I recently discovered that my ethnicity is not white, but actually Choctaw, so I’ve been reading up on the culture I’ve been separated from for the last four decades. The hardest part of it for me to accept is all the mythology about the Creator, and that fills me with some of the same cultural guilt you described here. I guess I’m in the same position as you somewhat, wanting to stay true to my cultural roots but not wanting to sell out my personal beliefs. I guess it’s sort of like a buffet, where we pick out the stuff we like and add a pinch of salt to the other stuff we know we have to take?

Thanks, Whit. We are doing a variation of #2. However, I also feel like the education part of it is important, so we’re sending him to a Jewish Sunday school. He won’t get a lot of Hebrew, but he should get some idea of the social justice aspect of Judaism, as well as some of the important ideas.

I grew up Catholic. My wife grew up Jewish. But we’re both atheist.

Yet we still expose our son to the traditions of both of our families’ religions. We celebrate Passover and Easter. Hanukkah and Christmas.

It isn’t about whose creator is the correct one, it’s about being with family, and celebrating their traditions with them because we loves them, and this is still part of our identity. How our son will worship, or choose not to worship, will be up to him, we’ll just provide him with all of the best options we’re aware of to make his own choices.

But, man, the presents in December are getting ridiculous.

Really nice piece, very much enjoyed this pleasant and erstwhile read.

I’m an agnostic with atheist leanings. My kids have access to different religions through their grandparents and the diversity of their friends, but for the most part conversations have always been framed around religion as something that other people do.

As for the cultural aspects of my childhood Christianity, namely holidays like Christmas and Easter, we embrace them (Easter less so) in the glad tidings of peace, friends and family, Bing Crosby and Santa sort of way. The boys understand that there are religious reasons for the holidays, and also that many, like us, celebrate them without.

I guess my answer to your question, since you asked, would be #2, although I don’t know that I would even put the “when you’re 18” on it. I’d say, “This is what people believe. This is what I believe. This is why they do this, and this is why I do it. Experience it yourself and do what feels right for you.”

You certainly aren’t alone.