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We have the EXACT same problem ....with both sides. My DH's family are sort of ( my words) fundamentalist atheist. They are not just atheist....they are very passonate about it and really don't think that anyone else could possibly feel any other way ( unless you think the world is flat). They are all scientist...I completely understand how they feel. DH is Buddhist in that he is an avid reader and follower of teachings of Buddha. My family are religious Christians. I am sort of a non-denominational Christian ( Unity), but really believe more in the importance of knowing all religions as a way of understanding different cultures in the world ( as opposed to believing any of the doctrine, which I cannot really say that I do). Well, the philosophy of Unity is pretty close to where I am spiritually......
anyway....My DH's family would be shocked to find out that my DS has ever been to a church. My parents cannot believe that my DS doesn't know anything about church. I do let my parents bring DS to church when they are visiting just like I allow our nanny to teach DS prayers from Islam. My DH has a children's book that explains some of the teachings of Buddha and he reads that to DS. I am not sure what DS thinks about religion in terms of what he is ( probably thinks he is Moslem...but I really don't know). He also loves Ganesh, but he really doens't know much else about Hinduism.
My only dilemma is that I do believe there is an important cultural lesson in religion. I am AA and in my community the church is very central to culture. The music, songs, preaching style etc., are all ways that we express our culture and right now DS knows nothing about it. I don't want to teach something I don't believe in so going to church every week ( one that would provide the cultural thing) would be difficult for me ( and of course the in-laws would disown us for being so backward).
I have no solution----I just wanted to say that I understand.
In the end---do what you believe--
Lexie
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