I think I agree to an extent, waving it nicely like a flag in a gentle breeze can indeed lead to beautiful things (almost the whole history of fine arts is there to remind us of that) and perhaps a more peaceful understanding of others. The problem comes when it's confused with shaking it violently or hitting people with it, which happens a lot on all sides.
And this works if everyone keeps an open mind, for instance I'm now agnostic bordering strongly on atheist but I used to be a wiccan, and our rituals often included the names of other deities, mostly Christian saints. We obviously used them with respect, yet this might be offensive to people who think there should be only one way of worshipping the same entities. It feels like religion or the absence thereof is a mine field.
Absolutely not! My Dad even wanted to be a catholic priest at some point x)
We were raised as neutrally as they could so we could chose what we wanted later on. Two of my sisters and now my father are atheists (the sisters are now shitting on everyone who has a religion but my Dad is the nice kind of atheist), the last sister and my Mom believe in most concepts of catholicism but not the dogm.
Only my parents and the last sister know about me and wicca, even though my father doesn't understand it we accept and respect each other's views. One sis however saw a folder of rituals in my computer and asked "don't you mean crap?" so yeah I don't see the point of arguing with that... but I'm glad you find it neat, it brings balance :D
That's a nice upbringing (a part from your sisters I'm sorry they don't respect your beliefs). I guess I'm an atheist (the nice one, I don't believe in anything but I don't mind if you do, type of one) but I've always found wicca a really nice religion because it seems more about self-awareness and love and respecting the earth. I don't know a great deal about it though.
There is a difference between "These are all the religions that people choose to adopt or not, and as a family/person we/I have chosen to believe in this one for x and y reasons. You are your own person and can adopt it too IF you feel like it's the thing for you" and "Follow us to church now because you have to as a good (whatever religion), and light this candle like we told you to, and say your prayer before you can eat, and have that picture of that one Saint hanging on your wall without knowing why, just because we chose for you that you will be a (whatever religion) and we are making you think that you will suffer by your religion's divine entity if you're not being a good (whatever religion)". I don't mean to sound offensive. I am basing my answer on personal experiences and differences I notice among my immediate and extended family.
At the same time, it's ok to only bring your children to your choosen church. Just explain the why of the ceremonies as well as the how; and do your best to answer their questions when/if they ask about other religions.
And this works if everyone keeps an open mind, for instance I'm now agnostic bordering strongly on atheist but I used to be a wiccan, and our rituals often included the names of other deities, mostly Christian saints. We obviously used them with respect, yet this might be offensive to people who think there should be only one way of worshipping the same entities. It feels like religion or the absence thereof is a mine field.
We were raised as neutrally as they could so we could chose what we wanted later on. Two of my sisters and now my father are atheists (the sisters are now shitting on everyone who has a religion but my Dad is the nice kind of atheist), the last sister and my Mom believe in most concepts of catholicism but not the dogm.
Only my parents and the last sister know about me and wicca, even though my father doesn't understand it we accept and respect each other's views. One sis however saw a folder of rituals in my computer and asked "don't you mean crap?" so yeah I don't see the point of arguing with that... but I'm glad you find it neat, it brings balance :D