What should parents do to teach religion to their children. Do they have a right to 'force' them in religion?

Question

We all want our children to have the same beliefs as us?
What is the best way to teach them??

But what if they don't follow our thinking?? Do we have the right to "force" our children to follow our religion? Ie go to Sunday school, or to the mosque etc...?

How would you feel if you were a christian and your child wanted to become a Muslim? Or if you are an atheist and you child decides to be an evangelist christian for example??

What would you do?? Do you feel that you have let down God if your child turns your back on your religion??

Should I as an example..force my daughter to wear her hijab..even if she doesn't want to??
My religion teachs me that this is the best thing... I'm I being a bad parent by forcing her..or not forcing her???



What do you think?? I'm interested in the opinions of people of all religions and none..


Thank you :-)

Thank you everybody for your answers...

I had some really good answers..and NO bad answers.

It was very interesting reading all the answers and difficult to choose a best one!

Answer 1

Both my parents are Buddhist. Since young they have been bringing me to all their religious activities and sharing with me the teachings of Buddhism.

I wouldn't doubt that they would want me to be a Buddhist, but they never force me into the religion too. For this I am very grateful to them, especially when they never stop me from going to other religious event too. Yes, I have went to a church, Taoist temple etc.. My parents even enrol me into a evangelist kindergarten.

I have learn about so many wonderful things about so many religions. I can't really say which religion I want to follow at the moment, but I would certainly hate to be force into a religion that I can't even be truly devoted to.

I wouldn't say that letting your daughter choose for herself means that you have let your god down. I doubt any true religion will say that. What you should do is share and guide her on you have learn and know about your religion.

In the end, it's still up to her own choice. No point forcing her into a religion that she wouldn't be devoted to.

I have seen families breaking down when their children decided to join another religion. The quarrels every time their child went to her religious event.

After all, religion is about individual beliefs, even if you and your daughter holds different beliefs, you will always be bond together as a family isn't it? If that is what she decides, embrace her for what she have decided.

Answer 2

Well If the parents go to attend prayers, visit church/temple, join in religious festivals automatically the children too get involved.There are children who do not want to join and remain home or play themselves. In most of the cases children cant always be forced and even if they come to church they may play outside instead of attending the prayer.
Of course at home if the parents do their prayers, recite any hymns children too pick it up.
In Hindu philosophy there are staunch athiests, though all over one finds majority of people follow some religion or the other.
In Hindu philosophy the ANTI GOD people were a blessed lot since they got killed by the Gods and reached salvation too.

So long as a child learns manners and the respect forelders etc one need not worry about religion. At right time they learn what they need to learn about religion.

Answer 3

As a parent, it is your responsibility to give your child a foundation for life. That foundation is religion. Which ever religion that you belong to, that is foundation for your childs life. Personaly, I'm a christian. So all my children will go to church with me. If, say, I was Islamic (a muslim); i would take my child to the mosque with me. It isn't wrong to "force" a child into religion. As long as you still can communicate with them in the teen years, when parenthood is the most important. The best way to teach anybody anything is by example. If ur a Christian, exercise Christian principals aruond your child. Same for whatever other religion you might belong to. I would feel like I let down my child more than I let down God. God doesn't have to be tormented in Hell forever. If y'all have any more religion related questions, e-mail me at [e-mail]. Peace out!

Answer 4

No you should not force them to believe the same way you do...but..they should respect their parents enough to go to church with them... The parents have a duty to teach them about God. Once you have done this, then you can say that you did your job.

Your children will always remember what they were taught, even if they do not chose the right paths in life. One day, when they grow up and become an adult, and as death comes closer, they will be faced with the idea, and do some soul searching.

Hope this helps! Hope I do not offend anyone with my religious belief.

Answer 5

ahh yes, the parental possible mental/emotional abuse question.

Religion is not just a dogmatic factor to brain force your children to learn which group to tithe to to keep that faith's church active and ongoing. Religion is about giving your child something to cling to, clutch in despair, believe in when there is absolutely nothing left to believe in for their lives. I say that, only because I understand a few things about myself, Religion helps bond communities together either in exploration of the single shared faith or opening the mind of another and teaching them tolerance of others differences (should it be taught properly and in a civilized manner)

The child is young, however, the child is still a human being and with that comes certain unalienable rights. In a perfect world, each child would be taught the value of a religion, if not many. I say value and not price as we can plainly see the conflict not understanding others beliefs can cause.

Each person, regardless of their age, should understand anothers right to choose whatever it is they wish to follow or believe or credit to their proper social parameters. For is not society and society's laws based one religion in one form or another?

You are not wrong for teaching your child about the religion of your family, however, you would be erring should you "force" the child to do anything that would cause them to rebel against strict edicts. Force is an ugly world, that represents taking rights away from another. There is always a choice...always.

I am a very ecclectic pagan. I would like to think I would teach my child to grow up respecting how history worked itsself out regarding the different forms of religion and thereby educating my child how to assimilate into society easier, since society is where they will live no matter where they go. If my child wish to schluff off the teachings I gave them, that is their choice and I must respect that. Even if my child wished to become on of those crazy yuppies with 2.5 kids and the perfect KKK attendance, I have to respect their choice. Of course, I would not be happy over it, especially when a stereotypical cross was burning in my front yard, but I do have to stand by the thought that I raised my child with decency and respect and manners the best I could and if they wish not to listen or emmulate my wisdom, then the most patience I will have eternally, is to wait for them on the otherside to learn the lessens they were brought into being to discover.

Answer 6

For me, the best way to teach your children is being the example yourself. Kids tend to mimic their parents, so if they see you practicing your religion, more likely they will do the same.

Don't force your children, it will just intensify their rebellion. Just talk to them calmly and explain why you want them to follow your religion. But of course, the last decision is still upon them.

Whatever your religion is, or even if you are an atheist, respect whatever religion your child chooses, so long as it leads them to a better & proper way of living, without stepping on to other people.

Don't feel bad if your child turns their back on your religion. Curiosity is natural as one ages. Let them explore. Let them educate themselves while still guiding them gently. Eventually, they will know which religion they are most comfortable at.

Hope that helps. ^_^

Answer 7

Lead by example. Don't be a hippocrite, be honest and open about your beliefs and stay true to them. You are the best example your child will have as far as values, morals, and religion. All three of those things are similar, but they are not the same, and all are very important. Your child will learn by seeing what you do. Make your beliefs obvious, not just by what you profess by mouth and what you say to your children, but in your everday choices and unspoken actions. Again, be honest and open, and set a good example, then it would seem natural for them instead of forced.

Answer 8

I think we shouldn’t force them at all. You don’t even need to come up with the topic, as they will surely ask about something like: “Where are we from?” or “Why do we live?” You may talk about your own religion to your kids, but never tell it as if it was the obvious truth. Tell them many people think differently.
If I was religious, probably I’d feel very bad if my kids didn’t follow my way, and perhaps in my desperation I’d even foolishly attempt to force them. I can really imagine how bad a religious mother would feel because of the fear that her children may end up in Hell.

Answer 9

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

My children will know the ways of the Lord as long as they UNDER MY CARE. Until they leave, that's the main rule.
My wife and I are close to deciding to home school if the Board of education votes for homosexual teaching. My kids will have none of it.

Answer 10

Dear friend according to Islam there is no compulsion on 'Deen' (Judgment). If people start forcing theirr children to adopt their way of life it would be exactly what you are witnessing around you these days i.e., raising of a breed which is forcing their views on their society without having a clue of it themselves. One will normally force kids to follow their way of life only when their way of life is not logical enough to please their own kids, then just imagine a scenario where a person who can not convince own kids tries to convince others!!. It is because of this that you hear terms like fundamentalists and terrorists a common jargon these days used by both the moderate and the fundamentalists alike. The best way, therefore, (in my view) is to just raise your kids with logic and allow them to ask as many questions as they can, never snub them for questions to whose answers you don't know and then once this is done leave it to their judgment to choose the path they wish to using thei brains. If you have raised them well they will soon be able to understand what is right from wrong and if they are not you will atleast not be answerable for their choice of religion.