Christian or Jewish??

In any case, my point was that I can imagine ways a person could hold two faiths without feeling a conflict between them.

from the original post...
it appears that the niece is practicing some of the traditions of a religion-gifts, holidays, etc...

I think that is different than having a faith/ conviction- that is what your soul is grounded in....what guides your choices

I would think if they can balance the two faiths, more power to them, though I think it must depend on what the ultimate 'take' is on religion in general for the couple/family.

I know of a couple that can't successfully balance the differences between Lutheranism and Catholicism (two religions which are not that drastically different), so I think it also really depends on the people involved.

To make it even more confusing, there is a Jewish sect that believes in Jesus Christ.

I can see BOC's take on the subject. In my area, there are a disportinate amount of Catholic to Protestant.

I was raised Methodist, my children's father a Catholic. I was willing (then) to convert, however, his faith led him to the Methodist church. I believe, and this belief may be wrong for others, that the mother will have a tendency to instill her faith rather than the opposite. My late mother-in-law said "as long as you believe in God son, that is all I ask of you or your children."

I work with a girl whose father is Jewish and mother is Christian.

I asked her if she was confused about things when she was growing up. She said that she was never confused.

She went to church with her mom on Sundays and to temple with her dad on Saturdays.

She leans more one way than the other but she was able to make an informed choice.

(This is weird. Julie and I just talked about this on Friday.)

schutte, Wow whar a hot potato topic.
I was raised Catholic, married a greek orthodox.
his father said he disown our newborn baby if we did not connvert to their religion. ppainfull hurt full confusing to kids. i even sent them to a babtist church. they were lively and the children loved it.
divorced the Greek Orthodox man , married a bitter roman Catholic raised man.
he constantly poo pooed any religion. Now my 10 yr old doesnt want to go to church anymore.
It seems the dominant religion wins.
I hope yours is the dominant one.xox good luck
in the end my older 2 boys chose no religion.

Although I so rarely get here anymore, I was so happy to find this thread so close to the top when I was able to get here, however briefly, this night.

I so appreciated Shutte’s earnest question, as well as everyone’s replies. However, as is so often the case, Bride of Cow expressed my feelings practically to the letter.

I should only like to add that No, I don’t believe “confusion” is caused by celebrating *both* Christmas and Hanukkah. Hanukkah (“The Festival of Lights”) is so straight-forward a religious commemoration (and one with which I wish more Christians were more intimately acquainted, as Jesus Himself, as a dedicated Jew, surely was) that I can’t imagine why its celebration would ever be the least bit threatening to Christians.

As a mother who is dedicated to imparting to her children what matters most in religious philosophy spanning both the Jewish and Christian traditions (they are descended from both, as am I), I can tell you that what is confusing to a child is *not* rooted in December’s "Jewish" tradition versus December’s “Christian” tradition.

What confuses children the *most* is what lies within *Christianity’s* December tradition. There is the Christmas Tree (a charming, but undeniably Pagan tradition), Santa Claus (a highly commercialized figure, who even at his best, is neither G-d nor Jesus), Christmas Stockings (another charming tradition, but nonetheless failing to have anything to do with Jesus’ birth), Fruitcakes (another lovely tradition, but having nothing to do with Christianity), and Gingerbread Men (need I say more?). The truth of the matter is, even after we admit to children (at roughly the age of 8, if not before) that Santa Claus does NOT exist, how do we then assure then them that G-d very much DOES?

Things are indeed confusing to children, but not for the reasons too many people assume.

Meanwhile, the Talmud defines the “Righteous Man” as a compassionate man. Jesus did the same. How I wish we all could, at the very least, agree on that score.

Chammy, I find no conflict between Santa Claus and Jesus' birth having so much focus on Christmas. They go hand-in-hand since Santa Claus is not some fat jolly guy who brings you whatever you desire, as much as he's a very generous and kind man who gives to those in need during a holiday of joy. At least, that's what I've always taught my dd about Santa...

BTW, good to see you!!! :o)

my cousin married a jewish gal..they were married for 18yrs and then divorced as far as i know the children weren't confused..

I have grown up both with Catholicism and Judism and am comfortable with both. I often see my religious logic is intermingled with the two. It's what I've grown up with and it's ok by me.

I was born Jewish but never really practiced. I married a Methodist, and our 33rd wedding anniversary is this coming Saturday. We have 2 grown children. DS is Jewish, in a permantent relationship with a Jewish girl. They will probably marry in 2007. DD just got married. Not sure what religion her new DH is, but they are very happy. His step mother is Jewish, his dad is not. We all just kinda do our own thing. I would like to go to a conservative church at some point. I think that would be good for me in my life. We have never had confusion in our house. We just do our own thing.