Text 8647, 66 rader
Skriven 2006-09-19 16:36:00 av Robert E Starr JR (9144.babylon5)
Ärende: Re: OT: child communion,
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Ranger Elenopa wrote:
>
> This is very off topic, but I know we have loads of people from
> different backgrounds and religions here.
>
> My church is thinking about the issue of allowing children not yet
> confirmed, to take holy communion. There is to be a meeting to discuss
> this and I would like some information at hand to take to it.
>
> We are Church of England, and traditionally, communion is not taken
> until you are confirmed at about the age of twelve.

As a practicing heathen I offer an outsider's perspective that will
have little to do with the theological issues -

Children need certainty and repetition while they are being raised.
It's why TVs show Barney.  Children also need to participate in
what their family is doing.  It's why we eat those odd shaped cookies
made by our kids as they helped bake.

On the other hand as children age they need a gradual shift from
endless repetition to unique experiences and they need a gradual
shift from certainty to freedom.

So to me, participating in the regular activities at church is about
certainly, repetition, and doing what the family does.  Whether
that should apply specifically to Communion as opposed to other
attendence activities is not something I can judge.  Whether it
should be viewed as the sacrament vs raising with certainty is not
something I can judge.  Whether you'll view it as going through the
motions without understanding vs raising with certainty and family
participation is not something I can judge.

Sometimes it's about the actions not the ideas.  Early in childhood
to me is that sometime.  Sometimes it's about the ideas not the
actions.  If I understand Confirmation and First Communion correctly
that's when it's about the ideas not the actions.

I practiced my faith for 6 years before swearing an oath of life
long friendship with and allegiance to the Aesir.  I attended the
ceremonies and participated and only when I was completely
certain it would be my path for the remainder of my life did I
swear.  I think the idea behind Confirmation is supposed to be
parallel to that concept.  Having practiced attendance and
participation in church long enough, and having reached an age
where informed consent can be given, Confirmation is a public
declaration (of allegiance?  of devotion?  of decision?  No idea
what word for what it's a declaration of).  But in my case it took
years of attendence and participation to know what it was I was
confirming.

There's a lot to the church that isn't Communion.  Is that enough
for making the decision behind Confirmation?  Sure.  But that's
not the issue to me.  To me the issue is a child doing what his/her
parents are doing because that sort of certainty is good for children.

Doug Freyburger <*> moderator soc.religion.asatru
                                     
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