Explaining God to Kids

[psychoslice]

Really we cannot explain what god is, no one knows what god is, so I think its better to just be honest and tell them that we don't know what is god, but at the same time give our own idea of what god could be, that way we leave it open for the child to make up their own idea in later years. I think that is what you have done anyway.

[peteyzen]

very good advice psycho

I have been asked "Who created God?" by both children and adults.
My basic answer is:


God is eternal.

That which is eternal does not have either a beginning or an ending.
That which is eternal always was, always is, and always will be.

Since God is eternal, God did not have a beginning.
Since God did not have a beginning, God was not created.
And because God was not created, God did not have a creator.


I have found that if I don't rush through it, and simply give them the simple and clear explanation for eternality, most of them get it.

[Amilius777]

I am going to raise my children on Catholicism because that is my Tradition.

I am a huge believer in Tradition.

But I want to teach them in the right direction. I want to teach them that "Your mother and I are giving you a wonderful tradition to follow. But once you reach a certain age it is up to you to decide who or what God is or what you Believe".

I will encourage my children as they grow up in this tradition to constantly criticize, question, grow, and accept what they want.

I think all kids need a tradition to fall back on and to mold their beliefs.

As much as religion is man-made, I do believe that God has allowed religion to be a form or building block for your own personal Realization to be your Self.

But never never call your child- "A muslim child," "a catholic child" "a Jewish child". These are forms of child abuse. My children will be just that. Children. And if they are any of these things they just so happen to follow that Tradition. I would not even force my children anything. Besides majority of religion is "Traditional" just like "Italian Dinners on Sunday" was a Tradition in my Family because we are Italian.

[Tobi]

Originally Posted by Pinkroses

My daughter recently asked me: "If God created us, then who created God?" She wanted to know where he came from and if he had parents too.

I did my best to explain. I told her that no one really knows where God came from, but that some people believe he was always here. I then went on to explain that God is not a person like us. I said that he is a powerful force that is present in all things and all around us. I told her he is kind of like the wind or the air. She seemed to understand, and I hope I helped to explain things without confusing her.

I'm curious about how others handle this topic. For those of you who have children, how do/did you explain God to them?

That explanation would do for me, now, and I'm nearly 60!

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Amilius777

I am going to raise my children on Catholicism because that is my Tradition.

I am a huge believer in Tradition.

But I want to teach them in the right direction. I want to teach them that "Your mother and I are giving you a wonderful tradition to follow. But once you reach a certain age it is up to you to decide who or what God is or what you Believe".

I will encourage my children as they grow up in this tradition to constantly criticize, question, grow, and accept what they want.

I think all kids need a tradition to fall back on and to mold their beliefs.

As much as religion is man-made, I do believe that God has allowed religion to be a form or building block for your own personal Realization to be your Self.

But never never call your child- "A muslim child," "a catholic child" "a Jewish child". These are forms of child abuse. My children will be just that. Children. And if they are any of these things they just so happen to follow that Tradition. I would not even force my children anything. Besides majority of religion is "Traditional" just like "Italian Dinners on Sunday" was a Tradition in my Family because we are Italian.

Tradition, if you were born into another family in a different country, would you still believe in what you do now, and didn't Jeus say not to follow the traditions of man.

Amilleus,
I am also raising my daughter Catholic, although my husband was raised Methodist and is basically agnostic. For a while we weren't going to church at all because we didn't know where we best fit. Then I realized that it didn't really matter. The important thing is to have some sort of religious foundation. Since I was raised Catholic and that's what I know, it seemed natural to teach it to my daughter. However, I am open minded and respect all beliefs, so when my daughter is older she can decide what she believes and follow her own path.

[Amilius777]

No psycolice.

Sometimes I don't know where you get your info.

In fact most of the great teachers Buddha, Jesus, and such kept their religious traditions.

Jesus the Man and Master wanted to reform Judaism, not throw it out. you seem to have an attitude on throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Jesus applied Judaism to his own understanding, not mechanical organized religious form.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Amilius777

No psycolice.

Sometimes I don't know where you get your info.

In fact most of the great teachers Buddha, Jesus, and such kept their religious traditions.

Jesus the Man and Master wanted to reform Judaism, not throw it out. you seem to have an attitude on throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Jesus applied Judaism to his own understanding, not mechanical organized religious form.

Throw it it all out, you don't need it, you are already all that is, you only need to realize it.