Tuesday, December 18, 2007

More Existential Crises with 5 and 6 year olds...

Supergirl and her friend got into an argument while we (the mothers) were sipping wine in the sunset (the last one seen before the current flooding I might add).
Lolly came running up to her mama and, with much drama, said that she was:
So so sad. Because Supergirl said that she did not believe in god. (or God - either one) And this made her very very sad. (small sob)
And her mama, being a spiritual woman who also is a dear friend, said that: It was okay. Supergirl didn't have to believe the same things as Lolly, and it was totally and completely fine. We love all of our friends, and if they believe something different from what we believe, it doesn't make either one right or wrong, and it doesn't make anything different about the fact that we love each other. (well said, don't you think?)
After that, Supergirl, obviously grappling with the power of the situation, the mystery of the object, and the sincere desire to make her friend feel better, offered this:
Lolly, I don't believe in god, but I like him! I really like him! It's weird, and I don't know how to explain how I don't believe in him, but I really do like him! And Jesus? I don't believe in him either but I like him. I mean I sort of believe in Jesus because he was a little baby and that was nice, and I like babies. But I don't really believe in him. Okay?

Wow.

Okay.

9 comments:

Cindy said...

We're pretty much on the same page in terms of belief and I'm sure are setting up Sophie for a similar encounter sometime, especially when we visit family behind the Orange Curtain. A few summers ago, one of Sophie's cousins informed us that "if Jesus isn't your best friend, then you don't have any real friends." Seems he learned that in bible day camp (wouldn't you yank your kid right out of there??). Sophie asked if it was true, and I said "No, honey, that's total bullcrap. What about people of different religions. Do they not have friends? Think about it." Thank goodness my sister still talks to me.

Denise said...

Wow what maturity for a child her age. Kudos for Lolly's mom for her answer.

Lin said...

Wow squared (to Lolly's Mum and Supergirl) with cherries on top!

Anonymous said...

Why do you celebrate Christmas?

gwendomama said...

hey anon -- i celebrate christmas because i LIKE it. i don't have to believe in it.
do you like santa claus? do you believe in him?

Anonymous said...

i think you celebrate to not feel left out.

Geener said...

I think people "celebrate Christmas" for a lot of different reasons. For one thing, Christmas eve and Christmas day are paid holidays for most people - in my office this means the Christians, Hindus, Muslims, aetheists, Buddhists,... we all get those days off. We'll spend the time off in different ways. But I think most people like to have the opportunity to be festive and spend time with family and friends. My family hasn't exchanged gifts with each other since 1983, the year my dad died. That year it was impossible to celebrate anything (even though 6 months had already passed since his death). And then we decided we kind of liked not exchanging gifts so we never did again. But that doesn't mean I don't like receiving a gift or giving a gift if I am inspired to. I never go to church anymore, but I very much like the teachings of the carpenter/prophet Jesus, although I don't believe in a fire and brimstone God. When I hear certain religious songs that are sung during Christmas I think about the unwed mother Mary, and Joseph who loved her even though she was pregnant with another man's child. That kind of thing didn't sit well with people back then. I'm mean, Jesus H. Christ, she had to give birth in a stable! Anyway, Anon., I don't think Gwendomama and family are celebrating to not feel left out. This is a family who have experienced death of their parents, family members, friends, and together their child, so I can assure you they do not 'celebrate to not feel left out'... they celebrate because they know the time to celebrate is when you are alive. Don't save your celebration only for occasions that you feel you can justify to someone else. Fucking loosen up.

Loretta said...

Geener,

You sound like a wounded soul. I can tell because you mask your pain with your anger. I don't think anonymous meant to hurt. He or she was just voicing his opinion. I'm concerned with this geener fellow to blow it so out of proportion. Jewish people have paid Christmas break as well. Do they whip out their Santa hats? Poor boy named geener...

gwendomama said...

hey geener, look! anon got an account to stick up for himself and is calling himself loretta! good on you, 'loretta'!