Question regarding conversion...please keep it civil

**chosen** · 01-27-2008

I have a question...and this is directed at everyone..no matter what faith you practice..What would you do if an adult child of yours..son or daughter came to you and said they were going to change their religion..convert from the religion they were raised in...they are not thinking about it..they have already decided..

**chosen** · 01-28-2008

it is not a cult that she is converting to....and quite frankly I do not consider it a conversion..I told her it takes years of study to understand a religion enough to convert to it...This is why I am worried about her..I can not tell her not to get married..she is an adult..I can tell her I wish for her to wait..I can tell her I have concerns..and as aalways I can tell her I will always love and support her...but the ultimate decision is hers

**Mishko** · 01-29-2008

Originally Posted by chosen

No...not islam....would rather not state anymore than that...My daughter is a very smart girl...very strong and very opinionated..(thank god)...the boy she is marrying is a good man..educated, works hard...treats her like gold...the problem is I am worried about what will happen when the children start comming....children have a way of making people re-examine their religious beliefs..they magnify everything..I have a distinct feeling I will be bailing her out of a bad situation..

I'm really impressed with your approach! I think it is the attitude and engagement in any religion that is more important than the religious label itself. But you are right that the arrival of kids may bring up more issues around it.

I'm not even a parent so I can't comment much, but I hope to bring my kids up with a humble, respecting attitude towards God and an interest and appreciation in various religions.

My only advice would be to approach it positively and not just hide your fears. You will have a very important role not just to your daughter and son inlaw, but your grandkids too. It would be great if this could be a uniting, encouraging role rather than a divisive one (I'm sure it will be - the former I mean).

**snakelegs** · 01-29-2008

this just seems to belong here:

"And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."

- khalil gibran