Sunday , in the early 1960's was for the most part, boring, there was nothing to do. Nowhere was open. We all had to attend St. Cuthbert's Catholic church, which, some architect with a severe evil streak, decided would look great attached to the junior school, we attended. After that torture (for me...all the rest of my family are still believers), we would go and visit Gran and Grandad, which was the highlight of the day. My Gran always did a lovely Sunday high tea; biscuits , cake, salmon and cress sandwiches, ham, pickled onions, and so on...then later, Grandad would get us ice cream. Apart from being bored out of my mind in church , the biggest downer was knowing I was back at school the following day. It really was like Pink Floyd's "The Wall".

The Onedin Line ? I go back further than that . We didn't even have a telly .

What a lovely story. The thing my family did religiously on Sunday was to watch "60 Minutes."

I was raised on PBS and science.

Many of my relatives were religious and I've always been fascinated with their blind acceptance and marveled at how hypocritical it was. All reigiongs are destined to hypocracy. But, we're all hypocrites in one way or another. However, to hear my aunt's and uncles spout off about god and the, in almost the same breath say something hateful.......I was astounded and I didn't think Jesus would have spoken that way.

My father was raised Catholic but always thought it was b.s. My mother was not religious either. I don't remember her ever claiming an affiliation. What I do remember is that my fathers family was very upset that he wasn't marrying a Catholic. Mom and dad had to go to catholic marriage class. Their last class came after the priest told them mixed marriages never work. He was right. Its been 63 years of he'll. They're still married. I recall my mother telling me that her dad said he didn't care what religion she chose as long as she was a (liberal) Democrat. They have a beautiful relationship.

I'm very lucky in that I've been married since 1997 to a wonderful person. I got married a little young though. I was only 37. But my wife gave me three almost perfect children..and all at the same time.

One grave concern for both of us was religion and children. My wife is a devout Christian. I've always been an atheist leaning agnostic and I was adamant about not allowing my children to be indoctrinated into some religion. She wanted them to go to church every Sunday. I acquiesced providing I got equal time. I took them to Buddhist temples, introduced the to my Muslim friends and Jewish friends. I respect all religions and I envy the sense of peace it brings so many. I'm off on a tangent. Sorry.

So, my wife remains a devout Christian, my fist son I refer to as an evangelical atheist. He can become a pain in the ars by ferverantly explaining atheism and almost trying to convert people. My second son is a foxhole Christian. He start praying to God with great passion when he's in trouble. My daughter, who goes to church with her mother every Sunday she can is an agnostic. She goes to church to watch over the little children. Our kids are 18 now.

I just want them to be respectful of others beliefs, fight the urge to laugh either out loud or to yourself (because really, so much is absurd to the point of being funny, I mean Thta's) and keep an open mind. Pick and choose from religions those grains of truth that speak to you because all religions have profound thoughts, rules for guiding one's life and useful idioms for every day life.

Honor Thy mother and the father. Shit! That's the one I wanted to teach them. Now I remember. No wonder.