Can parents legally force you to participate in a certain religion until a certain age? If so what is it?

Question

Ok, i've gotten both answers of 18 and never...which is it? Please only answer if you KNOW THIS AS A FACT. This is very important for me to know.

If you dont know, could you tell me where i can find out for sure?

Answer 1

Forcing you to participate and forcing you to attend your Sacrament meetings are two entirely different things. My (now inactive) brother went to church until he was 18. He sat with the family in Sacrament meeting but did not take the Sacrament. It was no surprise that on his 18th birthday he told our mom "yeah, I'm not going to church anymore. I love you but I don't believe in Mormonism."

But the rules of the house were:
If you are underage you will attend with the family. You don't have to participate (ie. take the Sacrament). But you do have to park your backside on the pew.

I take it you haven't told your parents yet? They will probably be upset. They will certainly be hurt. After all, you are their precious child and they have tried to teach you in the ways they believe to be right. But you do need to consider their feelings. I think as a parent I'd feel much more betrayed if my kid was "sneaking out the back door" than if he (or she) came to me and said "yeah, mom, I don't have a testimony. I don't like the Church. I don't believe."

Answer 2

Until you're legally an adult, your parents can pretty much dictate where you go ... which can mean setting the rules that you have to attend church, or synagogue, or whatever. Unless they are involved in a religion that is dangerous to your physical and mental well-being.

In my opinion however, I think that parents should take their children's ideas into consideration. If you discuss this with your parents, you should take some time and think about why, specifically, you no longer want to take part in their religion. You should be able to explain yourself and why you feel the way you do -- simply whining, "I don't want to go!" probably won't get you very far.

If your parents won't budge, go through the motions and get your own place when you turn 18, where you can practice whatever religion you want -- if you choose to practice one. Do understand, however, that faith is a major thing to alot of people ... so you might want to expect that you separating yourself from the family beliefs might cause some waves.

Answer 3

Because they really do believe bad things will happen to them if they are not a part of that particular religion. Much worse then the consequences of not wearing sunblock, which we force our kids to wear. That said, we are agnostic and our kids can be any religion they choose. We go to a Christian church because that is what is most popular here, and what paternal grandmother is, but they can be any religion they want. I am more of a very unenlightened Buddhist than anything else. I'll be supportive of whatever faith my kids pick, and drive them to their "services" or whatever if they have them. But to some people they actually think they do have the correct religion, so try to push that on their children just like someone else would basic health and hygeine. I may not force my kids to have my religion, but I will force them to bathe, brush their teeth, and do their homework. Because I think those things are important to their well being. I would take my kids equally to temple, mosque, synagogue etc., but I don't know what to do in many of those places, and some don't welcome outsiders (at least not until they have had ALOT of training!) Some are not places for kids.

Answer 4

Your parents are responsible for you until you reach 18.
It may vary where you live, but that is the most common age.
After the 'age of majority' you become responsible for yourself.
There is another 'age of minority' usually less than 14.
Below that age, you cannot decide anything for yourself.
Obviously, between 14 & 18 you are starting to be responsible.
For example, you can start to drive at 16, in America.

If your parents are religious, they will expect you to practice.
They are obligated to take you to their church or temple.
It doesn't matter that you'd rather stay home in bed.
Most religions recognize your reaching maturity in some way.
At some point, you will be expected to make your own choice.
But you typically have to grow into that knowledge slowly.
Your parents are trying to give you the benefit of their wisdom.
You haven't yet lived long enough to make mistakes yourself.

Answer 5

Yea, pretty much 18. But, If you still live with your parents after the age of 18 they may make requirements of you for living under their roof. Like continuing to participate in religion. But , that's up to the parent.
It's a fact that in till the age of 18 you are your parents responsibility, Including education of a spiritual nature. They can require you to go to school, go to church, go to grandma's on Christmas. When you turn 18 you are then considered an adult and able to make your own decisions.

Answer 6

Sad to say yes, they can certainly try.

Trying to force a religion on a child is abuse. No child is born Christian, or Jew, or Muslim. Their parents want them to be those things, but the child is not born that way.

Thinking people, truly interested in the TRUTH, should reject the religion they are raised in anyway. Otherwise their spiritual being is just giving in to the parents or society, and will not have anything to say for itself.

Good luck.

Answer 7

No-one can force you to follow any beliefs. Its your personal choice and right. The right to freedom of religion. Parents bring their kid up in their religion because they feel it is the right religion.

Put yourself in their place, you may not think it, but you'd be pretty pissed if your kids followed a different religion.

Answer 8

No more than they could legally force a child to go to his or her room, but parents typically exert enough influence over their children to have a significant say in what religion is practiced.

Answer 9

If your parents are forcing you to go to a Christian church, you could always ask the ACLU to stick up for you. They would LOVE that.

Those legal religiophobes will take about any case against Christianity.

Answer 10

Talk to an attorney. & if they are able to force you to participate, that doesnt mean you have to embrace it, just give it time till your 18 or whatever age you will call the shots(hopefully 18) & then do what you want to do.