On Interfaith Issues
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It’s Not a Competition: 8 Tips for Interfaith Parents
By Wendy Thomas Russell | July 12, 2012
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In America at least, “mixed-religion” families are becoming a norm. And that’s a great thing in many ways — great for couples, great for kids, and great for society. But it comes with a fair share of complications, too. And figuring out how to talk to children about these different beliefs is one of them. It can be hard, for instance, to field questions of faith when your answers collide with those of your partner’s — “Mommy’s going to heaven, and Daddy is — well, he’s going to the ground.” But these talks (not to mention [...] Read more – ‘It’s Not a Competition: 8 Tips for Interfaith Parents’.
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On Tom, Katie and Interfaith Families
By Wendy Thomas Russell | July 9, 2012
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To answer your first two questions: Yes, I’m going there; and, no, I’m not above it. Now, back to TomKat. If media reports are to be believed — and let’s say they are for the sake of this conversation, shall we? — actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have split up based, in part, on a dispute over the religious upbringing of their 6-year-old daughter, Suri. In case you are reading this from under a rock somewhere, Cruise is the highest-profile Scientologist in the history of Scientology, and Holmes — well, she ain’t. (I’ve read she [...] Read more – ‘On Tom, Katie and Interfaith Families’.
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Religious Parent, Secular Child: The New Culture Clash
By Wendy Thomas Russell | May 14, 2012
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I was quoted in the New York Times Magazine’s Sixth Floor Blog a couple of weeks ago, which, admittedly, is not the same as being quoted in the New York Times — or even the New York Times Magazine — but, hey, I’ll take it where I can get it. The writer singled me out because she liked my term “first-generation secular,” which she read in the Psychology Today piece I told you about here. The NYTMSFB’s mention has me thinking about that term — “first-generation secular” — and what makes it so appealing. I think it’s because so many of us [...] Read more – ‘Religious Parent, Secular Child: The New Culture Clash’.
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7 Tips for Dealing with Religious Relatives
By Wendy Thomas Russell | February 23, 2012
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I’m lucky to have a supportive family. Even my religious family members respect and accept me for who I am. But that’s not always the case. Some of us are facing relatives who are heartbroken about our lack of faith — incredulous, fearful, maybe even angry. For parents, this is an area that weighs especially heavily. We want so much to encourage our children to have open, meaningful relationships with our loved ones, but we worry our kids will be pressured to believe things that aren’t true, or may even be harmful. No one wants to expose [...] Read more – ‘7 Tips for Dealing with Religious Relatives’.
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‘Dear Abby’ for the Heathen Set
By Wendy Thomas Russell | December 5, 2011
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If you happen to fall somewhere toward the non-believing end of the religious spectrum, you’ve probably had a chance to see first-hand how complicated life can be there. Sure, you’re comfortable, happy and confident with your world view. But you’re also in a position to deal with perception issues, familial struggles, disagreements with society at-large, and uncertainty about bringing up kids in what amounts to a 21st Century counterculture. Questions are bound to arise. And when they do, Richard Wade answers them. Wade is the author of “Ask Richard,” the country’s most well-known advice column for nonbelievers. His column [...] Read more – ‘‘Dear Abby’ for the Heathen Set’.
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