Educating a Child in a Multi-Faith Household

Many families today are blended families of not only varied cultural backgrounds, but also even differing religious traditions. Even within a pagan family, one parent may be one path, and the other parent another. It is also becoming increasingly more common for one parent to be pagan, and the other Christian. This need not to cause difficulties. It is a wonderful opportunity for a homeschooling family to explore various cultural and religious beliefs, helping the child form a tolerant view and sense of respect for other people's beliefs and traditions.

For example, many Christian holidays have borrowed extensively from various pagan traditions and holidays from all around Europe. Come Christmas, Valentine's Day, whatever, take the time to dig into the origins of the traditional trappings, and pass along the original beliefs that they sprang from. This is one activity that can lead to all kinds of interesting places and traditions that have lain dormant in the past, but are being revived by modern day pagans. For a good example of this, refer back to my article about Santa Claus here on Suite101 at Pagan Homeschooling. Who knows, perhaps you may find something new relating to your path.

Learning the origins of these old traditions can serve another purpose as well. Seeing the similarities in traditions due to borrowing or usurpation can help a child gain a sense of self, and realise that his family is not weird or unusual. After all, if it was cool enough or popular enough to be copied or outright stolen by another religion, it must be pretty great, right? Nothing is cooler than to be the one to set a trend, and the older religions throughout the ages have done just that.

A child who is raised open minded about matters of faith and tradition is a child who is going to be able to get along with a larger number of people out in the world. Not only will she feel secure in her own chosen beliefs, but her ability to understand and appreciate the beliefs of others will be a big boon to society in general. Don't we all wish that no one judged based on where and how you worshipped? dressed, or the foods you eat? At least as homeschooling parents, we can help ensure that this piece of the dream for humankind is a reality for at least some of us. After all, "an ye harm none, do as ye will".

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