Are your parents allowed to make you follow a certain religeon?

Question

I'm not Christian, but my parents make me go to church. Is there a law or something against that?

Answer 1

No. There's no law against it (at least here in the US, and as far as I know, in any other nation). Could you imagine the public outcry that would result if the state attempted telling parents they couldn't bring up a child in the family's religion?

There was no question what religion I was going to be. My family has been involved with the same Christian denomination for centuries. Fortunately, after much exploration of that particular religion (and many, many others), I felt that it was truly was the best choice for me, and have chosen to remain in the belief system I was raised in. "Chosen" is the operative word. I made that decision for myself after extensive research. And I still explore and study religion.

But there's nothing wrong with doing some spiritual exploration on your own. You may have to attend your parents' church until you're 18, but there's no law against hitting the library (or the Internet) and starting to research the world of spirituality for yourself. Even if you ultimately choose a non-religious path, there's no excuse for not fully examining all of your options.

Answer 2

I don't know how old you are but parents are allowed to make a child go to church as long as that child lives under the same roof - as least in most cases that I know of and there is no law against it because what goes on in a private residence cannot be regulated by the state unless a crime is being committed. Making you go to church is not defined as a crime.

Your parents aren't trying to punish by making go to church so why don't you do what I did ? If you're old enough, offer to sit in the nursery (if your church has one)and give a mother a break so that she can hear the Sunday service or offer to help a teacher by getting the arts and crafts materials together for the younger students or...etc. There are ways to volunteer and that will keep you from being bored and you will find others your own age doing the same thing -as a rule, if not start your own volunteer club for young people. Both the church and your parents will support it and you'll have fun besides.

After a while, you may find that enjoy being around the people in your parents' church and you may actually start listening to the message and follow their religion on your own terms.

Answer 3

While your parents cannot control your thoughts, your behavior is their responsibility until you reach the age of majority. Therefore, if you refuse to do what they instruct, they are entitled to enforce consequences for your misbehavior. Naturally, you may consider these consequences worthwhile, but they may continue to intensify your consequences until you feel you have very little choice.

Consider the possibility of going to church as an anthropological experiment. You are going to discover what it is like to live among the believers, but as a non-believer. You can decide whether it is worthwhile to disclose your non-Christian thoughts, or you can pretend to believe in order to see what they disclose to you.

The bottom line is that this is not the worst thing in the world, and you can endure it until your 18th birthday. You can continue to read other literature besides Christian literature. And you can talk with others who believe as you do at school. Let this be a natural time of learning for you, and that can include learning what you do not believe so you are prepared to tell your parents and others why you believe otherwise when the proper time arrives.

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Answer 4

Would you consider listening to CLASSY? Helping at the day care of your (well your parents) church would be wonderful for you.
Many of the people answering seemed to have been in your shoes, I am not I am Roman Catholic, and was involved with my youth group, so I never was alone at church.
Here's where I loose you: I was respectful and mature enough to understand my world. My parents fed, clothed, etc me until 18, then I started my life. I never felt cheap or false by never being a mindless drone, I thought of my own and if something did not sound right from the pulpit guess what I did not listen. But I did not let stupid adults ruin my relationship with GOD. Keep praying and working on your relationship with GOD! Let the stupid comments of adults roll over you, pray for them in their false statements, but do not mindless agree, just POLITELY quietly disagree. Have a TALK with either your mom or dad, which ever you have a more comfortable relationship with - and explain your feelings. Also LISTEN to her or him, and work out a truce or common ground to share your life together with.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO CUT OFF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENTS - Really, seriously keep talking and listening - being alone is not how we get through life.

Answer 5

My Goodness NO. It is the responsibility of parents to raise their children according to their values and beliefs. This is a free country and it is the right of parents. If your parents are "making" you go to a Christian Church then you should be thankful that they love you enough to care about your eternal soul. What is wrong with you. When you have children how would you like the government telling you how to raise your children. God Help us. I can not in my wildest dreams ever image trying to find a law to go against my parents. You must be some of kid, I am glad you are not mine. By the sounds of other answers so far you people all sound like a bunch of rotten kids, no respect, and Godless to boot. I can't wait to see the little brats you guys will be bringing into the world. YOU all will be responsible to God for that pack of ungodly juvenile delinquents.

Answer 6

No their isn't but their isn't one saying they can either. The best thing you can do is go along with it for now because if you change your religion they get their feelings hurt because to them religion is part of a tradition that they think ypou don't want to be part of. Plus if you have siblings they'll complain about why they still have to go to church and you'll have to go just to shut them up (that's a personal experiance I'm a Taoist living in a Catholic home).

Answer 7

Not in the USA. Actually it is their responsibility to expose you to various philosophies. Get off the idea that you have the answers already. You know a lot right now....and when you are 30 you will know a lot less. Why? You have had limited experiences in life up to this point...by 30 you will have had many many more and you will realize how much there is to learn.....

Answer 8

If you are a minor in the US, you essentially have no choice but to do what your parents want. You aren't seen by society to be able to make sound judgements for yourself. Your parents are responsible for your actions, so you basically have to follow their rules.

Advice from a former teenager...your parents probably have your best interests in mind, give Christianity a chance. If your parents have a relationship with Christ, it should be a pleasant experience.

Answer 9

You haven't accepted the spirit of God into you.so of course you wonder why go to church.?they wish the best for you.try to love them enough to at least to do this for them,they have given you so much and you want to rebel.most preachers sons and daughters I know rebelled against God because they were made to go to church,know that they simply love you and wish for the the best in life.please don't get resentful.when I was a child I simply went because they took me.when they gave me food at the table to eat,I ate it without complaint,when your young its normal to rebel against authority,God is not in a church or a book, its spirit can be found with in your heart .I love you in the spirit of God.I wish for you the very best.

Answer 10

You can lead a horse to church, but you can't make him pray. You don't tell us your age. It would probably be nice if you went out of respect for them, assuming you are under 18. But they can no more force you to be a Christian than I can force you to take up bungee jumping.