My parents let me choose and I became Muslim? Would you let your children choose their religion?

Question

We educate our kids on our beieves, but then they MUST believe for themselves .... Else we are supressing them... Abraham (PBUH, did not choose his parents religion), Moses (PBUH, did not choose his adoptive parents religion) ,,,, why should I be above any prophet... The prophets where given a choice as well....

Answer 1

Yes, I would.

Answer 2

I have been a Muslim for 2 years now and was obviously not raised in a Muslim family. I was raised however by parents that taught me when i asked about religion that when i was an adult it was for me to choose my religion myself or no religion at all, it was my journey and for me to decide. I have always taught my daughter about every religion, as i was raised in a multicultural society having school friends neighbors and family friends who where Sikhs, catholics, Christians, Hindus, Protestants, Jews you name it i know them all. There is not so much diversity where i live now so i make sure my children are well rounded when it comes to different races, religions, denominations etc. There was never any place in my home for racism or bigotry of any kind and i raise my children the same way. Of course my children are Muslim but when they grow they are raised with open minds and hearts and if they had another path to follow I would support them. (Insha Allah i pray they follow the true path as any Muslim parent would) But i cannot raise them any other way than to believe they are free in every way to explore, study and find there own path just like i did. I will however always raise them within the faith and teach them all i can about Islam that is all any parent can do.

Answer 3

First of all, there's no way to *force* a person to believe in something they don't want. Let's say someone was trying to make you believe the Earth is flat, and threatening to kill your family if you didn't agree. You could join the local flat-earth society, and stand on the street corner wearing a sign and yelling at people, but deep down inside, you'd still believe the earth was round, right? So, Yes, the child has every right to believe or not believe their parents religion as they see fit.However, that doesn't mean the parents are in any way obligated to drive their child to and from places of worship and such if their child wants to go, or let them from going to a Bible study if it goes too late on school nights, or find a babysitter instead of just hauling them off to church if they're too young to be left alone on sunday mornings. In the case you mentioned, I'd say the boy should respect his parents and not get baptised, go to church, etc. until he's of legal age, and until then find a solution (maybe he just stops going to mosque with his parents? Or maybe he just keeps going until he's an adult?) to keep the peace. However, he can still *believe* in Christianity even if he doesn't *do* the associated things like go to church.

Answer 4

Oh, I most definitely would let them choose.

My parents didn't do this to me. I was indoctrinated from before I was a year old. Not only was I taught their beliefs, but I was taught that questioning those beliefs was a terrible, terrible thing. Even innocent, childhood questions of "why?" or "what happened to...?" was met with scolding and shame. I was told that I didn't have a choice and that to be anything but what they told me to be was the worst sort of thing to do.

Obviously, I didn't listen, and I'm now an atheist. They didn't let me choose, didn't answer questions, which left me with more questions, which led to me exploring other paths because the way they were preaching didn't feel right at all to me. The trouble that came my way as a result of trying to find myself spiritually really squashed what could have been a belief in something. Now I don't believe in anything because if it wasn't their beliefs, it wasn't valid, so it didn't matter what I believed or if I didn't, the result was the same.

But if I have kids, I won't do it to them. I'll teach them what I believe, teach them about what others believe, and let them choose. I'd let them decide what to believe because I believe a religion believed freely of one's on choosing is a true belief. Believing because your family says you "must" isn't a true belief, but indoctrination and a belief out of fear. That's not a true belief at all to me.

Even if my kids became Christian or whatever, I wouldn't be upset. They chose it of their own free will, chose to believe, and I'd know that I taught them to understand and respect others who don't share those beliefs.

I wish my family did this with me, but they didn't, so, if I have kids, I won't make the same mistake because I wouldn't want my kids to grow up with the problems I have and be half-estranged from what would be a loving family if not for religion. Frankly, I wouldn't want that on anyone, so I'd let them choose for themselves, rather than forbid them from ever becoming religious.

Answer 5

Very simple, YES. My kids can be what ever religion they want to be. I was raised Methodist for they early years of my childhood. Later my mom started teaching me about other beliefs. She wanted me to be open minded and know that you can't judge people based on religion, and you can't believe what a person of one religion says of another religion. If you want to know about a religion ask someone of that religion. My brother is Athiest, my mom agnostic, my sister who knows, and I am eclectic. I find the good in what religions I like and make my own little mix. Some religions I throw in are Buddism, Wiccan, Native American beliefs (my grandfather is full blood Cherokee), and little tidbits of this and that. I believe there is good and bad in every religion. I believe there is truth and lies in every religion. I've studied Muslim, Islam, Wicca, diffrent forms of Christianity and I hope to raise my kids with knowledge of each and they can pick what they want. There is no one path anywhere, and everyone should have the choice to chose their own path.

Answer 6

Yes I will let me children. I will teach them about God and Christianity, but they will be free to explore on their own. I wish my parents had let me. I was forced to be a Catholic and still kinda shunned on a religious basis for not being Catholic. I think it is better to have a religion then none at all, like I did for a few years while trying to really find myself. I am now just a non-denominational Christian.

Answer 7

Your heart cannot be forced to believe, rather you have to have the heart to accept the Oneness of God, and not associate partners with him.

[004:171] O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of God aught but the truth. The Messiah 'Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of God and His Word, ("Be!" – and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rûh) created by Him; so believe in God and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For God is (the only) One Ilâh (God), Glorified is He (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And God is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

[004:172] The Messiah will never be proud to reject to be a slave of God, nor the angels who are the near (to God). And whosoever rejects His worship and is proud, then He will gather them all together to Himself.

You will only understand Islam, if God has destined you to do so.

Answer 8

I am Jewish and my husband is agnostic and used to be Methodist. We celebrated all the Jewish holidays and we also had a Christmas tree and all the Easter stuff. We also exposed them to pagan spirituality. My son, who is 32, is agnostic. My other son, who is 29, is Jewish. My daughter, who is 26, is what she calls a Jewish Buddhist. And we never argue or disagree with each other about religion or the lack thereof, because more importantly than religion is that we love each other.

Answer 9

when the child is old enough to determine what Religious Belief System they want to follow yes the choice would be up to them. the only real differences between one Religious Belief System and another are the NAMES they refer to GOD as along with the the differences each uses to Adore, Honor, Glorify, Pray to and Petition, Thank, Praise, Etc. Etc. GOD.

Answer 10

My children have chosen, and they are not Jewish, as I am. I converted from Christianity, and my parents cried and yelled at me for the 35 years before they died--come back to the only true religion! They made life very hard for me. I would never do that to my children.

Answer 11

Yes, if I ever have children, I will teach them my beliefs, but I will let them decide for themselves. And I won't be disappointed if they choose another religion. I would want them to follow the path that leads THEM the closest to God.