How do you explain what religion is to a 7 year old, especially the concept of God?

[Krypton]

My mother-in-law is a Chruch goer (Catholic) and my youngest has expressed a wish to go to Church with Grandma and asked "What is church about?".

I hold no religious beliefs of my own, but equally don't want to poo-poo the idea or paint such belief in God as weird or wrong - I'd rather let the kids work it out for themselves. So how do I explain God and worship and what Grandma goes to church for to a 7 year old's concept of the world?

Assuming there will be a fair few parents on here who have already passed this milestone with their own little terrors, can you give me a simplified version that won't generate a dozen more questions? (and yes, I do realise how wrong that last part is - they always have more questions!!!)

Thanks.

 

[BSRU]

Just tell them God, which ever one you are going to tell them about, lives with the fairies and Santa Claus.

 

[ChrisKH]

Just tell them God, which ever one you are going to tell them about, lives with the fairies and Santa Claus.

Not very helpful.

You could let her attend Mass a few times if it's what she wants. She's more likely to get bored than find God.

 

[Archie_tect]

We explained to ours that there is no right or wrong religion, and treated religion as a series of ideas that people had and told them about the main faiths. We are aetheists [if we have to have a label!] and have left our children to decide for themselves as they got older [now 22 and 19!]

We've explained to them over the years that the main idea to draw from religions is the personal moral code that everyone has and how that should form the basis of how you treat people- that they should react to, and respond to people in the way that they would like to be treated by others and that that should form the way they dealt with any situation: to be aware of their personal responsibility and let their conscience mould how they respond.

All our parents would class themselves as Church of England but apart from school Christmas plays our children have had no organised religious input.

 

[swee'pea99]

Easy. Same answer as to all difficult questions from young'uns: Ask your mother. 

 

[BSRU]

Not very helpful.

You could let her attend Mass a few times if it's what she wants. She's more likely to get bored than find God.

But true, it exists in people's imagination, just like fairies/Santa.

If you are going to teach a child about religion/God you need to teach them about all the major religions/Gods/belief systems.

 

[jack the lad]

I had the same dilemma when my kids wanted to go to Sunday School when they were little because all their friends did. As a woolly liberal not wanting to indoctrinate my children I was prepared to let them go and make their own mind up. I also thought it was important to be honest with them and tell them that some people believe in god, but I don't. If they ever asked about god I told them they would have to ask Mrs Jones, because I didn't know anything about it. If they asked me about what I believed I would tell them and talk to them about it. They got bored with it after a few months. They have grown up to be well adjusted critically thinking adults and, as far as I know, there was no lasting damage! Granny might be a more potent long term influence than a Sunday School teacher, but you shouldn't wrap them up and censor what ideas they can receive. Your role is to give them the skills to deal with competing ideas.

 

[Archie_tect]

No evidence = faith

... equally we can't say that faith in something is misplaced.

 

[ChrisKH]

But true, it exists in people's imagination, just like fairies/Santa.

If you are going to teach a child about religion/God you need to teach them about all the major religions/Gods/belief systems.

No, what you are seeking to do is to impose your world view on a child without letting them decide. The fact you have already made a decision or judgment yourself shouldn't necessarily come into it, unless they ask your view IMO.

 

[rich p]

I told mine that if they believed in that mumbo-jumbo they'd go to hell.

 

[BSRU]

No, what you are seeking to do is to impose your world view on a child without letting them decide. The fact you have already made a decision or judgment yourself shouldn't necessarily come into it, unless they ask your view IMO.

No, if you teach them about all the major belief systems, including "athiesm" then the are in a more informed position to make up their own mind. Teach them to be analytical and question everything.

 

[ColinJ]

No, what you are seeking to do is to impose your world view on a child without letting them decide. The fact you have already made a decision or judgment yourself shouldn't necessarily come into it, unless they ask your view IMO.

People impose their views on children all the time. What age should they be allowed to start having sex, what drugs can they take and when, what can they wear, where is it safe for them to ride their bikes, what websites can they visit and so on...

If your world view is that religion is harmful, wouldn't you have a duty to try and put your child off getting involved? Maybe you think that the Catholic church is okay, but would you also be okay with children going along to meetings of some (other!) weird cult? 

 

[Archie_tect]

Only tell a child something that you would be happy them telling to their teacher in front of the whole school.... "My dad says....." Cringe.

 

[numbnuts]

Most Catholic services have children's liturgy before the reading (half way through the Mass) and she would be there with other children, but she may not want to go on her own, but her Grandma could stay with her.

 

[byegad]

I told mine that if they believed in that mumbo-jumbo they'd go to hell.

I hope you will let me use this one. Love it!