Children and Religion?

Question

I am pregnant and I am an athiest. I want my child to have the freedom to choose his/her own religion. My boyfriend believes in God but isn't a particularly religious person. Neither he nor myself are really interested in taking our child to a religious service, but would like to give them that opportunity. How do I go about giving my child the option to choose without pushing something on him/her? Should I just wait until they are old enough to understand or until they start answering questions?

i_want_you - I will tell my child both views... my parents pushed religion on me, and I was a Christian until I was 15.. I want my child to have the opportunity to choose their own fate, as I have chosen mine.

Answer 1

I was raised in a religiously diverse family. My parents, being Christians but of two different denominations, did not force religion on my sister and I. We were always allowed to explore on our own. We went with cousins to their houses of worship as well as with friends (churches, synagogues, kingdom halls, etc). When I was 16 I became a Christian of a church of a denomination that many of my friends attended. When I was 18 I became a missionary and when I was 20 I left the church and began exploring again (I won't go into the details of why). After a great deal of studying, learning, exploring, and visiting houses of worship I adopted Hinduism when I was 25 and am much happier (sometimes I say Hinduism found me or that God led me to Hinduism since it is exactly what I always believed but didn't realize that a religion existed that believed it, too....I am the only Hindu in my family and met my first practicing Hindu when I was 23). For the record I saw "adopted" because Hinduism has no formal conversion process and does not seek to convert other people (prosletyzing is frowned upon and said to be spiritually damaging to all parties involved.....thus why ISKCON, a sect of Hinduism, changed its policies regarding this).

Thus, I think that by allowing your child to explore on their own is a great thing. In fact, if you are not opposed, you could always buy books (my parents bought me books on religions, cultures, geography, languages, etc...but that was because I was/am interested in such things) and learn together. If for no other reason than just to learn what other people believe (and books are easier than actually attending services....which for some religions, like Hinduism, isn't all that easy since the majority of worship for Hindus is done in their home at the home altar which is either in a room to itself or a closet or set up in a corner in the family room).

My parents always just left the door wide open for me to choose while at the same time encouraging me to explore (by buying books for me to read or for us to read together and by encouraging me to not discriminate with my friends and when invited, if I truly was interested in going, to go with friends or family members to their worship services and learn more about what they believe).

If you are very concerned, then consider possibly letting your child go to a Unitarian-Universalist church/fellowship. Many times they have classes for kids all about religions of the world. At the UU fellowship I sometimes go to (and where the Hindu satsang/fellowship/study group meets) a couple of months ago the kids started learning about Islam and learning some Arabic...this after learning about Kabbalah. I believe they are learning about Buddhism now. The adults have a "build your own theology" course going on where they are learning about various theologies and philosophies. The UU fellowship I sometimes go to not only has the Hindu satsang I organize meet there, but also has an Eckankar group, a Pagan group, and used to have a Baha'i group meet there (but they have their own building now). So if you are afraid that your child could be indoctrinated by going to various different houses of worship, just send them to a UU church/fellowship. There he/she will meet Atheists, Agnostics, Hindus, Pagans, Christians, Humanists, Jews, Buddhists, and so on.

Just some humble suggestions.

Congratulations! May your child be healthy and wise!

Peace be with you.

Answer 2

Well if you don't go they will not go. They might when they are young, but as they get older they will stop. You don't have to push religion on your kid. Just go with them when they get old enough to kind of understand some of it. I am glad you being a atheist would want your child to make his/her own mind up. May I ask you a question. When you child does ask questions, how will you answer if the question is about God? I do not ask this in a mean way. Would you tell your child your views and then share what others views are?

Answer 3

I would wait until the child is older to subject him/her to a religious service. It would be harmful to subject the child to such indoctrination before the child really has a grasp on abstract thinking and can make his/her own decisions on the way the world is. If you take a child who is 5 years old, for example, they are willing to believe any adult unconditionally. They don't really get any ability to critically think about a topic until they're much older. This is why religious people concentrate on children to push their religious superstition. That's why the Jesuits boast, "Give me the child for the first seven years, and I'll give you the man".

Answer 4

I do not pass so far as to mention that it's baby abuse however I cam from a strict catholic grandmother on one aspect and a Pagan granmother at the different aspect Needless to mention the 2 households in no way received in combination however my mothers and fathers NEVER jammed faith down our throats and we discovered approximately all exceptional one. I have my possess manufacturer of faith due to the fact having that oppertunity. To outline a baby below any occasions is a restraining factor to do. I believe mothers and fathers must educate the baby what they think in after which if the baby chooses a further manner then so be it. I believe that it's only a manage factor and now not particularly abuse.

Answer 5

I'm a Wiccan, my hub is Agnostic and we have a teenage son... who decided he's Agnostic. We waited until he started asking questions, which didn't take long since most of the people around here are Christian. He didn't understand why we didn't attend Church or go to their outtings, etc. So, to help answer his questions, I took him to church (hub wouldn't go... he hates those places lol) He then asked what we believed and we explained it. After a few months of off the wall questions (most of which I've seen in here lol) he decided that "If we are just mere mortals and can't completely comprehend "God", if there is one, then why are we trying to define it?" Of course, then I had to explain that was pretty much how Agnostics viewed it.

I am relieved to find other people out there that treat their children as people, instead of clay to mold into what you want them to be.

Answer 6

Since you want her to have the freedom and room to choose, then don't force your own personal belief on her by telling her "God doesn't exist". Let her discover on her own whether he does or not.

Answer 7

I don't see anything wrong with waiting until he/she starts asking questions. When he/she does, you'll be in a position to judge how much and what kind of information to share.

Answer 8

If you love your child, you will try to find the truth before it is too late my friend.

You need to teach your child from young, just as you try to mould his/her character into a good one.

Bless you and your little one.

Answer 9

At about the age of four the child should be exposed to church.

Answer 10

Keep your child as far away as you can from the religious brainwashings