Forcing children to practice a religion they have no interest in is a form of child abuse? You are forcing things into their minds when you have no real proof if it is even real.
2007-07-27 20:42:07 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Forcing them,yes.
Teaching them,no.
2007-07-27 20:45:16 · answer #1 · answered by darwinsfriend AM 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dear Erin,
i think that parents do have a right to teach and instruct their children in the right way.
Responsible parents have a duty to make sure that what their kids are taught are good things! And the question i guess would depend on whether that religion is a good thing for the kid. i mean is it child abuse to force a child to go to school, even though he doesn't want to?
Your statement is that: "even when you have no real proof that it is real." (but that is your personal conviction- so obviously as a parent you would make choices that reflect that belief).
i think though for those parents who "force" their kids after the kid expresses "blatant rebellion"- need to also know that faith is a personal thing. i don't believe there is anything wrong with parents giving their kids the opportunity to know what they believe is the right faith and to encourage them - but at some age- you do have to let the kids figure and own their own faith. What that age is, can be a difficult line for parents to draw. i mean if we applied this mentality to other areas of raising the kid- it wouldn't fly.
Kid: i don't want to eat vegetables (why are your forcing me?) i don't want to take a bath, go to sleep, etc. i think to call it child abuse is quite extreme and paints an inaccurate picture of what a lot of parents who take their kids to church are trying to add to their kids lives.
Hope that helps. Kindly,
Nickster
2007-07-27 20:52:38 · answer #2 · answered by Nickster 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To turn the agrument around neither have you proof that God is not real. The Bible states in Romans 1:20 the invisible attributes of God is clearly seen and being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that humankind is without excuse. Christians know their God is real through their encounters and relationships with God in the Spirit. That they train their chidren based on Scriptures is not child abuse but the exercise of Godly wisdom.
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way that he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Eph 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
2 Tim 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2007-07-27 21:14:19 · answer #3 · answered by seekfind 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every child is born in a state of Al Fitrah or belief in the one God ALLAH(SWT). It is the parent's who make the child a Jew, witch, Hindu, Christan, Muslim, etc. Henceforth in Islam all children are born Muslim. No that is not forcing that is teaching and guiding children to God and Jinnah. That is not child abuse. Before the children are put in the mother's uterus they stand before ALLAH(SWT) in Jinnah and therefore know of ALLAH(SWT) and Muhammad(PBUH*) as well as all the other Prophets of Islam(PBUT*).
2007-07-27 21:05:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's child abuse. It's raising your kids into the religion which you believe in. When they are old enough to make the decision of choosing in what THEY believe in, they, personally, will make that decision. If, however, their parents still decide to make them practice their specific religion..I believe, IMO, that's abuse.
2007-07-27 20:46:27 · answer #5 · answered by Christina 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is pretty bad. You see news reports on parents forcing kids in to beauty pageants or sports and how horrible it is. Religion is the same thing but never makes the news.
2007-07-27 20:46:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
2007-07-27 20:57:40 · answer #7 · answered by David R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not abuse, maybe neglect. I'd never force a kid to believe what I do, I'd encourage them to have their own beliefs as long as he or she was a good person.
2007-07-27 20:48:57 · answer #8 · answered by mathaowny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps these parents believe that in teaching their children about God that it could very well save them spiritually..it's for the child's benefit. How ignorant to compare that to child abuse..
2007-07-27 20:46:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Forcing? Well when you are a kid, you have no right to say ....IM not going to church daddy. My dad would backhand me if I said that. But kids dont pay much attention anyway.
2007-07-27 20:48:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋