Don't toke nutmeg [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]Phil, I'm sure I said no jokes in this thread please. Oh...maybe you're serious! :D Did you actually try that?</font>[/QUOTE]Sorry dude but you did leave yourself wide open, consider myself spanked ;)

They're all Christian denominations Mellagar. ;)

Trickster, it's simple:

in our family my brother and i were raisedd with Christianity (Anglican to be precise), including confirmation/communion/etc.... Hell, even our first names were taken out of the Bible

Now, he's an atheist, I'm a shaman. But that doesn't matter. We had a decent vicar and the only point was to provide a moral grounding at childhood. After that didn't matter

My suggestion? Raise the kids with the best ideals of Christianity, but don't ram it down their throats or let them go to extremist meetings. Even if they leave it in later life they will have had some ethical backgrgound [img]smile.gif[/img]

They're all Christian denominations Mellagar. ;) </font>[/QUOTE]He's right about that Mellagar
though they are different, and as such have caused a war or 2, these are actually all Christianity
Different religions are religions like the Islam (which has 2 versions aswell) Judism, Buddism, Hinduism, Taoism and the almost extinct Polythism

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To you trickster

I've been send to a katholic school by my mother, not because of any believe she had, but just because it was closer to home.
All we ever did about religion was, have a pastor come over once every 2 weeks and tell us some bible stories and such, and ofcourse saying a short prayer each morning.
my katholic school may have had influence on the way i am today, but I'm still an atheist.
I recommend you to send your child to a school of which you know, they teach about multiple religions (which shouldn't be to confusing for the child because judism, islam and christianity all have one god which they explain differently) and you child can make a decition of it's own
You just have to make sure that both you as your wife accepts your childs decition.
Forcing your child to go to church or to be a christen, will only make him dislike his religion.
But eventhough i dont have a religion, i think having a religion, having someone or something to turn to in time of trouble can be very rewarding and usefull

as said Ignorence can be a Bliss

when it comes to the kids issue, just tell them what you belive (aka, there is no god) then let them make up there own minds. thats the only advice i can give you [img]tongue.gif[/img]

As long as your wife isnt forcing her views on you then her religion shouldnt be a problem , unless you make it one. Children are a more complicated subject though. I guess you will have to plan ahead about what you 2 will teach them.My parents did the whole go to church and sunday school thing with me and my brother. THe more I went the less sense it made to me , so I stopped going. My brother on the otherhand went on to do church services and help out with the sunday service. In the end it realy boils down to what wil make you and your wife fight the least because kids will always do what they want to anyway.

Just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone that responded to this. It's been great seeing other people's point of views, and I guess Alison and I have some ideas to talk about.

Thanks again,
Ben.

I dont s'pose you've considered tellin em (you children to be or whatever) "I believe one thing <reasons why > your mother believes another; ask her to explain"...? that way you've both put across your views without insulting each other, kind of. just a thought.

Trickster, I would like to add something. Diversity is good ! [img]smile.gif[/img] In a couple, and more so for children. The more different people a child meets, the more he grows up able to make his own mind. You will actually be giving your children more freedom to make their own choices. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Having different beliefs in a couple can appear as less secure and comfortable, but it is also more exciting and mind-broadening, as long as both of you respect each other's beliefs. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ben, I agree with what some others here have said - it will be good for your children to grow up in an environment where different views and opinions are voiced and respected and they will probably grow up to be tolerant and understanding of differences.

The 'I believe this, your mother believes something different' is a completely acceptable and honest answer, no-one said that parenting was about providing a unified 'this is the only way to do things' outlook.