Keep in mind that a child's friends will always influence them.
2006-09-26 01:42:07 · 41 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Absolutely not. We try to surround ourselves with others who have similar beliefs. We believe in building upon our faith and I would not want the moral foundation of my children torn down by someone who has no beliefs. It isn't that I am intolerant I just think Atheists are lost and have not had or have tried not to have any kind of religious experience. Children are to impressionable to be in that kind of situation without it having negative effects. I by the same token wouldn't let my kids hang around a bully or a drug user, because I would not want them to be those things or make those choices. They need all the support they can get and to be kept from temptation and morally difficult situations until they are old enough and have the moral strength to make the right choices.
2006-09-26 02:42:43 · answer #1 · answered by therealprinsess 3 · 1⤊ 6⤋
yes. my daughters best friend for years her parents were atheist. Their only request was that we didn't shove religion down their daughters throat. they never ever denied they fact that my daughter had a strong faith. they never forced their disbelief in Christianity in ours.
many atheist I have run into simply don't believe in on God or one religion and are simply "put off" by other people talking religion all the time to them.
. At a young age many kids don't even discuss religious beliefs. I would only be concerned if My daughter came home with a head full of "cultist" ideas.
By the way my daughter has a very strong born again belief system and was never ever influenced by her friends disbelief.
Mom of 4(14,13,11 and 5)
2006-09-26 02:36:33 · answer #2 · answered by no 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
YES! as long as they were moral people with values did not steal and use drugs that kind of stuff. Teens as a RULE are trying to find themselves that includes religion it's common for teens & young adults to explore things other then the Christian church. I am non Christian I would have more of a problem with a teen of any belife that was a bad infulnce. NOT ALL CHRISTIANS are great God fearing people the world is already lost too much blood in the name of diffrent faiths. JUST because you go to Chruch dose not mean your a decent human being.
2006-09-26 02:53:51 · answer #3 · answered by ally'smom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't care if their friends are Atheist, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Bhuddist or whatever. I know their friends will influence them - their religion, or lack thereof, has no bearing on this influence.
I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school & even attended the Catholic youth group run by the local church. It was great! I learned to drink (while underage!!), smoke (which I've only just managed to stop some 20+ years later) & discovered some really great swear words (some of which I'm still loathe to use). My parents had no idea about any of this and assumed that becuase it was run by the church, it had to be good. They encouraged me to go!!
As long as your child's friends are true, stick by them & don't influence them to do stupid or illegal things, what difference does their religion, or lack of it, make??
2006-09-26 02:00:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Yes I would. I know kids have influences in their lives and that's fine, be it good or bad. We all learn from our mistakes, but who am I to decide what religion if any my child decides to take in. Yes I am their mother but we all have to find our own spiritual path. So you raise them by your religion and hope they stay with it. My husband was raised in church his whole life and now is a non believer. I am a believer. He and I both have agreed to me raising them my religion but if they ever have questions we will be honest and let them take the road they want.
2006-09-26 03:29:00 · answer #5 · answered by ~*~frankie~*~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would allow them to have athiest friends, but supervised only. They could come to my house, but my chid would not be allowed to go to their house. My first reaction was no b/c of the influence. But, turn that around. What kind of influence will your child have on the athiest friend. I would talk with my child about this and encourage them to witness to the athiest and set a good example, and not let the other kid influence them.
After all...who did Jesus spend his time with??
2006-09-26 02:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by #3ontheway! 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If the child has strong faith then of course. But I would never break up friendships over it. I would just teach the child what he was brought up with and why he was and that he should stick to it like a tradition. If you really want your child following your footsteps then keep him on your track. He should be more influenced by his parents rather than his friends.
2006-09-26 01:43:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
We should teach our kids to have respect for the fact that people have different views and beliefs. So what if someone is an atheist. You can't tell a child that God exists, therefore you must believe that! A child should be taught that different people have different beliefs, and that they should form their own beliefs. If you have 'found god' good for you - allow your child to find god in their own way. Would you allow your child to have Christian, Muslim, Buddist, hindu etc etc friends? I would hope you would - having friends with a different belief system to yours (note YOURS not your childs - they must discover their own) will hopefully breed a more understanding and tolerant generation. Not allowing friends with different beliefs is what causes isolation of minority groups, intolerance of those with different views, and racist bigoted people!
2006-09-26 02:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
If the child is adequately prepared to interact with his environment he can make intelligent choices about who or what influences them. It is very important for the development of the child to allow him to make friends and make choices -- it provides him with a sense of identity, independence and a sense of trust from the parents.
2006-09-26 01:48:37 · answer #9 · answered by Shibi 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Keep in mind that while teaching children faith and the lessons that come with it is a great gift and will provide invaluable skillsets, children/young adults will have to make informed decisions on their beliefs and their peers.
Establishing latent prejudices against people of other faith or non-faith oriented lifestyles will only do one of two things. Create rifts and potential conflicts between people of different backgrounds or when the children become educated/enlightened and make their own informed decision, they will only distance themselves from their upbringing.
2006-09-26 01:56:31 · answer #10 · answered by Willy S 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I am not a parent, so I guess I see this situation very differently from you, but:
Your child is gonna grow up eventually and at some stage he/she is going to start picking their own friends. I think that the sooner they are made aware that there are people out there that are brought up differently to them the better.
You cant hide them from the rest of the world, but you can prepare them for it!
2006-09-26 01:46:34 · answer #11 · answered by masteroflisa 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋