On Faith

This is a difficult post. And it has been a difficult time for my family on this subject.
Why bring it up? We now attend an awesome preschool coop with a Waldorf focus. I love the early childhood Waldorf philosophy, there are certainly things that aren't great about Waldorf philosophy, but in general for early childhood it nurtures the "whole child" and creates a true environment for creativity, imagination, and natural inner development.
Anyway, the Waldorf philosophy is great in that it allows parent and child to learn about many of the Christian cultures, festivals and their background as well as many other religious holidays. (Instead of trying to play nice and ignore them!)
This weekend we'll celebrate May Day, there's Michalemas, Christmas, so on... so I am glad to teach my children what it is and why it is we celebrate the way we do.

However, because of the changes my sister has faced with her faith, my family has been assessing their own beliefs and what it is that we value and believe in. One should not have to justify their faith, and I am certainly one to not "judge" others. But when it gets to a point where a person is not the person they were and has quickly morphed into someone else, sheltering themselves away...and that person is family, it is hard not to judge and you begin to question why some people value their faith.

When does a religious organization turn into a cult?
When they do not give or look outside themselves (think no mission work, no moneys to others in their community)
When the "leaders" have no higher educational background, and are not trained at all for their teachings. (Teaching that birth control to young women is not acceptable as well as certain clothing, makeup, jewelery, hair styles...)
When everyone is just as sweet as pie and as nice as can be.
When they claim not to judge, but the belief is that they are the "one true" faith, that only they will be accepted in heaven.

These are just SOME things that go over and over in my head every day. How does one person change their beliefs so quickly and so drastically... when they are hurt? Desperate? Recovering from loss?

These are lessons I will value in teaching my daughters strength. The importance of empathy, of having an open mind and experiencing life around them. I only hope my girls will be strong willed and believe in themselves enough to know that whatever type of god you believe in, he or she is looking at us smiling knowing we were given life and that life is what you make of it!