrs and old enough to have their own opinion then it is fair enough to give alternatives-if they show an interest.

Pandemonia - I do agree with every word. I hope I follow that when talking with my grandchildren. However my Grandchildren and their parents know that Grandad and I are practising Christians who go to Church on Sunday mornings. Also when they stay with us they are expected to come with us to Church and Church functions, which they enjoy very much.

So let discuss why Christian values are any better or different from atheist values. For example:
I explain to my grandchildren that as far as I'm concerned dropping litter, or wasting food, or picking wild flowers are far worse crimes than swearing. They think this is very funny but I think they get the message........

All interesting comments. Every human heart searches and it starts very early with questions. To be able to help a child become a whole person which takes time, we have to help them develop their heart, nurture what is already there - after all we are all made in the image of God. That is to help them with that struggle to be good in every sense and to also help them to pray naturally and intimately - in a way they already have this ability and in fact if we come down to their level we will indeed learn from them.

Quote 'All interesting comments. Every human heart searches and it starts very early with questions. To be able to help a child become a whole person which takes time, we have to help them develop their heart, nurture what is already there -'Unquote

I agree with this, but do not agree with imprinting god and religion on innocent children. Teach them to be good, positive caring people, but it is dangerous to bring religion into it, because when they ultimately reject religion, they might reject the good lessons too - throwing the baby out with the bath water, so to speak.

At a young age i consigned god to the fairy tale part of my memories, along with Santa and the tooth fairy. (I tried much of my adult life to be a believer, but in the end I was unable to suspend disbelief)

Joan I think you are right that we definitely must not impose our own confused ideas of God etc. which is often mixed up with our own journey. But that we can help them open up to the fact that God is Love. Children really have the heart of God and they can teach us so much which is why it is such a privelege to be a Grandparent don't you think?

Whether you believe in God or Jesus or whether you are are churchgoer, it does no harm for children to hear stories from the bible. My grandchildren love to be read stories from a children's bible.

Well, I could never get my head round those stories - and some of them were horrendous.

I'd have been mighty intolerant if my children's grandparents had been caught reading them Bible stories! My son would be equally intolerant of me sneaking my granddaughter off to pagan rituals without his blessing since he firmly believes that she must grow up to make her own decisions about faith. But we both agree that she needs to learn about different faiths and cultures in order that she can, at an appropriate time, make properly informed choices. But "knowing" is not the same as "indoctrinating".

Absolutely not. With me it is the other way round, but if the parents wanted them to be brought up religious I would not discuss my lack of belief.

And yes, I agree with paragraph 3.

To teach christianity or any other faith for that matter, to the children of agnostic or atheist parents would be a betrayal of the parents, unless the parents specifically requested that teaching.

If you go against the parents you are on very dodgy ground. As grandparents you have to fit in-after all if you have taught Christianity to your own child and they have rejected it they are not going to take it well if you try again with the next generation.
If the child asks you and takes an interest when the are older that is different-it may be that the child takes after you. It has to come from the child.