Don't we force our religions on children when they are born?

Question

This question came up in my mind when i heard about the supposedly "anti-religious" Golden Compass movie was released. Please feel free to share your opinions. I really would like to compare and maybe change mine.

Answer 1

My religion is passed to my children as a permanent gift.

As soon as mother is pregnant with child we automatically start searching for names, which will take approximately 9 months to choose, and when baby arrives, it is named and the name is carried until death.

My question;
How many people actually change their name because they don't like it? Percentage plz.

It takes only 9 months to choose a name and nobody changes it but religion has been perfected for generations and people are constantly searching for another.

Religion should be passed on to the children as their names are passed on to them and should be cherished, protected.
It is families responsibilty to be religious and practice their faith while child is young.

I would prefer to change my name not my religion.
But I love my name.
And I love my parents for my name and my religion.

Answer 2

Perhaps force is too strong a word, however, it is more or less a 'traditional' inducement into the religion of the family.

Most children born to a Christian family are "instructed" and "introduced" into the religion of the parents, and those children who are not “guided” into the family pew are the lucky ones because they have the opportunity to chose what is best for them in due time.

The majority parents feel a duty to instruct a child into following their own spiritual path but in doing so the parent takes away the right of choice of the child.

Yes, children should be guided and all that, but at the right time they should be given a choice do not assimilated into a religion they do not chose of their own free will.

Children are very susceptible to suggestions, so when the parent or parents religious / spiritual “cajoling’ causes more harm than good in the long run.

Answer 3

Yes and no, depending on the kind of parent you are.

Every child is going to have questions or ideas about life, death, purpose, or other spiritual topics at some point in their youths. Parents are supposed to raise their children in the best way they know how. If they have gotten satisfaction from a particular belief structure it makes sense they teach it to their children, the same way they teach their child how to make food choices or brush their teeth.

Oppressive religions can harm a child psychologically, but for the most part, teaching a child religion is a positive way to explain the more confusing parts of our existence. As long as they are able to understand and respect other ways of living, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Answer 4

I don't force my beliefs on my children, but I make sure that they understand what I believe and why I believe that way. I allow them to believe as they choose, although I do speak to them about God (ex: Who do you think God is?), and tell them about Jesus, and angels...that's about as close as I get to 'forcing' religion on to them.
After a certain age children will begin to grow up and question what they know because they are just learning how to define 'their beliefs.' I went thru this as my mother before me, and her mother before her, and etc,etc,etc. I was allowed more less, honestly, less than more, but I put my foot down at a certain point, to develop and follow my own path to God. I give my teenagers that respect and space to develop and grow up. I do ask them what their calues, and morals, are and compare that to how they act and treat others. So far I have done a fairly decent job. I have curteous, polite children, that will do things for others without being asked, they don't mock those who are different, and respect a person's faith as that person's faith. They also believe that chrisianity is not the only true religion is and this is a decision that they came to as their own, and believe that there are other possibilites than they are aware of. My daughter 13, believes in God, our son, 14, is leaning more towards being aethiest. Either way I love my children and support their decision as their decision. I follow witta, and would like to pass that on, but that is only if one of our 5 kids were to approach me and seek that information.
That is why I get upset when I have a complete stranger tell them that they HAVE to believe a certain way or they will go to hell. I don't force my religious beliefs on my child, why should they have that right, and that is what my children believe also. As for the Golden Compass we are excited about it and hope that it isn't all "preachy," like C.S. Lewis. That's why we are more partial to Tolkien. Certain aspects of catholisim is evident in his writings, but he dosen't slap you in the face with them every third sentence.

Answer 5

It is not good to force children to a certain religion. If you believe one way and your child is brought up believing your way that is good that he/she has a belief. When they get older just inform them of the others and let them make an informed decision. My husband is Catholic and I am Evangelical. I raised the children Catholic and then when they were in middle schools to high school I informed them of different beliefs, many not just mine or my husbands. I feel they need to know what others may try to tell them and it is best to teach them to decide for themselves. good luck with this one...

Answer 6

yes.
it's like being born in water and being wet.
until the child is old enough to think for itself only what we learn from our parents is true.
i was Christian, was baptized, was a church member because that's what my parents were doing.
i now believe that all the religions of the world can't possibly be right and therefore i am somewhat of an atheist.
I only had what i knew to be true, God is the father of all things and that if i was bad i was going to hell.
Now i see the faults in that and believe otherwise.

Answer 7

you won't be able to technically tension a faith with the aid of fact the choice to have faith or no longer have faith is as much as the guy. even nevertheless, you are able to attempt to tension a faith. no rely if or no longer the youngster is receptive to this faith is truthfully as much as them. by the very DEFINITION of religion, this is won't be able to be compelled on somebody. (study: faith is a 2-way component, you and God (or gods, if that's what you choose to have faith.) like it or no longer, this is invalid to ask "could faith be compelled on a new child?" while one in each of those undertaking is fairly impossible. human beings have loose will. mothers and dads can beg, plead, threaten, and so on, however the choice to connect with God is truthfully as much as the guy. Now, what i've got faith you attempt to ask is "could mothers and dads attempt to tension faith on a new child?" My answer is that one needs to look on the version between faith and ethical preparation. i do no longer think of a lot of human beings would argue that it fairly is misguided for a parent to instruct a new child that this is incorrect to kill a guy. In coaching this new child that, the human will immediately justify their coaching. Now, many religious human beings will choose to furnish that justification to the youngster. this is truly not incorrect. this is in basic terms a justification of their ethical coaching. See what I recommend? Now, if a parent became telling a new child to do some thing inherently incorrect such as cheat on a try and then tried to apply faith to justify it, which could be undesirable.

Answer 8

Some do, some don't. The fact that if you are Christian and go to church every Sunday your children are most likely to follow in your steps. That not really forcing. If they get to a certain age and disagree with you and you retaliate by dragging them to church and the priest, that may be forcing.

Answer 9

We model all sorts of behaviors on our children....right/wrong, how to eat, political preferences, value systems, etc. And certainly we model religious preferences. After all, that is what parenting is all about...teaching children how to behave and react to the world around them. That's not to say, that they may ultimately go a totally different way, but there first exposures to the world around them are through their parents.

Answer 10

No. You need to look up the meaning of the word "force."
And what do you mean by "supposedly" anti-religious? It is admittedly anti-religious.