Parents: raise your kids with your spiritual beliefs or guide them to find their own spiritual path and belief

Question

Is it up to us to tell our kids what to believe or is it our job to facilitate their growth so that they develope their own beliefs?

Answer 1

I am Pagan, my husband is atheist. I was agnostic when I got married. When we had kids we agreed that our kids had every right to make their own choice. That in mind, when my daughter was old enough to start asking questions I found a Universalist Church where they teach ALL religions with a focus on community, our present life, and teaching tolerance. Faith is a personal path. I have no right to tell my kids what to believe.

Answer 2

Okay, understand that I am not a parent now; was previously. Parental foundation is imperative. Up until the child can make up his/her own mind, it is of the utmost important to raise the child with the parent's belief system, whatever that may be. Probably around the teenage years, there will be some natural challenging of world he/she has been presented. It will be at that point where the child can find his/her own spiritual beliefs, or choose none at all. The parents should not waiver on their belief system to humor or placate the child. If the child/teenager wants to experiment on his.her won, fine, but the parent/s should remain stable.

Answer 3

Both. I do believe in raising children within the context of a religion (assuming that parents subscribe to religion) so that there is a base of moral teaching that is constant within the home. But at the same time, I do believe parents need to teach children that there are MANY beliefs and that questions are okay. As kids get older and search for themselves, it might be hard for a parent to watch them "leave their religion" but if the kids have good base and have been taught to be open, I think the chances of them growing up to hate that religion are much slimmer, even if they don't agree with it.

And even if a child stays within his/her parents' religion, the parents should most certainly encourage spritiual growth and development. If one believes today exactly as they did five years ago, then their faith is stagnating.

Answer 4

Dictating beliefs to a child is wrong on many levels. I couldnt agree more with that statement. I believe it is our job to raise our kids and instill good moral values and set good examples for them. But I do not think we can take our beliefs and force feed them on a child. You spoon feed something to someone and in due time they will rebel or start to form their own conclusions.

You raise a child to think for themselves, allow them to question anything that doesnt make sense to them, and you help them out all you can. But it will be up to them to draw their own conclusions and find their own way. If they are being raised in a christian household they will know your values and beliefs as they are being reared that way, but I dont see how you can automatically assume they will adopt your values and beliefs without searching for themselves and finding their own answers.

Answer 5

It is a part of every parents right and privilege to raise children in the parents belief and then accept it if they follow or not when they leave home.
As long as a parent is the supplier of a roof, food, clothing and other items they have a RIGHT to direct a child's life. When the child leaves home the parents RIGHTS are now void. The child now owes the parents love and respect. (as is due)

Answer 6

i haven't seen a important shift in direction of something different than atheism, and formerly a (irritating) sort for a time in direction of Islam. there is often been pagan questions right here so a techniques as i will remember, and specific continuously would be. Assuming there is certainty on your declare, whether, possibly it could desire to be on the subject rely of the obtrusive fallacy of prepared faith? this is the type of corrupt and irritating thought that i'm unquestionably stunned church homes can nevertheless stay mutually. The section that makes me saddest is the people on the backside are frequently inherently sturdy people, and are being abused via the scum on the proper of the nutrition chain... maximum (maximum) Christians are sturdy people at their middle, mutually as they have backwards ideals... possibly that's in basic terms transforming into further and further effortless information?

Answer 7

I raised my children to believe in Christ Jesus and God's Holy Bible. The Bible is truth and everything else they hear in the world is man's deception.

I taught them to beware of Copernicanism, Darwinism, Humanism, Marxism, Communism, and anything scientific which is a theory evolved into a so-called truth. Scientist will "what if" and "theorize" the earth away. But God's Word is truth. God is the way. God is the truth. God is Life.

Answer 8

I think that if you're honest with your child and open about your beliefs they will come to your religion without being lead.

Answer 9

I exposed mine to a variety of beliefs and let them choose. Not only did they find thier own way they also discovered the meaning of tolerance

Answer 10

It is our job to open their minds and hearts and let them follow their own paths.

Dictating beliefs to a child is wrong on many levels.