Currently, me and one of my girlfriends are debating about if it’s really necessary to expose her child to Church when she’s in doubt about her own views on God. My answer is yes, it is necessary because knowledge of God and Biblical teachings instills a sense of “what’s right and wrong” in a child. Knowledge of God reveals to the child that there is someone greater than his/her parent watching his/her every move; even when the parent is not present, they still have a duty to behave in an ethical manner. Knowledge of God instills a fear that we just can’t do what we want without facing any consequences, and most rightful religions recognize this.

It’s absurd, in my opinion, to think that there is no God when through observation we see that life cannot begin without a host or someone to on start the process. Most people have doubts about God because like science, nothing can be believed until they have seen it with their own eyes, until it has been proven. But I look at it this way, knowledge of anything causes a person to act (i.e. knowing that in order to get a college scholarship, you have to study hard and get excellent grades; knowing that in order to have a retirement pension later in life, you have to work 20 years and save up, etc..). Knowledge of anything induces a person to react, and those people who doubt God are those who are not ready to live right and turn away from immoral behavior.

Thus, despite my girlfriend’s doubt in God, she shouldn’t deprive her child knowledge of God. Later, as he grows older, he can decide for himself if belief in God is something he wants to continue.

What are your thoughts on this?

For those of you with an interest in teaching your family about God, I found this book to be quite rewarding:

There Is a God, There Is No God: A Companion for the Journey of Unknowing

by Kirvan, John. Sorin Books, 2003

Drawing on The Cloud of Unknowing, Kirvan guides readers to understanding our insistent longing cannot be filled by knowledge and understanding, but only by love.