|
Elisabeth,
Good questions! We're still trying to figure things out and a lot of it will have to unfold as we go along depending on how our child responds.
We will definitely be clear about the differences between our faiths, especially about the very point you bring up about Jesus. We'll try to be positive on both sides: This is what mom believes...This is what dad believes...Here's where they're the same and here's where they're different.
In some ways I don't see any way around it since the only alternative is for one of us to "hide" our faith. I would rather our child see what we each gain from it and how we live it out.
Right now my husband doesn't attend mass regularly simply because he hasn't found a community where we currently live that really works for him. (He's quite progressive.) So it may be that mass attendance isn't as much of an issue, at least right now. Occasionally we do go to mass with some friends and then I go as well, although my participation is obviously limited. Besides not receiving communion, I say the parts of prayers/songs that I do believe in and don't say the other parts. But I think that can be a model for our child of how you can respect the other faith without fully believing in it.
Any other experiences you or others have of what you've found that works or doesn't would be welcome! I realize it's a complicated and challenging situation and don't mind the hard questions -- they help me to think through it.
Devora
|