If I said ""Sweetheart, there is a little fairy in the maple tree growing out of the toilet, "?

Question

To a small child over and over and over again, he would believe me, right? As his mother/closest guardian? As the most trusted force in his world?

How is this any different than indoctrinating children with religion rather than having them choose independently whether or not they believe by giving them classes in intellectual scrutiny? Not when they're 2, of course (a 2 year-old should believe that his Cookie Monster doll will protect him from the darkness). Perhaps at some point mid-elementary school?

Sure, you believe it (your religion) and it is, of course , the "true religion", because you know that, because it's the truth, because it says so in a book. Now why not give your child the freedom of 'choice' (as the Abrahamic god has given you, which, it seems, is the 'choice' he gives (the universal) you of granting eternal life only to those who believe that his son is God or kills in His name.)

Suzy - Oh, believe me dear, I have read the Bible. I'm a bit confused about where I mentioned anything about it whatsoever in my question, nor did I even mention Christianity. Why so defensive? I never even implied that this was about ONE religion, but about all of them (and the spiritual and non-religious).

So, curiousgeorge, you're saying ONLY Christians can be good parents? There's a bigoted stretch, don't ya think?

Answer 1

What about people who weren't raised with religion and came to follow it after becoming an adult????

And I don't care who you are people always teach there children what they believe, like if you were an atheist you would probably teach your kid that there was no god

Answer 2

Your point is good. You are right, every child should have the freedom to believe whatever they choose. Ask a child if they believe in God, they will say yes. Give a child that can read a bible, a book of morman, a LDS bible, and every other type of material. Do not give that child educational material, only the books that claim to have the answers to a better life. Do this without encouraging them, without manipulating them. I can guarentee you they will choose the bible, and through that bible they will find Jesus. But you will not do that, because you want your child to 'find' the faith they desire. Therefore you wait until they are how old, then tell them you believe this or that, then you tell them to believe what ever? But give them the material, before they turn to the rebellious teenager phase, God is real, and so is Jesus, that is how I know beyond a doubt that those children who my God says they always have an angel standing before the throne of God, those children will always find God and Jesus. Try it my friend, or are you worried that I might be right?
And please don't come back with another question about God being so real why do so many children die. He gave you the right to choose didn't He? What, His gift is hyprocrytical, and we only have the right to choose as long as it's the right choice? No even His prophets and only child were slain by this wicked world. He doesnt' take His gift away because we abuse it, He is not like men, He is God.

Answer 3

I read a book that told about a pastor who had let his garden run wild...it was originally a beautiful flower garden. When visited by someone who had said that children should be allowed to choose their own religion, he looked at the garden and was shocked. The pastor told him that he had allowed the flower garden to choose how it wanted to grow. The flowers were not very nice to look at, and the weeds were choking everything down. When a person comes of age then he or she has enough (hopefully) experience to make the right decision for him or her self.
Your statement is not realistic...you cannot compare the nonsense you want to teach your child with the good values that come from following most of the religions. I personally am a Christian, and I was raised to believe a certain way...when I was old enough to understand what I believe, I did lots of reading. I decided to stay in the same church because the other religions I read about did not have what I needed. I actually know more about what I believe than the parents who raised me in the faith because of my desire to learn about what I am believing. It is not blind faith or nonsense but based on historical and spiritual facts. Many wish to call it a conspiracy, however, conspiracies do not stand the test of time as Christianity does.

Answer 4

If we wait until our children are grown so they can exercise
"the freedom of choice" , how do they handle the trauma they face before they make that choice.

I faced a lot of abuse and trauma as a child. My experiences are not unique many people face similar trauma and abuse--or worse. What is different is that I turned to religion not drugs and/or alcohol.

the religious training that I had was not good. There were several beliefs that I disagreed when I was old enough to make a choice. However, I given the idea that I am not alone in this world and that if there is not a human who will come to my aid there is a spirit who will. Thus, I didn't have to get my comfort from a pill or a bottle.

Giving children something to believe in is very important.

Answer 5

I like your question. I do believe and support that at some point in my childrens life they will naturally seek out there own path, as I did.

A child that is raised within any religious culture should have the support of there family if they choose to explore other cultures as they grow older.

I think the thing is that Parents fear for there children and lets face it there really is alot in this world to fear. Sometimes, this fear overshadows a parents reasoning and they want to keep their children in a safe place. Religion, can be about control and for some parents, having there children out of there controll means they can no longer protect them.

I can understand this but I believe more harm is done by not allowing a child to explore and understand rather than developing a trusting relationship by exploring and understanding together.

Answer 6

I agree with you 100%. RAise your children the best way you can, show them by your own example the way to love, honor and respect others simply for the sake of being those others. They'll ask you questions about the religions of the their friends, just answer them as honestly as you can. If you don't know the answers, search for them on the net and just answer the questions. No need to extrapolate beynd what they asked. Give them the Freedom to explore, ask questions, and maybe even "try out" some religions. Just make sure that YOU too are involved in those trials as well. It's OK for a parent to KNOW what sort of propaganda that their children are going to become exposed to. In fact, as a Wiccan teacher, I'd insist on you at LEAST being aware of what I was teaching. Reading the materials that I would have your child read, FIRST. Not after the fact. Any religion that does NOT allow you to be present or aware of what they are teaching your child is NOT a reputable religion and you should NOT allow your child to participate, no matter HOW cool their friends are that ARE allowed by their parents. As the child gets older and older, they will make some decisions as to preferences, go ahead and support their decisions. This WILL prepare them for their ultimate choice in a religion or they may simply choose to NOT follow any religion. Just be a parent and support, honor and LOVE your children and accept their decisions when the time is right and proper. You'll know that time, based on your intimate knowledge of the child and his/her capabilities.
Many parents fail to give their children credit for their OWN abilities to find rapport and relationship with Deity on their own and are "forced" to follow one specific religion for selfish reasons of the parents. I admire you for your outlook and wish you all the best, along with your children. I think that they will do wonderfully with YOUR kind of attitude and outlook on these things.

Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 7

You have a point, most people follow the religious path that their parents raised them to believe (if they made any emphasis on any form of religious path), though there are those out there who are either predestined to have a diffrent path from that in which they were raised, or their parents pushed religion down their throaghts so bad that the child wants nothing to do with that particular faith any more....

Answer 8

I think the question was well thought out and give you a star for it!

Now...poor, poor Suzy.....what can I say?

And to Mr Hebrew over there......hon, you can't guarantee a damn thing!

I think all children should be raised with the faith (or non-faith)of the parents and when they begin to ask questions about that faith, or the faith of their friends, that they should be answered as simply as possible, and without bias! When that child is old enough to research his own questions then he is old enough to make his own informed decisions, regardless of what the parent believes.

Answer 9

Would you deprive your child of a mother tongue, saying 'when she's old enough to choose, she can opt for Swahili or French or Vietnamese'? Depriving your child of any faith or coherent world view seems just as disabling.

Just as I am raising my children to speak and read English, I am raising my children with my faith. It's all I have to give them; and I can't see giving them nothing and hoping all goes well.

I do encourage critical thinking, I do encourage them to investigate how and why people in the same faith can disagree, and ultimately, they will make their own decisions. They may choose other value systems, and other world views upon which to base their lives - but for now, they have a working, if imperfect, model.

Answer 10

Parents hand down both their wisdom and their ignorances. It wasn't until the 7th grade that my science teacher explained to me "No, your blood is not blue inside your veins and it does not turn red when it hits the air outside your body. It is red both inside and out." It took years for me to to re-educate my mother on that one (and I still consider her fairly smart. Uneducated, but smart.) This was the early 90s. Scary.

However, I am very thankful for that experience; it was a great learning moment. It taught me to question and apply reason to even those I trust most. If my mom was misinformed about something so basic, could not she also be misinformed about other, more complex questions (eg God)? What other incorrect information has she fed me over the years?

Answer 11

Even if a child is raised with a religion, they will not necessarily follow it. I think you should raise your child with your religion but encourage any interest they have in another religion. They will make their own choice when they are old enough to know what they believe.