Who is there? Who listen’s when you call out?

My youngest daughter is busy with a school project at the moment which involves researching three different religions. This weekend we spend time discussing the merits of some of these religions, and the possibility that there could be more than one right way to salvation. We discussed the possibility that the way that we were brought up could be the incorrect way and then pondered the consequences of that. Deep meaningful conversations with young children often make one think like a child again.

The absolute faith of a child is wonderful. This can be seen in the way that little kids seem to be perfectly at ease as their dads toss them high into the air on playgrounds. The same can be said for religion, by 10 years of age the programming is so instilled that even given the assignment to consider other possibilities the so-called “fact” is that there is only one God.

However, showing maturing far beyond their years (or far greater than many adults) my son and daughter came to the conclusion that there is a single creator, who goes by different names but is essentially the same person who has the same message for everyone and everything.

For us, that (he) is called “God”. That is who will answer when we knock. He doesn’t mind who we are or what we do, he made us and he will care for us.

Then the subject of the afterlife came up. The threat of eternal condemnation really terrifies them, however, in their mind it does not make sense. How would any loving caring parent condemn their own child?

The question then arose:

“Why would adults teach children about eternal condemnation, when there is no concrete proof?

Why would the same God reincarnate one group of people but give everlasting life to another?

Who makes all these rules up and speaks on behalf of God, should he not speak to each of us directly?”

I guess the assignment worked and they are starting to think a little wider about other possibilities. Given my lack of knowledge of that which is unknown and unknowable, I could not answer any of their questions honestly. I did smile as I recalled some of my very own questions along those lines. I cannot answer that which I do not know, however, I have faith that they too, as I have, will find their own way, and when they knock the door will be opened.