My husband and I are preparing to celebrate our second anniversary soon. Our first year of marriage was very difficult, since he is a soldier in the Army and was deployed for most of the year, while I was alone and pregnant in Germany. But we muddled through and feel our marriage is stronger for it.<P>Still, there remains one serious problem that continues to concern us. I am a Catholic, who believes strongly in my faith. I have not attended Church as regularly as I should but look forward to finding a Church that I enjoy attending each week.<P>My husband, though, hails from a Baptist background, but he denys the validity of organized religion. He remains committed to the ideals of Christianity but doesn't believe that God can be found in a Church. Instead, he looks to nature and growing things, enjoys communing with God during hikes and walks in the woods, and prays regulary at home.<P>Now, I am not personally threatened in any way by our difference in faith. I believe strongly that each person must find God in his own way, and I refuse to demand that my husband, or any person, be made to convert to my faith. I can provide the best example possible of faithful living, be open to any of his inquiries about my beliefs, and hope always that he feels comfortable allowing me to practice my faith. Together we have been happy in our marriage.<P>BUT, we have a child, a little girl, that I want very much to guide into my faith. My husband feels strongly that our daughter should not be "forced" to go to Church. He says that she will decide for herself when she is old enough which faith is right for her.<P>I understand his ideas in this matter, and I have no intention of forcing my child to be a Catholic. If, when grown, my daughter, or any of my children, were to express a desire to seek another faith, I would be open to the possibility. I have encouraged my husband to share his religious practices with our child.<P>My husband, though, is threatened by any attempt on my part to share MY faith with our child. I wanted very much for our daughter to be baptized, and my husband "gave in", as he called it, to my so-called "demands" in the matter. He doesn't want me to take my daughter to Church, since that would be "forcing" her to accept the faith of an organized religion.<P>I have attempted many times to explain I am not trying to force her to be Catholic. I simply want to share my own faith with her and know no other way to do so but to take her to Church with me. I am open to my husband's own religious experience being shared with our daughter.<P>I am confused, unsure if I am the one who is incorrect and behaving improperly in this matter. Am I making too many demands in my religious observances with our daughter? Am I behaving improperly in my expectations that I can share my Catholicism with our children and he can introduce his own perceptions of God with our babes as well?<P>Help...

Hi!!<BR>I think it is always difficult to raise children especially if you have different faiths. I would say to you that raising children in a religious environment is the best thing you can give to them and not only religious bit helping them to know who God is is even a better thing to do. Now I understand that you and your husband are not in agreement about what to do with you child right now. I think though that the best thing to think of now is to do what will be best for that child. In my opinion that would be to help the child know God and teach them about Christ and his love for humanity. It is not about where mum or dad goes to church. But at the same time, since you go to church and your H does not go to church, it is better that you take the child to church so they can learn more about Christ. Until the time when the child is grown enough to make their choice I believe you are doing well by taking her to church with you. Bith you and your husband must agree that whether baptist or catholic if the child can get training in the things of God that is more important than what church they go to.<BR>I hope you come to an agreement and wish you all the best as you raise that child in the way of the Lord.<BR>God bless you and your husband!!!