If you have to force your children to go to church, how much good do you think it does for them?

Answer 1

My mother took me to church very frequently. Although I was fully expected to go, I never felt "forced" to attend. I enjoyed it, and still do. As a child, I very much wanted to go to church. Not all children have to be forced into spiritual experiences. People often rant about "indoctrinating" children with religion, but I think that it's also a bad idea to deprive children of a religious experience if they clearly want one, as I did.

But having said that, some children do not appreciate or enjoy church, and truly forcing them to attend will likely only drive them away from religion altogether. In that case, sometimes the church itself can even be at fault (unwelcoming, cold, boring). Before giving up, it might be worthwhile to take the child to several different churches to see if a warmer, more hospitable, and age-appropriate church environment might help.

Answer 2

You don't "force" your children to go to church... at least not in my house... When a child is under the age of 18 and a parent leaves, no matter where they go, they have the authority to take them with them. This means whether they are going to the market, the doctor, school, wherever. There are lots and lots of places that a child is not going to want to go, but, being a child, they do not have the right to decide whether or not they want to go. A lot of parents are giving childrent that right and it is screwing up their lives... and I am not just talking about church. I mean, parents are letting their children decide whether or not they want to go to school for crying out loud. The precidence here is that a good parent will make thier child behave regardless of what they "want" to do, and if this means attending the church of their parents, then that's what it means.

The lesson of this story is that a child, being a child, doesn't know what is best for them. And it is the parents job, as the parent, to lead their children along the right path. In my household, this means getting up and going to church whether you like to or not. And if a child is never given the option in the first place, the parent will be met with less resistance when it is time to go wherever the child wants to go. Less resistance means a more positive attitude about the situation. Whenever anyone goes into a situation with a positive attitude, there is much more of a chance that they will enjoy the outcome of their situation. In other words, when a child goes to church with a good attitude, they are bound to get something out of the experience whether they want to or not.

So to answer you question directly, I think that it does a lot of good for a child to go to church even if they are "forced." And anyways, consider the alternative, sitting on the couch watching "R" rated movies or listening to trash on the radio while their parents are away at church? I think not. At least while they are at church, their subconscious is being filled with positivity instead of garbage, and that is the least that a parent could ask for.

Answer 3

This depends how old they are. My 6-year-old sometimes wants to stay home and play. I tell him that as a family we go to church because we love God and we want to praise Him. That's all it takes for him to say okay. My girls like going because they have friends at church and because they enjoy learning about God. If you have teenagers, then forcing them might not be the best idea. Remember to take all your problems to God. If you can't produce certain results, give the problems to God. Put all this stuff onto Him. He will deal with it. Ask Him to give you patience with your children and to work in their lives. Also, if your children don't complain then don't worry about it. Live as godly examples, having joy in serving the Lord. Maybe they need to see that.

Answer 4

"2217 As long as a child lives at home with his parents, the child should obey his parents in all that they ask of him when it is for his good or that of the family. "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord (Col 3:20; Cf. Eph 6:1.)." Children should also obey the reasonable directions of their teachers and all to whom their parents have entrusted them. But if a child is convinced in conscience that it would be morally wrong to obey a particular order, he must not do so.
As they grow up, children should continue to respect their parents. They should anticipate their wishes, willingly seek their advice, and accept their just admonitions. Obedience toward parents ceases with the emancipation of the children; not so respect, which is always owed to them. This respect has its roots in the fear of God, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit." from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Answer 5

they f*ckin sit and watch tv for hours on end, and they can't sit still for one hour a week? They are weak. Going to church builds character at least. It makes people deal with one another in a setting that is not only civilized, but peaceful and helps that peace along. Bringing your child to church is tantamount to dedicating your child to God, so that in later years, if they turn away, they at least have that foundation to go to when everything gets torn away. And trust me, if you are a part of society, you will experience bad things. We definitely don't live in a box.

They can hate me and they can hate God, but in the end, it is a duty out of love, and not out of hatred that this is done. After they are old enough to think for themselves, they may do as they wish, and at that point, I will pray harder for them, like St Monica.

Answer 6

Children should be encouraged to go to Church, *
NOT ever Forced!

Answer 7

My parents forced me to go to church as a child and well into my teens. I can honestly say that I got nothing out of it, and that I only grew to resent it.

Answer 8

Parents have authority over their children. Mine are grown and
they went. They also took a detour for a few years and they are
back and stronger than ever in their Christian beliefs. I trusted
the Lord through it all. Now, my 2 grandsons go to S.S and
love it and hate to miss. It's all of the Lords doings and the
positive volition on the person. Praise Jesus Christ the LORD
of ALL! The ONE, TRUE GOD! There is no other!

Answer 9

I never did that. We go to the science museum on Sundays and I never had to force them.

Answer 10

About as much as forcing them to go to school.