Wouldn't it be better if we didn't force religion on children?

Question

I think we should explain the different religions to kids but leave it up to them if they want to be religious or not. They could check out the church setting and decide if they want to attend church or not. I think that is a great idea so we don't just automatically make them part of a religion and leave them no choice.

Not just forcing either. Its good to teach them religion, but also that religion shouldn't rule your lives. I don't want my kids worring about religion all the time when there are millions of other things they can learn about.

Answer 1

Religious people don't know that they are ruining a kid's life. They see it as saving his soul, and because the kid will be brainwashed from birth into the religion, the kid will never know. And they will never question it, just like the parents had never questioned it themselves.

So then the cycle of ridiculousness continues on to the next set of kids. I think it is slowing down now though, since science is starting to offer more and more and more logical explanations as an alternative to those 2000 year old myths.

Why base your life on something some guy wearing sandals and a loincloth invented in the Middle East all that time ago?

Answer 2

No one forced me, and I was brought up in the church. If it was by force that I was made to go rather than by choice, I obviously could have left as soon as I turned 18! But I didn't because as when I was younger, I went because I wanted to. And today I still go because I still love God and believe in Him.

I have never even heard of children being "forced" into that. (Except maybe that weird camp Jesus thing? Not familiar with that though.) Why do so many non-believers claim children are forced to go to church? I sure don't see people at our church dragging their kids in, kicking and screaming that they don't want to be there. If you have seen this, then it sounds like some evil cult and the police should be brought in. Have you had to call the police in those cases?

Answer 3

I agree entirely. My family are Catholic, but I am not, I made my own, informed decision not to follow religion.

My son will be brought up to know that I do not believe there is a God, but that that is my own opinion. I will make sure he understands that there are different belief systems and that he may want to be Christian/ Jewish/ Muslim etc. I am hoping to raise him to be independant and confident enough not to need to follow a religion though.

There is a choice of 2 very good primary schools in my villiage. One is Church of England. It is a very good school but I can not be hypocritical enough to send my son there. I don't want him to be surrounded by christians as he will either feel a bit of an outcast, knowing that he isn't from a Christian family, or come home a God fearing Christian! Either prospect is not what i want for my son.

At such a young age children can easily be influenced into believing in God. They will basically believe anything you tell them! Take Santa Claus for instance! I knew it was unbelievable as a child but still believed it because my parents told me it was true and that if I didn't believe, he wouldn't come! The same applies for telling children to believe in God! Don't believe and you'll go to hell! Frightening children in to faith is no way to conduct yourself, surely!

Thanks for such a great question!

Answer 4

Let me pose a question to you: Should we force our children to learn math, english, spelling, etc.?

Think of it this way: If we expose our children to our religious beliefs when they are young, they have a stronger foundation, hopefully, by the time they reach adulthood.

I believe a lot of today's problems in the world is that we don't give our children a solid foundation in faith and belief of whatever religions we believe in. They have no moral compass because we are trying to raise them with values based on a corrupt world and not based on spiritual values.

Answer 5

I think we should explain our religion to them and give them the option to participate but I wouldn't tell them to go to different religions to see which one they like. They do have the right but at the same time the religion they choose you might not agree with their beliefs. And that could cause some conflict.

Answer 6

I agree on what you said, cause I have 5 children and I leave them to decide if they want to be a christian or not cause they have a future ahead the only major thing I always remind them to pray for everything they give and recieve and have. That they will never forget to pray.

Answer 7

If parents didn't allow their children to be brainwashed, then there would be no religion. Religions can only perpetuate by indoctrinating children at an age where they have too little experience to make a reasoned decision. Religion is state sponsored child abuse.

Answer 8

Should we explain to children what school is, let them check it out but leave it up to them if they want to learn or not? Could they learn reading, writing and math, ect. could they no right choices, no whats harmful and what is not. What do you think would happen if we really had no

Answer 9

I totally agree. Religion is about a personal journey. Forcing religion on someone is very wrong

Answer 10

My parents never talk about religion AT ALL when I was kid.
But my Dad, always very hard to dicipline us in manner/well behaved .He's a Police Officer then, which retired as General.
When I was kid,I didn't even dare to try to lie. He loves us (his children) so much, but goodness gracious he was strict and....... he punished.
He picked the school for us based on which he thought had the most strict rules.

In my own family?
When they were infants and they saw me ready to pray, they can pray with me, usually they just like to follow.
They asked what I said in pray, (ritual & in Arabic), but I told them just to say Amien( Amen).
As they grew up, they didn't want just to say "Amien", so they learnt.
I was not always w them, I travelled a lot for business,( maybe that was why they wanted to be w me as much as they could when I was around and liked to pray with me for comfort)

I am very carefull about teaching faith. No matter what other's say, I didnt force them to pray ; I like to see them did/do it voluntary. I like to read them stories or made my own.

As they grew older,I told them WHY I choose Islam, what's the "THOUGHT" behind it. (They were all sent to Christians schools. )
I never read them verses, I let them to read it themselves.
They can ask me question(s), but they can also ask others. We discuss religion in open, but nobody interfere about faith and the practise of rituals.
I think we end up sofar with sort of awareness, which for me as mother, is very important my children be like that.

Having an Allmighty (SPIRIT), I find very helpfull at the times of downs.

I didn't and don't let them to check out churches or mosques, I dont like preaches.
I let them read and practise whatever they believe after reading.
Praying together on Friday is to pray together not to listen to propaganda or preach.
Knowledge comes from small forum of discussion.

But that's only me Al. It suit me, seems that the boys agree. How nice!!