Do you raise your children with your beliefs?

Question

Or do you let them learn their own beliefs of the world? Let them discover and learn what they think about everything?

Wow so many responses already. A little clarity... I raise my children with morals, but I do not raise them to believe in my religion. I tell them what I believe, but I then ask them what THEY believe. What they believe about a higher power in this world does NOT have to be mine. I want them to be able to discover what they believe on their own. It took me many years to discover the Goddess and all her good, and if the kids follow that path as well, I will be delighted. And if they don't, I will still be delighted, because that means I did my job and I taught them to not believe what others believe, but to believe what THEY believe.
To teach a child your religion, and no others is selfish to me. You do not give your children a chance to discover what they truly believe. You can not force a belief on a child. You can brainwash them into thinking they believe, but if you don't let them decide on their own, it is YOUR religion still, not their own.

Blessed be to all:) I did see a few of you share some of the same beliefs as I.

To champion of Knowledge:
Adults KNOW? How do we know? How do we really and truly know that what we believe is correct? We don't. No one does. No one knows if we are all wrong and there is nothing out there(i guess then atheists would be right?). Noone knows who is right except those that have passed from this world. And even then, will we find the truth then? Who truly knows?

Answer 1

My belief is to not take much at face value and question everything. I do teach that to my kids. If they want to go to church and investigate religion, that is fine with me. As long as they come to the conclusion that it's mostly a load of rubbish I know I have taught them to be questioning enough.

Note: I do not mean without value - the community aspect of religious institutions is often worthwhile.

Answer 2

You go girl! I encourage my son to explore the world and ask questions. I answer these questions the best I can; however, if I do not know the answer I will direct him to one who may. By sheltering children one can breed intolerance and racism. I, myself, came from a very diverse background. Growing up, I celebrated Jewish holidays, Christian holidays, and Wiccan holidays. I was encouraged to choose my own path and was accepted as a loving person and member of the family. Most families have some diversity in their history. It is good for our children to know where we came from and the struggles made. This is how we came to be in the here and now.

We don't have to all agree and you will find that within every family there were and are different religions or beliefs. What we need to do is accept others knowing that religion is the choice of the individual.

Blessings to you and yours

Answer 3

I personally believe that you should teach your children your beliefs at the beginning. Then after establishing a base, you can bring back those old beliefs if they ever change so they would never complain if you want them to do something. Other than that let them discover and learn their own beliefs as they grow up so they will be satisfied by what they see when they become adults.

Answer 4

This was a major issue for my husband and I. We are both "religious" in a sense, but want our son to be able to make his own decisions when it comes to religion. The method we agreed on was that we would live our lives like we have been (we aren't members of a church, or any specific religion, but do pray, etc.) When the time comes that he get curious about religion and spirituality, then we will do our best to answer his questions honestly and correctly. If we don't know the answer, then we will involve him in our research to find it. The biggest thing is that if our son wants to attend a service at a church, then we will go with him and learn, if he wants to go to a bookstore to purchase information on Wicca or astrology, then we will help him pick out the books he wants. I don't want to limit my child because of my beliefs, so I will do what I can to answer his questions. If I can't find the answer, then I will find someone (priest, rabbi, shaman) who can. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I know that my children if left to their own would believe any and everything they hear on TV. or nothing at all. I have faith in the God of the Bible, I KNOW for a fact the biblical truth, that "if you train up a child in the way he should go, when they are grown they will not depart from it." I have seen it in my own children's lives, as well as other young people who have parents that "think" as you do. I also believe that I will be held accountable for what I do, or do not teach my children.

Answer 6

I do both. My children are all baptized Roman Catholic, but it is not forced upon them in their daily life. If they talk about God, I'll listen & talk. If they want to go to church, I take them. I was forced to make every sacrament & attend church every Sunday as well as every Holy day. By the time I was 19, I was wedding in the church & by the time I was 20, I was looking to get an annulment. I was told it would cost $3500.00 and of course I didn't have that. Since I got a divorce and not an annulment, I am no longer worthy in the church's eyes. This is the reason I am no longer practicing. They do, thankfully, feel my children are worthy. I am open to whatever level my children wish to take their religious beliefs, all the way to priest. It will be their choice, but they will make it with my support.

Answer 7

First thing first. You need not teach any thing to any body (why talk about children), first, you start doing things what you believe, then, automatically every thing else will follow. the point is it is your own conviction that matters. How much you believe in your religion, depending on your convictions, then the people around you (including your children) will definitely follow you. It is only how good a leader you are. Because, a good leader always practise what he preaches.
But directly answering your question, parent (father or mother or both) is the first Guru. without a guru, this path is very difficult to understand. You need a guru to understand yourself.

Answer 8

I am absolutely against christening your child or forcing you own beliefs on them. Religon is a way of life and I don't think that it's fair to choose your child's path for them. I am not religious but if my son grows up and wants to be a priest then good for him. I will respect his choice because he made it himself. Even if I was religious I would be doing the same thing. I believe in being a good person and not expecting any rewards for it in the after-life like some people do... That is what I will teach my son.

Not only that, it is sometimes a litte too harsh to teach children about religion. I grew up in Philadelphia and although my family isn't Catholic I went to a Catholic school. The public school system there is horrible so anyone who wants their child to get a good education is forced to pay ridiculous amounts of money for it. My first day of school I was told that anyone who wasn't baptized is going to hell. I ran home crying because I am not and neither is anyone in my family. By the 2nd grade they were telling us about how Jesus got nailed to a cross and showing us graphic movies about it around easter time. Jesus died on the cross for our sins? What the hell does that mean??? How do you tell a child that? I still don't know what it means. To be honest, I don't think that anyone knows what it means.

So now I live in Bedford, VA and there is a Christian church for every 5 people. They don't even celebrate halloween here! How can you deprive your child of Halloween!!! I have nothing against people who are religious, that is their choice but I am scared that they will try to influence my son. The only preschools here are in churches. I just want him to make up his mind for himself. Whatever he chooses is fine with me.

Answer 9

This is a good question. I actually had to think about this and every situation. In a way I do, if i'm teaching them respect and how to treat others. But when it comes to other things such as what to believe in your soul, no I let them find their own way and if they ask me I try my best to be neutral and give insight to both sides. We always want our children to be better than us so why would we instill in them everything we are? I'm taking your question further than just religious beliefs, i was taking it as all beliefs ex, racism, discrimination, daily life activities and how they "should" be done. my way or maybe there is another way. Sorry if I misinterpretted the question.

Answer 10

I don't have children but I plan to teach them my beliefs and what I know of the beliefs of others so they can decide for themselves. At the end of the day I only what them to be good, honest and hard working people who have a sense of moral and ethical justice - beyond that they can belief what whey like (even that the sky is green and the grass is blue).

Me and my brother were brought up with our mothers beliefs, she was a Congregationalist, my brother is now a Baptist by his own choosing and I am just me - a complex mix of various Christian beliefs and Wiccan beliefs through my own studies and choosing.