Should a parent make there teen go to church if they dont want to?

Question

My mom told me to ask! I think that i should have the choice i hate being forced to do something i dont want to do! Let me go on my own!

Answer 1

A parent shouldn't make a child do anything unless the child's life is in danger. You have the right to say no. If anything, they should be blessed that they have a child who is willing to wax philospohically about these issues. It shows that you are very intuitive and independent. Kudos to you, but either way, try to hear out their argument on why she wants you to go. If her argument doesnt appeal to you, then stand your ground and back up your reasoning with concrete facts and opinions. Your heart only knows. If you argue wisely enough about this, who knows, you could even become a lawyer or a politician. Kudos to you!!!

Answer 2

It depends on how old the teen is. If the teen is more preteen (like age 9-12), then I think the parent has a right to tell their child to go to church and the parent should go to church WITH the child (practice what you preach!). If by "teen", you mean age 13 and over, then the teen should NOT be forced. Eventually, the parent is going to have to get used to the idea of his/her daughter/son making choices. It is a choice whether a person wants to attend church or not. Your mom should respect your choice to not attend church. Not going to church doesn't mean you don't believe in God nor does it mean you're going to turn into a little hellion.

Answer 3

In my family there were 5 of us. The first 3 of my siblings that were born before me were all forced to go to church and bible studies. They all had problems w/rebellion. My parents tried something different w/me and I graduated w/honors from both high school and college. I'm a very open-minded person because my parents let me choose my own religion. My younger sister? She wasn't forced to go to church either and she's a trouble child. I think it doesn't really matter if your parents force you to go to church. Children will make their own choices anyway. I think what your mom should do is teach you consequences for your actions. My son is 8 and I teach him about God and religion, but I will let him choose his own religion like my parents did. I think that as long as your child grows up to be happy and lives a just life, in this world that's the best thing you could ever ask for.

Answer 4

No. I was basically forced to go to church too. For the most part i was never really into it and i always had to put up a front for my parents and pretend i believed when i really didnt. So now that i am an adult i am completely turned off by the aspect of church and religion although i still consider myself to be spiritual. Your parents need to understand that for whatever reason they are forcing you to go, theres really no point if you arent choosing it for yourself. The more they force you the more likely you are to hate church and resent your parents for trying to make you believe something that you didnt even have the option to choose in the first place. It would be like our government forcing everyone to go to church. Noone really has the right to choose a religion or church for anyone else.

Answer 5

If youre there cause of your parents and not your own decision what good is it really going to do you? I as a parent believe that religion is a personal choice, I am spritual but I do not attend services, if my children are interested they go with their grandparents (which they already have a few times) I dont think church should be pushed down anybody's throat at any age and your parents are probably only trying to make themselves feel better or like their doing their part by making you attend with them.


Good luck!

Answer 6

I've been in your shoes. I got to where I resented being forced to go to church when I didn't feel like I benefited from being there. My mom eventually backed off, and I stopped going. Eventually, though, a few years later, I decided I missed church and started going on my own. I have enjoyed it much more ever since, since I am there for my own sense of community and closeness to God (rather than a closeness that is forced...).

My dad, on the other hand, was forced to go to church every week until he was an adult. He, too, resented it. As soon as he turned 18, he stopped. And he's never cared to go since.

Answer 7

Depends on the kid. My oldest had to be encouraged to go.
My youngest was so far gone into drugs etc that I was just glad he was alive let alone going to church.
BTW At the end of his rebellion he said he tried to deny his faith. So, he made peace with God, but never with his father's church.
A week later my son at the age of 21 died.

You may not want to be told what to do, but think about it, you don't have much longer to live at home. Hang in there, before you know it you will be out on your own and your time living at home with your folks is so short that in the future you will wonder why you reacted to much.

There are things that go through your mind now that you don't understand or comprehend why your parents do what they do.
You may never understand, But, as you age you will understand more and hopefully appreciate your family and their church going.

If you are still in high school I say respect your mom and go to church. If you are out of high school you probably mature enough to make more decisions on your own, but then you need to be working and earning your way in to adulthood.

Who knows some day you may make your kids to somewhere that they don't want to go.

Send my Greetings to your mom from one mom to another.

Peace

Answer 8

Your parents wont like this answer!

I made my boys go to church till they reached "teen" age. then they were allowed to make their own decision, much against their grandmothers wishes. At first they choose not to go, and then they would go when they wanted to. And their grandmother admitted that it was nice to know that they were there because they wanted to be their not because they were forced to be, and that them wanting to be there was the way it really should be, because if they were there just because they were forced to go, then she wondered just how much they were getting from going at all.

Answer 9

tell your mom if she remembers being a teenager and if her mom made her do stuff she didnt want to do? what happenned then? the teen normally rebels, resents the parent and the relationship for the next couple years is rough. parents gotta understand that sometimes teenagers what independence and they should let them have a little. once a teenager feels a their parent trusts and respects them, the teenager will always come to the parent for help and advice.

Answer 10

Maybe your parents are right. They should explain the benefits of going to church. Give it a chance. Go in with a positive attitude. Later if it is not working, maybe you can agree to go once or twice a month. I hope they are going too.