Why are children immediately labeled with the religion of their parents...?

Question

We don't apply a political affiliation to children as they don't have the capacity to truly understand. Why is religion any different?

Answer 1

this is a bugbear of mine also.

many people who claim to follow a religion haven't actually chosen it themselves, it's been bred into them through their upbringing, foisted upon them by their parents.

i'm not a big fan of religion in general, but don't get me started, however if someone has genuinely discovered religion for themselves and made a personal choice that it's the right thing for them then i respect that.

what i don't respect is people who call themselves X, Y, or Z whilst not actually living within the framework of that religion ... simply because that's what they were born into.

i remember once going to bed with a girl and she didn't want me to use a condom because she was a "good catholic girl" and they're not supposed to use contraception ... i pointed out that as "a good catholic" and thus "a good christian" she shouldn't be sleeping with me out of wedlock either, and that she was going to 'hell' anyway!

to answer your question i would say the reason children tend to adopt, or be indoctrinated into, their parents' faith is because religion and faith tend to be a more obvious part of family life ... becoming the structure of the family's values, and how they conduct themselves, such as attending church, etc.

politics is a more personal and private thing that only tends to come to light at voting time, or when making decisions about specific issues. it's not necessarily part of the family value system in the same way that religion is, however children can be influenced by their parents' political beliefs, particularly if those beliefs are strong and prominent.

poorer families are, probably, more likely to be socialist with the family value system being based around helping the less well off, ergo the children will be inclined towards the welfare state, etc.

richer families are perhaps likely to be more conservative, having more money and thus wanting to give less of it away, needing less support and thus being more insular.

a family may pray together, say grace at dinner, on a daily basis and thus religion will seep into children's psyche ... whereas socio-economic and political issues aren't likely to play a fundamental or obvious part of the upbringing, at least in the children's eyes.

will be interesting to hear other answers.

good question.

Answer 2

Because the child is living under the control of his parents until at least his 18 birthday and is actively participating in the religious activities of the parents religion until he leave home and the parents influence. The religious participation is on a weekly basis. The political affiliation your gave does not begin until age 18 and would only be one or two days ever other year. Not nearly the same or as powerful an influence.

Answer 3

It isnt.

In Islam, children do not have the full capacity to understand right from wrong and are therefore not really religious or anything until they reach the age of puberty.

This is a time when children become adults, their bodies have grown, their understanding doubled and their sins and blessings are considered by the Angel Scribes.

Up until that point, they are clean, sinless and neutral.

Answer 4

Religion is often forced on the children. Political affliation is not.

Answer 5

don't Christians need to have a confirmation

Answer 6

there are no choice !!!!!!