My father was baptist and my mother catholic. Both my parents decided to allow my brothers and I to explore and discover our own spirituality and adopt whatever religon we wished. I and my brothers I suppose are agnostics. I am happy that they did this for our family, what about yours? Would this work, do you think it would be better or do you wish this had happend to you?
2007-05-18 07:59:49 · 23 answers · asked by terrorfex01 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not a parent yet, but when I am, I will allow my child to seek their own path.
2007-05-18 08:02:56 · answer #1 · answered by Maverick 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In short yes.
I have found that the healthiest thing you can do for your children is let them find there own way, with guidance.
What I do is expose my child to all religions and spiritualities that I think are of a good nature.
I believe it is best to educate your child on right and wrong vs. religion and spirituality. If you force a child into any one direction it is natural for the child to rebel as it gets older and you may even turn them off to your way of thinking all together.
What I would suggest to any parent is to practice what you preach and explain what it means to be (insert way of thinking).
They will usually try out different philosophies and religions and spiritualities, then they will come to believe in what best matches there way of life and thinking.
The number one thing that you can do is encourage whatever it is that they pursue, unless it is going to hurt them or cause harm to others.
2007-05-18 15:09:17 · answer #2 · answered by Griggles04 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really wasn't pushed into anything. I was a christian for 15 years and now I'm a theistic agnostic. My children can follow whatever path they want to as well, however this does not stop me from questioning them to ascertain whether they are falling hook, line and sinker for lies. That I will NOT allow. They know they have to be prepared to discuss what they believe and be absolutely clear on whether it is a fact or a belief.
2007-05-18 15:06:49 · answer #3 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how wonderful that you had such caring and supportive parents! i myself do not have children yet, but when i do, i plan on taking that same path.
my parents are catholic, as is the rest of my entire extended family. i was raised catholic, christened and confirmed catholic. however, today i am not catholic. and my family has pretty much disowned me for it.
it would be nice for my family to accept that i have faith, albeit a faith in something different, but faith nonetheless. my faith is much more personally fulfilling than catholicism ever was for me.
so, to make a long story short, yes, i do wish my family was open to me exploring my own spirituality.
2007-05-18 15:09:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same in my family. My mom was raised with a sort of liberal-hick christianity, my dad is jewish, and they never made any attempt to make me religious. I went to church some as a kid, always because I wanted to. I still really like church because there is such a sense of tradition, but I'm a christo-pagan.
When or if I have kids, they will certainly be allowed to choose their own beliefs.
2007-05-18 15:07:52 · answer #5 · answered by Kaiialyne S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same worked for me. My parents are both Christians by conversion and since they chose there faith, they let me and my brother do the same. I'm an atheist, and my parents are fine with it. I am not okay with parents teaching their children that their religion is 100% right, because... it isn't, regardless of what it is. It seems almost a little like brainwashing.
2007-05-18 15:04:24 · answer #6 · answered by Nina Myers 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think your parents were very wise. Often times religion leaves some conflicted feelings or in the case of Catholic upbringings, lots of guilt. It takes a strong parent to not repeat that cycle with their own children.
2007-05-18 15:03:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely.
In fact just the other day, my eight year old out of the blue said to me, "You know, science can't answer everything." I asked him what he meant, and he said, "Well, things like God and fate."
I didn't shoot down his question, or tell him that god is fiction. It is what I believe, as an atheist, but I feel it is not my job to make his mind for him but to give him the tools he needs to ask his own questions and come to his own conclusions.
I told him he was correct. Presently science does not have all the answers, but it never stops seeking them. And neither should he.
My 15 year old claims he is an atheist. Even to him, I assure him were he ever to become Christian, or believe in any god or gods, he is more than welcome to do so. It is his choice, and no one else's.
2007-05-18 15:30:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it wouldn't be spirituality otherwise
it is a personal path that everyone should be free to wander
yes I do this with my children , they do not have a religion as yet , as they are still young ( 6 , 9 and 16 )
although they do have their own very individual personal beliefs
I answer their questions if i can , as honestly and unbiasedly as possible
and trust them enough to let them explore and make up their own mind
2007-05-18 15:08:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My autistic daughter has taught me about God!
She has an insight that is so spiritual it's amazing!
She is a Chrisitan and have I taught her this or does she just "know it?" She talks about "missing God' and how God held her as a baby and other things. She doesn't make things up, isn't in her reasoning.
†
2007-05-18 15:05:32 · answer #10 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋