christians - i'm pagan and my youngest daughter (9) is atheist. would you allow the same in your house?

Question

my son (15) is wiccan and my other daughter (12) is more of a witch than wiccan. i consider myself to be an eclectic witch.

my kids have been been taught about many different religions and are allowed to choose their own path.

would this (freedom of religious choice no matter what the choice) be allowed in your home, especially at the young age of 9? why or why not?

actually this question isn't just for christians, it's for everyone

to people saying TRUTH is taught - well at my house truth is taught. truth is that nobody knows for sure until you die what is right or wrong!

emil - wouldn't bother me in the least. that's why i gave them knowledge of many religions, so they can choose!

Answer 1

Yes. Thinking my beliefs are the only possible true beliefs is just sooooo ignorant. I would let anyone in my family be of any religion at any age (unless prehaps if it has harmful practices, then i might just stop those practices, but not the beleif :/).

edit: here's a good quote:

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you they belong not to you.
(Khalil Gibran)

Answer 2

I'm a Celtic Pagan and your method sounds right to me.I don't have kids yet but when I do I will teach them about my religion and also about other religions I know about.I will help them find information on religions that they are curious about but that I don't know about.

What they believe will be up to them.As for choosing at 9-why not.I was raised by a Christian mother but I knew by about 5 that I didn't believe in it.

Everyone must choose their own spiritual path.As I'm sure you know it's a journey that never ends so it's possible your kids may change their religious beliefs later-who knows.

Then again the fact that I agree with you probably isn't too shocking since we're both Pagans lol.

Answer 3

I was raised in a christian household. My mother had the fundamentalist view that christianity was the only truth and that's the way it had to be. My father, however, taught me to seek the truth for myself; to never trust anything that someone told me without researching their claims. It's interesting that he felt this way. He is an ordained minister of the christian faith and a college professor in biblical interpretation. When I did the research and looked into everything that I'd been taught I left christianity. In fact all of my siblings (other than my oldest brother) have left christianity as a result of being encouraged to learn on our own. My children will be raised the same way (they're 7, 5, 4 and 16 mos). IMHO There's no better way to teach them.

Answer 4

Wow...I wish my parents were like that...they're Christian...and expect my sister and I to be Christian as well...I told my parents that I wanted to be Wiccan...My mom said that she wanted me to at least attend church until I'm out of highschool, (which, even if I skip a grade would be 5 years), she thinks that this is just a phase and I'll get over it soon...and I SWEAR...a week later my parents forgot that I don't believe in their religion and started talking about it openly...which kinda bothered me...well...you're a good parent if you let your kids choose...that way...when they learn about other religions they're more open minded and will accept more people...

Answer 5

I would share what I believe. But it will be the choice of my children whether or not they choose to accept my beliefs for themselves. Besides, "a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."

btw... is a 9 year old's knowledge base developed deeply enough to make such a absolute conclusion? Will she spend the rest of her life trying to defend her mere opinion that God does not exist? Science cannot prove nor disprove the existance of God, theism and atheism are both beliefs based in assumption. Possibly a responsible parent should be informed of the assumption she is making... but that is up to you.

Answer 6

I am atheist. But if my children decided to be anything but atheist. I would have no problem. It's all a matter of choice. And at least I would know they became whatever religion by their own choice instead of the brainwashing I underwent as a child.

Answer 7

i agree im pagan, my oldest is a witch but not spiritiaul at this moment she's 13. my 7 year old is still deciding she has been to a marmon church, and is going to a peticosal church, and she wants to see what a johova wittness church but im having problems finding one in my area. my youngest is 17 months and her father is christan and she will be able to exsplore what she wants to when she gets older. we believe in freedom of choice and we don't take away our children's free will to choose. my children do not only have access to the holy bible, but also the koran, the morman bible, and books on paganism and the different paths that are there. they can pick up any book they choose and read about that religion. my children are more confidant, and better human beings because they have the freedom to choose.
i applod you for your choice it take a strong person to allow their child to believe in something other then what there parents believe.

blessed be

Answer 8

God protects children until they have reached the age of accountability. I would not want any witches in my home, but I would let my children to decide what they want. Parents can really mess up their kids with false ideas and that is why it is a good thing to encourage your children to seek the truth. Children are geared to do what their parents do, but like I said, I believe that children belong to God until they are old enough to choose for themselves.

Truth is the same no matter what you think of it. You cannot follow only your feelings. Good luck. At least you have made up your choice. Looks like your children are going to follow your footsteps. That is a big responsibility.

Answer 9

I do not yet have children but I will allow my children to follow their own paths and decide what is right for them. I am atheist and the man who I hope will be the father of my children is a Baptist Christian. I do not plan to teach my children that what I believe is the only way and I expect the same from him. We have discussed that they will make that decision for themselves. I will always encourage them to keep searching and keep learning.

Answer 10

Well, I'm Catholic and usually by the time the child is fourteen they're officially given the option not to confirm their faith in the Church. Up until that point the child should be instructed up on the beliefs and values of the family's faith, and be supported if they choose not to continue. So, I believe that religion can be pushed only so far by the parents and in the end the child is going to do what they want. And the parents have to leave it to God to handle (which I know probably wouldn't be the case in your household, but this is speaking from personal experience).