Why do parents send their kids to churches they don't want to attend?

Question

I've noticed that a lot of parents will send their kids to churches, in particular very fundamentalist churches that they themselves dislike. Why do they do this?

Sometimes I wonder if they do this because they want their kids to see a type of church they hate so they will decide they don't want anything to do with church when they are old enough to make a decision. If they don't want to go, why not find a church that they are more likely to attend themselves?

Do you agree or disagree?

Answer 1

Yes, I've noticed this also. I sense that most people, regardless of their present state of spirituality, believe that church is basically a good institution and will teach you proper ways of living a good life. This is why many parents would like their children to attend church when they are young -- and the most impressionable. The parents themselves, perhaps, feel too much conviction by the church for the way that they are actually living their own lives, and thus would rather avoid the discomfort of going. Unfortunately. Hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

I can't imagine sending a child to a fundamentalist church if you weren't a fundamentalist, though I suppose it's possible some parents might use it as an example of what not to be.

I know several non-religious parents who have sent their children to church so they will understand the language of religion and become familiar with at least the basic concepts so they'll be able to carry on conversations with their religious neighbors. Though I am a Humanist now, I'm personally grateful that my parents did that for me, for just that reason. It's important to understand your neighbors.

Answer 3

Parents who are members of any given faith are encouraged to bring their children to church services and Sunday school so that they can be indoctrinated at an early age to start accepting the tenets of the faith.

It's really simple. Get it into their brain when they're young and they will have a harder time getting it out later.

Can you remember when you learned how to tie your shoe? Do you remember the steps now when you go to tie your shoe in the morning? You probably can if you think about it, but you most likely do it automatically. Now, try to forget how to tie your shoe. You can't do it. You learned it at such an early age that the steps are etched in your brain even if you don't want them to be. It's not like remembering a special combo in Tekken, that is easy to forget if you haven't played it for a few years. Even if you wear loafers for the next decade, on the one day you put on lace-ups you will still remember how to tie your shoe.

The same principle is in play when dealing with religious indoctrination. Even if you stop going to church and study science and become an enlightened atheist, you'll never forget that touching yourself is sinful and you'll always feel a little guilty about it if you were told that as a young child.

Answer 4

The parents are not just hateful towards the churches, they are also lazy and recognizing of the hypocrisy in their lives. So instead of them teaching the bible to their kids and having the kids realize the parents are in sin, they are sent off to church to have their own issues pointed out. Going to church for whatever reason can be good, but the fact that the folks aren't going isn't a good thing. I'm not sure I agree w/ your hypothesis, but who knows what's in the minds or hearts of other people.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Answer 5

The "Well, if you have your kids do it, you should do it yourself" arguement doesn't always work. For instance:

Why force your kids to learn English and, say, French when you won't learn it yourself?

That's a specific situation in which it's easier for the kid to do something than the adult; individuals gain languages PHENOMENALLY faster at earlier levels of development (not to mention the issue of how much expendable time many adults have).

So the issue here is that the parents don't want their kids to be like them, because they themselves can't change, but the kids can be different. It's like my dad: he can't quit smoking without serious repurcussions (you can argue with me over whether or not those repurcussions are worth it, it doesn't really change the arguement). But he knows that that's bad: he's addicted. So he always strongly encouraged me not to start smoking (all this being said, however, he would still defend his own right to smoke).

But hey, maybe they DO just want their kids freaked out. Disgusting bastards!

Answer 6

The real reason parents send their children to church is that their parents sent them to church.

It has nothing to do with like or dislike.

What it has to do with is belief. If their parents had believed they would have taken them to church.

Because of unbelief the sins of the fathers will be visited on the children to the third and fourth generation.

Answer 7

Where did you notice this, I have never heard of parents doing this if the children attend a church out of the parent's denomination this is usually punishable and the children risk losing their allowance or being grounded.

I know my husband had a friend who was of a different faith than his parents and he attended his friends service it was a saturday instead of sunday, and he said he always would remember how different it was and how much it felt right to him. He didn't tell his parents, until when he was much older, we had many questions regarding our faith when we were married and chose not to have our children baptized into any religion leaving them with the freedom to choose which path or religion they wanted to follow if any.

Your question tells me that your parents didn't drag you to church every sunday or you would know that parents don't tend to do what you are stating.

Answer 8

I personally wouldnt send my kids to a church I myself wouldnt attend.. however, I think there are a couple of reasons they might.. like... they want a couple hous of peace on Sunday mornings (or Saturday afternoons or whatever time the kids church is held) or maybe because they know the church will teach them values they themselves dont know how to teach or follow. Like, a man might not be a firm believer of "saving it till marriage" but he probably wont be upset if his children want to.

Answer 9

And kids go to church for the teaching and/or the preaching? Wise up! Kids go to church because their friends are going there! So we as parents put them in a church that they like(especially if their friends are there) because of some temporal thing?

Answer 10

i do no longer think of that's a solid thought. Thats how my mothers and dads did too. First, it confuses the baby by way of fact whilst they improve into an adolescent, they hit upon motives to doubt christianity... human motives... and that they are too youthful and if their mothers and dads have not got a solid faith, then who will the baby turn to... somebody else, and consistent with threat somebody who isnt even a Christian (as I did). They wont turn to a determine that hasnt taught it to them nor lived a solid occasion of a Christian existence. each kinfolk IS distinctive although, thats in simple terms my adventure. even with the indisputable fact that, I dont think of you're able to pass to church, even babies. i think of the main helpful area starts off in the homestead itself. There could be bible learn in the homestead and the mothers and dads could come to an understand-how of what the scripture rather ability so as that they could practice their babies, and stay a solid occasion so as that their babies dont have motives to tutor against what they have been taught.