what would you do if you were extremely religious, and your child absolutely didn't believe, or the opposite?

Question

just wondering what each "side" has to say.

this isn't happening to me. my child is an athiest, and I'm absolutely ok with that. and i'm not religious, however, i'm wondering what the really religious would do, and what an athiest would do if their child became very religious.

Answer 1

I love my child, therefore I would respect their decision, as no child of mine would make such a decision lightly.

Answer 2

Well, speaking from a college kid's point of view, I think that, in regards to when I have children, I would be okay with them not sharing in my religion and either becoming an atheist or joining another religion. I'm not all that religious myself, but still.

As for my parents, I think they would say the same. Not everybody thinks the same, nor should they have to, so what a person believes is up to them.

Besides, if God loves you for being a good person, why should religion matter? It's so hard to know what's the truth and what's not anymore with all the information out there that you should be accepted regardless of your religion. That's why I would not care what my child's beliefs are. Even if he did not believe that God existed, I still think he would be given a shot in Heaven after learning what the truth may or may not be in the afterlife.

Answer 3

I am agnostic, my parents are very religious. It is very difficult because I know they are worried and that my belief system scares them to death. I give them the impression that their is hope, just to ease their worries, but it is a difficult thing to deal with.

I know they are well meaning and really believe that they are trying to help, but at the end of the day, I can't swallow their belief system.

Its a tough thing and I feel sorry for them, its unfortunate that their belief in God, teaches them that their son will be burning in torturous pain because of a lack of faith. It riddles them with guilt, and in the end fortifies my belief that there is not an interceding/caring God. Kind of a Catch 22

Answer 4

i think you should teach your child more and more about religion, because if he grew up having no motivation to do any thing good, then you will bringing up a disaster.

and mabe your child will grow up and belive,
i once had my doubts about God, but when i fell in to deep #$%#^ trouble,, i had to have a miracle and so belive in the Lord. and when i started beliving,,,i swear when i began praying and beliving my life turnd to a shining dimond and all my problems (problems to the extent i wanted to commit suaside) dissapeared. so teach your kid, before bad stuff happens and youll be wishing that you had a time machine!

Answer 5

I wouldn't try to force the child to believe something he/she didn't want to. I would encourage and pray for them hoping he/she might see the benefit of believing in God.

Answer 6

Pray if you are the believer.

If the child, pray for your parent.
Who then is the Savor?
Is it not God Himself?
Yes.
You can make the request, it is He that does the answering.

Answer 7

I have 3 grown children. One of them continues to follow our spiritual culture, one of them follows another spiritual culture, and one of them follows no spiritual culture.

My children do not belong to me. They were individual souls before God placed them in my care, and God knew how I would raise them, but it is not me who determines their relationship with God. It is each person's individual choice to serve God or not. While I am disappointed with myself for not being able to more perfectly instill the importance of that relationship, I am in no position to judge their choices.

Answer 8

I firmly believe "prayer changes things".

Answer 9

I think I would let them make decisions for themselves, no matter what I thought of it.

Answer 10

well, I would pray for my child and hope that they would be saved before they die and come to see the truth