Converting children: is it wrong?

Question

Children are very impressionable. Doesn't it seem wrong to preach to young children before they are old enough to make logical decisions of their own? Shouldn't you leave it alone until they're a little older?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UWIb4FwHPg

Isn't this how extremists are made?

Answer 1

I believe that converting children can be considered emotional abuse. I was raised christian, and i had many social and emotional problems because of it. Too bad the CPS doesnt see it that way.

You can teach them morals without religion, because everyone with half a brain should know the basics of right and wrong.

Answer 2

The extremists would give a "yes" or a "no" depending on their beliefs, but honestly, isn't it up to the parents to decide what is best for their children? Exposing young minds to principles of religion and spirituality is a far cry from child abuse, so too goes not exposing children to religion and spirituality.

If the parents are actively involved in a church or religious setting it only makes sense that their children would be as well. Offering programs in the "church" for these young ones only makes sense. And these programs, while geared towards religious beliefs, need not exclude children of other faiths or of no faith at all. It is important to teach children acceptance of all peoples, regardless of their faith or beliefs. Allowing in those who are of different beliefs is setting an adult example of acceptance - which is something this world desperately needs whether you're Christian, Atheist, Pagan, ect.

And yes, when they are very young they do not really comprehend to the full extent what they are learning - or being subjected to, if you prefer. As they get older though, most youth will begin to question what they are taught. They go through a phase of growth in which they develop their own beliefs - whether those beliefs mirror that of their parents or take on another persona is entirely up to the child and the conclusions they reach on their "spiritual" journey.

There are far worse places for small children to be than in the nursery school or Sunday school at church.

Answer 3

I watched the video you had posted and I'd have to say that it is wrong. Speaking in tongues has not happened since Biblical times and I'm sorry to say that in todays age it is fake.
If in this situation I do not agree with Converting your child. This church that speaks in tongues is nothing more than another fake religion. Speaking in tongues is a miracle and God does not give out miracles every Sunday at (9:00 a.m. and to everyone, it just doesn't happen). This religion is not affiliated with Christianity. They have it wrong.


Other than that:
If you follow the true teachings (The Bible) then yes I do think it is good. It's important to establish a strong ground for your children. If you wouldn't teach them about your religion then why do you believe in it? You should be over joyed and anxious to teach them everything about it. If not then maybe your in the wrong religion.
The decisions your children make in life are determined by beliefs and faith. It will give them a moral, loving, caring, giving and understanding view on life. Teach them the right thing or they'll fall for anything.

P.S. Would you keep them from every lesson in life, for fear that it would ruin how they make choices in life.

Don't feed them meat, because someday they might be a vegetarian..etc...etc..etc...

Maybe your saying I should have taught my child how to drink beer, because it's what all the cool people end up doing. C'mon gimmie a break!

Answer 4

While children are impressionable it is good to let them know about everything in the world around them. Some things should wait a bit longer (subjects like sexual education are not comprehensable to very young children because they have not yet discovered the full scope of their body). On the other hand religion is something that children can understand, something they run across on a daily basis and they must understand mum and dads view points. This will help the child to understand why mum and dad have the view points they do. This does not mean you have to force feed them this information, it means explaining for example that you pray before you eat because you believe there is a God and you believe the food is a blessing from him and you wish to show your thankfulness. Explain why the muslim lady sitting in the bus opposite you wears a head-dress, why Jewish people don't eat meat and milk together, that Zen buddists believe there is a spirit in every part of nature. If you do not do this, many of your and others actions may confuse your child (you will know this because at about 3 years of age they will start to ask 'why' to everything that they have not already learned, want to learn and have to learn).
By understanding different view points and understanding its surroundings a child will be able to explore those surroundings better. By praying with your child your child will know how to pray and can experiment with prayer, can discover the sensations of prayer, wait to long and even if your child wants to pray it will have more difficulty and will have missed out on the early childhood sensations of prayer...
My father was an athiest and my mother was catholic. This combination led to me becoming a very open person. I love to try to understand life and the greater meaning of everything and helped me feel very happy and free as a person. As a happy person I feel as though I am able to help other people because I don't have problems of my own (which I might have if I was not as happy as I am) and is this not something all religions strive for?

My advice would be to let your children know about religious view points. Yours as well as the view points of others. Pray with your child to let them discover the feelings and thoughts that go with it. Not directly teaching/converting your child to your religion will not make your child an athiest and will not make them of your religion. It will give the child a balanced outlook on life and should lead to your childs happiness (and happiness is the foundation of life and life is the foundation of religion)!

Answer 5

Dear fun,

I do not know where you are getting your information from, but it is impossible to "convert" anyone! "Conversion" is being born-again or saved. Only the LORD can do this. Please see John 1:12, 13. Most people will quote to you John 1:12 but they do not go further and read verse 13.

When you were born, you did not tell your parents what hair or eye color you wanted. You did not tell them how tall you wanted to be. You did not even tell them when you wanted to be born. God made ALL those decisions! So it is with salvation. The LORD chose those whom He was going to save before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:3-5). But God is not respector of persons, so you have the same chance of being saved as anyone else--we are all terrible sinners and deserve hell.

But going back to your question, the best thing a parent can do for his/her child is to read the Bible to them out loud. The Bible tells us, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." FAITH is a synonym for Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11). So then, Christ cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This is the way God brings His sheep (saved) into the fold. Remember that Jeremiah was saved from the womb just as John the Baptist was.

Answer 6

A parent has the responsibility to teach their children a lot of information, including values, work skills, ethics, how to tell right from wrong, and how to get along in this world, as well as how to be polite, and to do many items at home. For this reason, teaching your children religious values can encompass many of those same things, because a lot of our values are based on our religious teachings.

Update: I just watched the link you mentioned about "Jesus Camp" just so you know, that is not the way that every parent believes, even among us evangelical Christians.

Answer 7

I live in Europe in an orthodox country, and even today I saw a mother and grandmother out with their 6 years old daughter,(granddaughter)and after passing in front of a church , they told the little one to make a cross. But by saying " submit to god" which in my language has also the meaning to cross yourself, but it's the same word as you would say submit to the lord X.
As here the orthodox church is very powerful and especially for women who are very impressionable, mostly women you find in church. So that poor child has no chance but to agree with her mother and grandmother.
It is beautiful a child to believe but the priests let to the parents the convincing work instead to try to attract themselves these children. And the result is that in teenage they will probably stop going to church because they didn't discover it by themselves first.

Answer 8

Well you have a good point there, but children are suppose to be taught so that they could have a basis and a good set of morals. By the time they are older, they could choose to rebel or keep what they have alway been taught.

Answer 9

Their is a very fine line sometimes between raising a child and brainwashing them.

While it is perfectly allowed and even encouraged for a parent to teach their child a sense of ethics, morality, and thought a parent should not ever stifle a child's desire to search and grow.

I think if you teach a child to constantly question and investigate it should be able to negate any brainwashing that might occur in the child's life.

Answer 10

Good question, but you cant really convert a child if they dont have a faith to believe in in the first place. Children are miracles, and just watching them, they have the faith of a child, the wasy jesus has asked us to be. Children themselves are miracles, and that in itself is proof enough to me to believe in Jesus Christ, and if I believe in that, then why no t take my kids to church?

There are plent of children that have grown up in a church and still walked away from it. Religion isnt about a denomination, children as they grow up can still change their ways and believe things other than their parents beliefs. Nothing is written in stone.